Behavioural analysts could help determine motive in B.C. murders: Expert
Once Mounties have completed a review of the case over the next few weeks, they’ve said they will provide families with an update, then release it publicly.
Van Allen said analysts in the case are likely reviewing crime scene evidence, interviewing friends and family of the suspects and looking over other material, including online posts by the men before their deaths.
It’s not an exact science but behavioural analysis has been used to create profiles of unknown suspects, to develop strategies for interviewing witnesses and to determine the truthfulness of statements in trials, he said.
“A behavioural interpretation will never have the certainty of a fingerprint comparison or ballistics comparison. That’s the nature of human behaviour.”
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Particularly brutal killings suggest explosive anger and offer direction to investigators in cases with no suspects.
“If you see an angry crime, then we’re looking for an angry offender,” Van Allen said. “Who has been mistreated in the last few weeks? Who’s been evicted from their home? Terminated from their job?”
Crime scenes can also show that more than one killer is involved, he said.
“I’ve looked at crime scenes where you see two distinct styles of conduct,” he said. “You’ll see one (victim) is treated more brutally or unempathetically than the other. You might have a minor act of consideration for one victim. And those are two different thinking perspectives — they come from two different personalities.”
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If a killer’s online history reveals a search for similar crimes, that can indicate that it was planned, he added
