FORENSIC CHARACTERISTICS OF HOSTAGE OR KIDNAPPED PERSON MURDERS

Abstract

In this article, it has been emphasized that the forensic characterization of
hostage or kidnapped murders is an integral element of the corresponding
separate forensic methodology. It has been established that the forensic
characterization of hostage or kidnapped murders is an information model, which
is represented by a system of information about the patterns in the mechanism of
committing the specified type of criminal offenses, which allows determining the
optimal strategy of their pre-trial investigation in order to solve strategic and
intermediate situationally determined tactical tasks at each stage of the
investigation. Taking into account the peculiarities of the criminal-legal
characterization of hostage or kidnapped murders, as well as the stages of the
specified criminal activity and its elements, the following elements have been
distinguished and characterized in the structure of the forensic characterization
of the specified type of murders: the identity of the victim; typical methods of
commission; trace picture; the identity of the criminal. It has been found that the
identity of the victim is most often: 1) men; aged 25–45 years; are wealthy and
have a high income or are in family or other close relationships with persons who
have high wealth and/or hold high-ranking positions; employed; 2) minors whose
relatives and friends have a high income and/or hold high-ranking positions. It has been proven that the murders of hostages or kidnapped persons are most
often committed by citizens of Ukraine; urban residents; men; higher education,
less often secondary; as part of a group of people; more than a third of cases when
the perpetrator committed the murder while intoxicated; unmarried; no previous
convictions. The perpetrator, according to motivational signs, belongs to the
selfish type. It has been established that typical methods of killing hostages or
kidnapped persons are characterized by a full-structured composition and include
methods of preparation, methods of direct commission and methods of
concealment. It has been found that the trace picture of the above-mentioned
criminal offenses is represented by material and ideal traces.