the investigation and prosecution of strangulation cases a publication by the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention and the California District Attorneys Association He woke up and I saw stars and I passed immediately started out. When I came to, he’s on “ “top of me, banging my head choking me and put me up against the kitchen floor against the wall. I fell and and strangling me.” urinated on myself. Right — Reena after I hit him he let go from choking me and he started punching me on the floor.” I was trying to get away and he grabbed me, spun me around, started to choke me, brought me — Julie “ down to the ground, and at the same time that he was trying to— Jan choke me, he was trying to slam I would always remember my head on one of the rocks.” soreness and bruises on my neck. [My neck] would be sore for at “ least four or ve days.” The very first time he — Survivor was violent with me he strangled me. He “pushed me up against a wall. He held his Actually, when I came out of that hands on my throat [strangulation incident], I was more and had me pinned submissive. More terrified that the next against the wall with “ time I might not come out—I might not my feet in the air. At make it. So I think I gave him all my that moment I really power from there, because I could see thought he was going how easy it was for him to just take my to kill me.” life like he had given it to me.” — Lana — Ruth © 2013. California District Attorneys Association and Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention (formerly the National Strangulation Training Institute). Preparation of this publication was nancially assisted through Grant Award Number LV12141059 from the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) to the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) and the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention. e ndings and conclusions in this publication are those of the Training Institute and CDAA, and not necessarily those of Cal EMA, which reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, and use these materials and authorize others to do so. the investigation and prosecution of strangulation cases Chapters 1 Introduction and Overview of Strangulation Crimes .................................................................1 2 Strangulation and the Law .............................................................................................................. 5 3 Investigation of Strangulation Cases ...........................................................................................21 4 Prosecution of Strangulation Cases .............................................................................................39 5 Medical Evidence in Non-Fatal Strangulation Cases ................................................................53 6 Death by Strangulation or Suocation ........................................................................................63 7 Use of Experts: Tips for Prosecutors and Expert Witnesses ....................................................81 8 Victim Advocacy in Strangulation Cases ....................................................................................91 9 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................101 Appendices General On the Edge of Homicide: Strangulation as a Prelude (2011) .............................................................A-1 Gael Strack and Casey Gwinn discuss the lethality of IPV strangulation and the necessity for victim safety and oender accountability. Top 13 Articles to Read .............................................................................................................................A-6 Bibliography for the top 13 strangulation resources. Obtaining Justice for Victims of Strangulation in Domestic Violence: Evidence Based Prosecution and Strangulation-Specic Training (2012) .....................................................................A-7 Article published by Student Pulse, an online, open access academic journal. e Pandora Eect .................................................................................................................................. A-19 Text of the keynote speech to the Texas Tech Women’s Health Conference addressing the health consequences of domestic violence. (May 2003) Strangulation in Domestic Violence Cases: Overcoming Evidentiary Challenges to Reduce Lethality (2013) ..................................................................................................................... A-26 Developments in New York state family law. Law Enforcement Strangulation Guide for California Law Enforcement .......................................................................A-62 Developed in December 2011, this brochure assists ocers responding to strangulation cases. It applies to California jurisdictions and includes updates to Penal Code section 273.5. Strangulation/Suocation Information Card ......................................................................................A-64 is ier includes examples of medical questions, investigative questions, and physical signs/symptoms of strangulation, courtesy of the Wisconsin Oce of Justice. i the investigation and prosecution of strangulation cases Strangulation Training Card ................................................................................................................. A-65 Includes questions to ask victims, procedures to follow, and facts about strangulation. FAQs—Strangulation and Domestic Violence: Dynamics and the Law (2010)............................. A-66 Developed by the Chicago Police Department. Recognizing and Investigating Strangulation ..................................................................................... A-68 Checklist for law enforcement, including questions to ask victims, evidence collection, and report writing. Sample Detective Report ........................................................................................................................ A-70 Documentation Chart for Strangulation Cases ................................................................................. A-71 Legal Text of SB 430 (Kehoe) ...........................................................................................................................A-73 e original bill language that was introduced to create a stand-alone felony strangulation statute in California. Text of Penal Code Section 273.5 ..........................................................................................................A-75 CALCRIM 840 .........................................................................................................................................A-77 e jury instruction for Penal Code section 273.5. Why Strangulation Should Be a Felony (2011)................................................................................... A-81 White paper developed by the National Family Justice Center Alliance, Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention as background information for a California strangulation statute. Sample Motion in Limine to Allow Expert Testimony in a Strangulation Case ............................ A-87 Developed by the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention. Sample Questions for the Strangulation Expert.................................................................................. A-97 Developed by Dr. George McClane, Dr. Dean Hawley, and Gael Strack, J.D. Medical Strangulation Glossary ......................................................................................................................... A-103 Medical terms used in strangulation cases. Injuries of Fatal and Non-fatal Suocation in Family Violence Cases .......................................... A-106 Ten-page paper developed for the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention by Dr. Dean Hawley. Forensic Medical Findings in Fatal and Non-fatal Intimate Partner Strangulation Assaults .... A-115 Paper written by Dr. Dean Hawley. Sample Medical Report ........................................................................................................................ A-135 Victim Advocacy Strangulation Brochure ........................................................................................................................ A-139 Created by the FJC Legal Network, a program of the National Family Justice Center Alliance, this brochure contains information regarding strangulation injuries and provides a grid that can be utilized to monitor signs and symptoms. Advocacy Tips for Victims of Strangulation (August 2008) ...........................................................A-141 Tips developed at the BWJP Strangulation Workshop in Boise, Idaho, in collaboration with Detective Mike Agnew, Dr. Dean Hawley, Rhona Martinson, J.D., and Gael Strack, J.D. Your Victim Impact Statements.......................................................................................................... A-143 Guidelines posted at www.1800victims.org. Pacic McGeorge School of Law Victims of Crime Resource Center. Sample Victim Impact Statement ....................................................................................................... A-155 Courtesy of the Victim/Witness Unit of the Grant County (Washington) Prosecuting Attorney’s Oce. Ventura County Victim Intake Form .................................................................................................A-156 ii the investigation