Police say protocol to bring body down in hanging cases is to save lives
By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 14 May 2013 10:53 PM
SINGAPORE: When a person is found hanged, it is police protocol to bring the body down by cutting the rope above the noose.
This is primarily done to save a subject's life even if such chances are assessed to be remote.
Doing so also ensures paramedics can perform their duties when they arrive at the scene.
The Singapore Police Force issued this statement on Tuesday night in response to media queries arising from a Coroner's Inquiry into American researcher Shane Todd's death.
During the hearing, lawyers for the Todd family had asked officers on the stand if bringing Dr Todd's body down from its hanging position before the forensic experts arrived could have altered material evidence at the scene.
In the statement, the Police say the rope is cut above the noose to preserve material evidence for the forensic expert, so that the expert can establish the cause of the person's death.
It added that this protocol is common among many established police forces.
- CNA/fa
