Undertaking Effective Investigations A Guide for National Human Rights Institutions THE MULRUNJI CASE ORDER AND TIMING OF INTERVIEWS S/Sgt Hurley was formally interviewed three times, including once on the day that Mulrunji died. Cst Steadman, an off-duty QPS officer who saw S/Sgt. Hurley and Mulrunji enter the watch-house, was not interviewed by either the QPS or the CMC until three weeks after the death. Roy Bramwell was not interviewed until the day after the death, even though he was present in the police watch-house when the incident happened. KEY POINTS: CHAPTER 11 • Segregate witnesses as soon as possible after an event in order to preserve the integrity of their evidence. • Interview witnesses as soon as possible after an incident. • In some cases, it may be prudent to interview witnesses immediately after each other. • Investigators should consider the most effective order in which to interview witnesses. • NHRIs may need to use any powers that they have to compel a reluctant witness to give evidence. 72