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9. There shall be thorough, prompt and impartial investigation of all suspected cases of extra-legal,
arbitrary and summary executions, including cases where complaints by relatives or other reliable
reports suggest unnatural death in the above circumstances. Governments shall maintain investigative
offices and procedures to undertake such inquiries. The purpose of the investigation shall be to
determine the cause, manner and time of death, the person responsible, and any pattern or practice
which may have brought about that death. It shall include an adequate autopsy, collection and
analysis of all physical and documentary evidence and statements from witnesses. The investigation
shall distinguish between natural death, accidental death, suicide and homicide.
10. The investigative authority shall have the power to obtain all the information necessary to the
inquiry. Those persons conducting the investigation shall have at their disposal all the necessary
budgetary and technical resources for effective investigation. They shall also have the authority to
oblige officials allegedly involved in any such executions to appear and testify. The same shall apply to
any witness. To this end, they shall be entitled to issue summonses to witnesses, including the officials
allegedly involved and to demand the production of evidence.
11. In cases in which the established investigative procedures are inadequate because of lack of
expertise or impartiality, because of the importance of the matter or because of the apparent existence
of a pattern of abuse, and in cases where there are complaints from the family of the victim about
these inadequacies or other substantial reasons, Governments shall pursue investigations through an
independent commission of inquiry or similar procedure. Members of such a commission shall be
chosen for their recognized impartiality, competence and independence as individuals. In particular,
they shall be independent of any institution, agency or person that may be the subject of the inquiry.
The commission shall have the authority to obtain all information necessary to the inquiry and shall
conduct the inquiry as provided for under these Principles.
12. The body of the deceased person shall not be disposed of until an adequate autopsy is conducted
by a physician, who shall, if possible, be an expert in forensic pathology. Those conducting the autopsy
shall have the right of access to all investigative data, to the place where the body was discovered,
and to the place where the death is thought to have occurred. If the body has been buried and it later
appears that an investigation is required, the body shall be promptly and competently exhumed for an
autopsy. If skeletal remains are discovered, they should be carefully exhumed and studied according
to systematic anthropological techniques.
13. The body of the deceased shall be available to those conducting the autopsy for a sufficient
amount of time to enable a thorough investigation to be carried out. The autopsy shall, at a minimum,
attempt to establish the identity of the deceased and the cause and manner of death. The time and
place of death shall also be determined to the extent possible. Detailed colour photographs of the
deceased shall be included in the autopsy report in order to document and support the findings of the
investigation. The autopsy report must describe any and all injuries to the deceased including any
evidence of torture.
14. In order to ensure objective results, those conducting the autopsy must be able to function
impartially and independently of any potentially implicated persons or organizations or entities.
15. Complainants, witnesses, those conducting the investigation and their families shall be protected
from violence, threats of violence or any other form of intimidation. Those potentially implicated in
extra-legal, arbitrary or summary executions shall be removed from any position of control or power,
whether direct or indirect. over complainants, witnesses and their families, as well as over those
conducting investigations.
16. Families of the deceased and their legal representatives shall be informed of, and have access to.
any hearing as well as to all information relevant to the investigation, and shall be entitled to present
other evidence. The family of the deceased shall have the right to insist that a medical or other
qualified representative be present at the autopsy. When the identity of a deceased person has been
determined, a notification of death shall be posted, and the family or relatives of the deceased shall be
informed immediately. The body of the deceased shall be returned to them upon completion of the
investigation.