There are short chapters on collecting digital evidence and how to use the Internet as an investigative tool. Both are becoming increasingly important in virtually every field of investigation, including human rights investigations. EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF EXCELLENT INVESTIGATION Good investigations are based on eight fundamental principles. 1. Investigators must be as independent as possible. 2. Investigators must be trained and experienced. 3. All potentially relevant issues must be identified and, where appropriate, pursued. 4. Investigations must be sufficiently resourced. 5. All relevant physical and digital evidence must be identified, preserved, collected and examined as necessary. 6. All relevant documentation must be secured and reviewed. 7. All relevant witnesses must be identified, segregated where practical and thoroughly interviewed. 8. The analysis of all the material gathered during the investigation must be objective and based solely on the facts. Not all eight principles are equally applicable, in equal measure, in every single case. Some may ultimately prove irrelevant to some human rights investigations. However, competent investigators will consider them all as they plan and carry out their investigations. These principles can be used by investigators to assess the quality of their own investigations, as they progress, to ensure that they are on track. They can also be used to assess the quality of investigations done by others. PROTECTING INVESTIGATIONS AND INVESTIGATORS The Manual offers strategies that are designed to protect investigators from criticism. If a group or an individual does not like the findings of an investigation but cannot attack the facts to undermine those findings, they may attack the quality of the investigation itself. They will look for a flaw in the investigation to attempt to discredit the investigation in its entirety. If investigators adapt and follow the processes described in this Manual, they will be better able to successfully defend their investigation before an adjudicator, a court, the media or the public. CASE STUDY A case study is used throughout the Manual to illustrate the various points made. It is the story of Mulrunji, a 36-year old Aboriginal Australian who died in police custody in 2004 on Palm Island, Queensland, Australia. It raises several issues that involve human rights, a number of them systemic in nature. It is an excellent example as it richly illustrates, in both human terms and in terms of the vast financial consequences that can follow, what can go wrong with an investigation when some of the eight principles of excellent investigation are not followed. Introduction for users | vii