Are suicides in SA investigated by default?

[azbob]

Are suicides in South Africa investigated by default to ascertain if there was any foul play or are they only investigated by request?

 

[I.am.Sam]

ok abzo

you making me worried

 

[Pooky]

I would imagine if it's clear that it was a suicide they would not be investigated, however, I'm just guessing.

 

[Nanfeishen]

I believe a Murder Docket is opened initially in all deaths until the medical examiner and investigator determine that the cause was natural or self inflicted.

 

[MickeyD]

Yes. If you call for an ambulance regarding a suicide then SAPS will also arrive at the scene. This is to initiate the process as per Nanfeishen's post.

 

[Carol35]

Yes, we had a suicide in our home. The ambulance come, pronounce death and then police take statements, wait for photographer to take pics and then mortuary van. Takes a good few hours. Horrible horrible experience!

 

[_Hecate_]

Are suicides in South Africa investigated by default to ascertain if there was any foul play or are they only investigated by request?

Planning on killing someone?

 

[MickeyD]

And it's the same for attempted suicides...

 

[Humberto]

For overdoses that don't result in death, the police don't get involved.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

For overdoses that don't result in death, the police don't get involved.

If it didn't work it's not suicide. It's attempted suicide, so nothing to really investigate.

 

[MickeyD]

For overdoses that don't result in death, the police don't get involved.

If it didn't work it's not suicide. It's attempted suicide, so nothing to really investigate.

SAPS will get involved.

 

[Humberto]

SAPS will get involved.

We've had several attempted overdoses in our family, where an ambulance came out and took the person to hospital, and SAPS never got involved.

 

[blunomore]

Interestingly enough, in English Law, suicide (and attempted suicide) was a crime until the 1960s. If you committed suicide, your estate could even be forfeited to the state.

 

[Lucas Buck]

We've had several attempted overdoses in our family, where an ambulance came out and took the person to hospital, and SAPS never got involved.

Were they members of a doomsday cult, where everyone tried to kill themselves on the same day?

 

[Nick333]

Interestingly enough, in English Law, suicide (and attempted suicide) was a crime until the 1960s. If you committed suicide, your estate could even be forfeited to the state.

Lol, yep and at one point in British history attempted suicide was punishable by hanging. I s#1t you not.

 

[ShaunSA]

We've had several attempted overdoses in our family, where an ambulance came out and took the person to hospital, and SAPS never got involved.

Anything to get away from you?

 

[Ockie]

I would think so. A autopsie was performed on my dad, even though the cause of death was very clear. It could however also be because he did not leave a note and there was someone else in the house with him....so could have been to rule out fowl play and a staged suicide I guess.

 

[Ockie]

Just a after thought. All unnatural deaths are investigated...even if just a autopsie is done (that qualifies as being investigated) and if anything suspicious is found then SAPS is notifiied surely?

 

[Humberto]

Were they members of a doomsday cult, where everyone tried to kill themselves on the same day?

No, a member of my family has borderline personality disorder, and used to overdose from time to time when there was relationship drama in her life. It was very stressful for all of us. Luckily things have taken a turn for the better and this person no longer does this.

 

[Gibson]

Just a after thought. All unnatural deaths are investigated...even if just a autopsie is done (that qualifies as being investigated) and if anything suspicious is found then SAPS is notifiied surely?

Had a good friend who committed suicide last month and visited the morgue etc. Ockie is pretty much right, there has to be autopsy even with a note. If anything could put someone off suicide its seeing the reaction to it, truly horrible, everyone is confused and angry, the family had to wait for the morgue to release the body which took quite a while, it was pretty debilitating.