Page 256 - Deception at work all chapters EBook

Conducting Tough Interviews 257

Table 7.17 Most likely reactions to repeated questions

Reactions indicating innocence Reactions indicating guilt

Will usually answer the question then point out Will object to being asked the same question,
you have asked it before but then may answer

ASK IF THERE IS ANY REASON

Ask the subject if there is any reason why the evidence makes it appear that he is responsible
(Table 7.18).

Example : ‘Tom, I have already explained some of the evidence to you and you have to admit
it does not look good. Bill Jones, your manager agrees. What do you want to tell me about
this? ’

Table 7.18 Most likely reactions to strong evidence

Reactions indicating innocence Reactions indicating guilt
Deny that the evidence points his way
May give a reason which is usually facile or say ‘I
don’t know’

GET HIM TO HANDLE INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE

Hand the subject documents or other incriminating evidence and ask him to explain them:
‘Can you explain this?’ (Table 7.19).

Table 7.19 Most likely reactions to incriminating evidence

Reactions indicating innocence Reactions indicating guilt
Will make abnormal assumptions and not ask for
May ask for clarification on what the clarification
documents mean May not examine carefully
Will push the documents out of his personal space
Will examine carefully and reply

Will retain the documents within his personal
space

ASK HOW HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT

Ask the suspect to tell you how he would have committed the act in question. Get him to go
through exact details step by step, and watch for disclosure of facts that only the perpetrator
would know. Then ask direct, admission-seeking questions (Table 7.20).