SUICIDE INVESTIGATION

In a suicide, trauma is inflicted by the victim on himself. Gunshot wounds, jumping from a great height, hanging, and drug overdose are common causes of suicide. However, such deaths can also be caused by homicide or accident. In the case of a shooting, it can sometimes be obvious from the autopsy whether or not the death was likely to be a suicide. With a drug overdose, however, the autopsy findings are the same whatever the victim's intent, and the investigator must look carefully at the circumstances to arrive at the correct verdict. If the investigator comes to the wrong conclusion, a killer may either escape or be unjustly convicted. Suicide is always traumatic for those left behind. If an accident or homicide is wrongly ruled as a suicide, then the family of the deceased is caused unnecessary grief. In other words, suicide investigations must be undertaken with great care, because some cases are complicated.

Poisoning remains the most common method of suicide, especially among women. It is perceived as being less traumatic than other methods and with the widespread availability of alcohol and drugs, the means are easy to obtain. However, poisoning is also often accidental, especially if the victim is confused, which may happen if they have been drinking or ill, for example. Under these circumstances the victim may mistakenly take too many sleeping pills or painkillers. Poisoning could also be a homicidal act. 

The presence of a suicide note at the scene of a poisoning (or other suicide) may be taken as an indication of suicide rather than an accident. However, the absence of a note does not mean the act was necessarily accidental. Some people simply do not leave a note, perhaps to protect the feelings of loved ones by trying to make the act look accidental. Moreover, forged notes may be used to help stage a homicide as a suicide. As ever, all the evidence must be carefully assessed to arrive at the truth.