Criminal investigation: a fun ‘whodunit’ classroom activity for Unit 1 Violetta Toth, Business...

Criminal investigation: a fun ‘whodunit’ classroom activity for Unit 1

Violetta Toth, Business and Legal Studies teacherLegal Studies Unit 1VCTA © Violetta TothPublished March 2013

VCTA © Violetta Toth Published in Compak March 2013

Background to the crime sceneToday you will investigate a crime that was committed in a suburb of Melbourne. There are three main groups in society that crimes impact on: victims offenders the community.

In your workbooks, briefly explain how crime impacts on each group.


Background to the crime scene

On 20 December it was announced that the Swan family were the sole winners of a $30 million Tattslotto draw. That night their two-year old son Garry was abducted from their home.

On the morning of 21 December, Mr and Mrs Swan discovered Garry’s empty bed. Ten minutes after this discovery they received an anonymous phone call from an adult male, demanding a $30 million ransom for the safe return of Garry. The call could not be traced.


Background to the crime sceneOn 1 January the body of Garry Swan was found at a popular location on Brighton Beach, wrapped in a blanket soaked in blood. He was wearing purple pyjamas and black socks, which he usually wore to bed. On inspection of the body, a fatal knife wound was found. There were no other injuries.

Investigations determined the time of death as the evening of the 21 December.



Based on the background details, identify the crimes that the offender appears to have committed.

What other crimes may police need to consider in this case?



Unlawful homicide is defined as:The killing of another person that the law considers to be unreasonable.

Identify the elements of unlawful homicide.

List the types of unlawful homicide.


Investigation stage 1: the bodyAfter wide media coverage, the police were under pressure to announce an arrest as soon as possible.

You work for CSI Melbourne. In groups of three to four you are required to find out who killed Garry. You will try and do this by identifying pieces of evidence that lead to the same person (the key suspect).


Investigation stage 1: the bodyOne member from each group will have 1 minute to inspect the body.

You will not be allowed to touch any of the evidence at this time. In the meantime, each group will begin compiling a list of forensic evidence.

You will be given adequate time to discuss the evidence sighted and complete the list of forensic procedures.


Stage 1 investigation: the body

As a group, on Worksheet A list three pieces of evidence that you would like tested and in the order in which you would like them tested. Describe the forensic procedure to be carried out for each piece of evidence. As each group completes the task they will be given results to their three pieces of evidence.

Evidence to be tested Forensic procedure/type of testing Result

1.

2.

3.

4.


Investigation stage 2 : witnesses

Police have interviewed three potential witnesses in the hope that it will provide further useful evidence:

1. Janet, a single mother from Brighton, says she saw a man in a silver Audi convertible looking suspicious on Brighton beach the morning the body was discovered.


Investigation stage 2: witnesses2. Charlie, a teenage boy from the local high

school, claimed he saw an angry-looking man talking on a mobile phone at the time the ransom call was made. He was later seen driving away in a red Ford Territory 4WD.

3. Natalie, a young resident, reported that she had seen a man acting suspiciously near the Swan’s house on the night of the abduction. He was seen driving away in a light blue Toyota Corolla hatchback.


Investigation stage 2: witnesses

As a group, on a sheet of paper, list one police power and one individual right for each category:

police interviews and questioning police searches collecting evidence arresting suspects.

Hand in your answers and then select one witness to investigate further. You will receive a results sheet for the witness you have chosen.


Stage 3: investigate all evidence Select one other group member to investigate the crime scene evidence for a minute.

You have 10 minutes to decide on the order in which you would like to investigate the remaining pieces of evidence. Complete Worksheet B.


Stage 3: investigate all evidence Once your group has completed Worksheet B, the group will need to provide a written answer to the following question to receive results for their next three pieces of evidence, as listed on Worksheet B:

Identify one possible defence to homicide and briefly explain this defence with reference to an example.

One student may approach the teacher to obtain their forensic results.


Stage 3: investigate all evidence Answer the following question to receive a further three results for the next three pieces of evidence on your group’s list:

Identify and briefly describe three aims of criminal sanctions.

The first group to determine the name of the key suspect and to support their choice with the five correct pieces of evidence is the winner and can be awarded a prize.


Stage 3: investigate all evidence

If there are no winners, each group will need to answer the following question to receive a further three results for their next three pieces of evidence:

List the elements of a crime.

Remember, the first group to determine the name of the key suspect and to support their choice with the five correct pieces of evidence is the winner and can be awarded a prize.


Stage 3: investigate all evidenceIf there are no winners, each group will need to answer the following question to receive a further three results for the next three pieces of evidence:

Distinguish between murder and manslaughter.

Remember, the first group to determine the name of the key suspect and to support their choice with the five correct pieces of evidence is the winner and can be awarded a prize.


The result

The offender was …


The result

The offender was STEPHEN BRADLEY.

This case dates back to 1960, before the introduction of DNA science and testing. The crime occurred in Sydney and the victim’s real name was Graham Thorne.When police began to become suspicious about Stephen Bradley, he sold his house in Sydney and organised a trip back to England with his wife and children.


The result

The offender was STEPHEN BRADLEY.Evidence:1. The body was wrapped in a limited-

edition Onkaparinga blanket that only 200 customers had purchased from a boutique store. Police interviewed each customer, discovering that one customer had given the blanket to Stephen Bradley’s wife as a gift.


The result

The offender was STEPHEN BRADLEY.Evidence:2. The fur found on the blanket belonged to

a Pekingese breed of dog. Being a distinct pedigree at the time, police were able to quickly discover that Stephen Bradley had owned a Pekingese dog during his stay in Australia and had arranged to ship his dog back to England not long after the murder.


The result

The offender was STEPHEN BRADLEY.Evidence:3. A youth reported suspicious activity near the

Thorne residence on the day of the abduction. This witness recalled that the man left the scene in an azure blue Holden sedan, which very few residents of Sydney owned. The police were able to trace the registration of this vehicle to Stephen Bradley, even though he had sold his car soon after the abduction.


The result

The offender was STEPHEN BRADLEY.Evidence:4. The seeds found on the boy’s body were

identified by botanists as belonging to a rare type of tree. Police used photos of the rare trees to interview local postal delivery workers (‘posties’) . Fortunately, one postie quickly identified these trees as growing in the garden of Stephen Bradley’s residence.


The result

The offender was STEPHEN BRADLEY.Evidence:5. There was rare pink mortar found on the

shoes of the victim. This type of mortar was used in the construction of houses in the suburb Stephen Bradley lived in.

Stephen Bradley was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1961.

Criminal investigation: a fun ‘whodunit’ classroom activity for Unit 1 Violetta Toth, Business...

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