THE SYSTEM AND METHODS OF APPLYING SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE DURING INVESTIGATIONS INTO SUICIDE CASES

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive academic analysis of the system and methods of applying specialist knowledge during the investigation of driving a person to suicide, as one of the most difficult criminal offences against a person’s life and health to prove. It is argued that the specific nature of the mechanism by which this offence is committed is linked to prolonged psychological influence on the victim, which may manifest itself in the form of systematic humiliation, psychological harassment, blackmail, threats or other forms of psychological pressure. Such circumstances necessitate a comprehensive investigation not only of the physical evidence of the incident, but also of the victim’s mental state, the nature of their relationships with those around them, and the characteristics of their communication and social environment. In this context, the application of specialist knowledge is one of the key tools for ensuring a thorough, comprehensive and objective investigation. This article examines the nature of specialist knowledge in criminal proceedings and outlines its significance in establishing the circumstances leading to suicide. It analyses the system for utilising specialist knowledge, which encompasses the work of forensic experts, specialists and other professionals involved in conducting expert examinations, participating in investigative activities and providing advisory assistance to pre-trial investigation authorities. Particular attention is paid to the role of forensic medical, forensic psychological, forensic psychiatric, linguistic and computertechnical investigations in establishing a causal link between the unlawful conduct of the perpetrator and the development of suicidal behaviour in the victim. It is argued that the effective use of specialist knowledge requires its systematic integration within comprehensive expert investigations and close cooperation between investigators, operational units and expert institutions. It has been concluded that the use of specialist knowledge in the investigation of cases involving incitement to suicide is multifaceted and encompasses both procedural and non-procedural forms of application. It is emphasized that the integration of the results of specialized research into the evidentiary process contributes to a more complete establishment of the circumstances of the criminal offence, the identification of the mechanism of psychological influence on the victim, and the formation of an adequate evidentiary basis for bringing the guilty parties to criminal liability. It is determined that the further development of forensic science requires the refinement of methodological approaches to the use of specialized knowledge in the investigation of such crimes, in particular taking into account modern forms of digital communication and the development of information technologies.