Instructive Poison Cases

Abstract

Examining particular examples of homicidal poisoning can raise points of special interest. In the case of Roger and David Cooper [99], unusually the body of the victim was not left in situ, but disposed of elsewhere, and considerable planning went into laying false trails. The conviction of Paul Marshall Curry [95] demonstrates that evidence can emerge after a very long period and prosecution can still be secured. As an example of a physician perpetrating murder, the serial killing by Dr. Harold Shipman [81] raises questions as to how so many murders could go undetected for so long. Lynn Turner [88] having committed poison murder once and not been detected, was caught when she tried the same modus operandi a second time. The case of Lakhvir Singh [93] is notable for the degree of planning, involving Singh travelling to India to procure aconite, and for indications of motive both for the murder and its timing. As in many poison trials, that of Kristin Rossum [82] involved much circumstantial evidence but was sufficient for the jury to convict. The murderer had access to poisons and detailed knowledge of their action and access to the victim as a spouse. A relatively rare instance of female on female poisoning , the killing by Jessica Wongso [100], was also unusual in that a public place was chosen for a usually surreptitious crime.