Information for bereaved families and friends following murder or culpable homicide

Introduction

If someone close to you has been murdered, or if you are caring for someone who has been bereaved by murder or culpable homicide, then you may find the information in this pack helpful.

If you are in this situation, you are unlikely to know what to expect. This pack gives you information about what happens next, the procedures involved, and how long they might take and why.

It has been prepared with the help of people who have been through a similar experience. It includes information about:

• how the police, the Procurator Fiscal (prosecutors) and courts work
• some of the arrangements you may have to make
• the help and support available to you.

The pack covers a lot of topics but you do not have to read everything straight away. The police Family Liaison Officer (FLO) will explain what you need to know now. You can keep the pack and refer to relevant sections when you need to.

The pack aims to give you basic information about the sort of questions you might have at this difficult time. If you find you need more information about certain issues, the pack provides contact details for a range of organisations, including those that can offer you support.

Some of the language used in the pack reflects legal terms that you may not have come across before. They have been included because you may hear them during the investigation or trial. The terms are explained briefly where they come up in the pack and in more detail in section 8.2.

If you have been bereaved within the last few hours, you may find it helpful to read the section "What you need to know now".

You might also want to:

• keep a note of the names, addresses and phone numbers of the main people you might need to speak to about what is happening (you can do this in section 1.1. The FLO can help you fill in the details)
• write down questions you want to ask or information you have been given (there is space for notes in the next few pages of the pack)
• keep copies of any letters in a safe place.

If you have any questions about anything you read in the pack, ask the FLO, Victim Information and Advice officer or one of the organisations listed in section 1.1. If they cannot give you an answer straight away, they will try and get an answer for you as quickly as they can.

You may also want to have a look at the leaflet "Coping with grief" that accompanies this pack.