Paul Bernardo Case Study

Analyzing the Interviewing of Paul Bernardo Interviewing can occur in a formal format, such as in a police station, but can also be as simple as a conversation between two, or more, individuals (Holmgren, 2017, p. 12). The purpose of interviewing can vary depending on the situation, but a variety of factors, such as verbal cues, non-verbal cues, and the environment, are all influential parts of the interview (p. 2-5). Interviewing is a crucial part to part of the justice system because it builds a relationship between the participants in a case and can have a impact on the information available in a case (p. 12). Paul Jason Teale, more commonly known as Paul Bernardo, was charged with two counts each of first degree murder, kidnapping,

He was interviewed by Detective Brad Hoover of the Toronto Police sex crime unit and Constable Darlene Coulis of the Toronto Police Service, in the presence of Bernardo’s attorney, Anthony Bryant. The interviewers were unsuccessful at gaining information about the disappearance of Elizabeth Baine during their interviewing of Paul Bernardo because they asked close-ended questions, did show empathy and respect towards Bernardo, and did not effectively build

121). Close-ended questions are usually asked as a first response to an emergency situation and are essential in dangerous situations (p. 121). Open-ended questions are advantageous when the interviewer wants to create a free flowing dialogue (p. 121). These questions are generally more effective than close-ended questions because they allow for more elaborate responses from the interviewee and they can direct the conversation however they wish (p. 121). Interviewers generally find it natural to ask close-ended questions, but they do not draw as much information from interviewees and often cut interviews short (p. 121).

Use In the Interviews The interviewers continually ask Bernardo close-ended questions in his interview, to which he replied with simple “yeah” answers (Youtube, 2015, 15:23). Hoover asks Bernardo “did you kill Elizabeth Baine on June 19th, 1990” (Youtube, 2015, 15:53). It would have been more effective for Hoover to ask how Bernardo knew Elizabeth Baine or what his relationship with her was. This would have led to an open dialogue, instead of Bernardo’s snark response. Hoover again consecutively asked close-ended questions; he first by asked “did you have anything to do with her disappearance?” (Youtube, 2015, 18:14). A more appropriate open ended question would have been “what did you know about Karla’s