Analysing the effectiveness of criminal investigation in identifying foul play in suicide cases

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the complex and often overlooked phenomenon of crime scene staging in suicide cases within the Maltese Islands. The study particularly focuses on whether such manipulations may be covering up third party involvement in cases involving suicides. This research seeks to understand the extent to which staged suicides may occur, why they are committed, how to identify foul play, and the procedure of Maltese professionals to identify staged suicides. To explore this, a qualitative research design was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with professionals directly involved with criminal investigation. The findings highlight that staged suicides are often used to cover up third party involvement in a person’s death, with motives including evading responsibility and misleading investigators. Key challenges in detecting staged suicides include body decomposition, unidentifiable victims, and evidence contamination. Additionally, from the findings it was determined that providing training, improving interdisciplinary communication, and implementing stricter crime scene preservation rules are critical for improving foul play detection. The implications of these findings emphasise the importance of introducing standardised investigative procedures and awareness programs, ensuring justice for victims and maintaining the integrity of investigations.