307. Presence of police officer at post-mortem examination. [§ 12, Act V, 1861].
(a)The police officer sent in charge of a corpse need not be present throughout the details of the post-mortem examination. It will suffice if he stands sufficiently near to be able to testify that the body which had been in his charge was the one examined by the medical officer. He should be present at the Court when the medical officer's testimony as to the result of the examination is given, in order that the identity of the body examined, with the body to which the criminal case relates, may be established, if necessary.(b)When possible, investigating police officers should be encouraged to attend the post-mortem examination.(c)When a Magistrate in session of a case considers, for reasons to be recorded in writing, the presence of another medical practitioner to be essential in the interest of justice, one or more medical practitioners to be selected by the Magistrate, may be allowed to be present as witnesses at an autopsy or other medico-legal examination, conducted by a medical officer in the service of the Crown in connection with the case.
