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Mar-13-2007 23:45

I get the impression that most people ask for motives as a first question as opposed to a suspect's alibi. I've always asked for alibis before motives, with the rationale being that only one person (the suspect) can provide the suspect's alibi, whereas a suspect's motive can come from multiple sources. Is there a reason for asking for motives first instead?

Mar-14-2007 00:26

Same. Sometimes I get daring with suspects who I know have PE against them and ask these people for alibi first, but only if I'm pretty confident that I have enough people left on the list who I haven't talked to yet who I can go strictly motives first with. The reason this works is that the ratio of fake/none: real alibis is relatively fixed at each case level so you can infer whether someone is lying/going to lie about their alibi (or have none), whereas you cannot infer whether someone has a motive. Saves you questions.

Mar-14-2007 03:23

Same here. If I only have two poeple who I haven't questioned and am still looking for supscts then I'll ask motive first. But for everyone else I ask the alibi first.

Mar-14-2007 03:55

Same here.
You need the motives to get a full suspect list, or you'll get stuck. Alibis you can also know by using counting method. So you dont need to ask everyone about alibi.
I usually ask motives till I have the full list and alibis till I have enough to count. But if I already have PE against someone (from my contact) Ill sare and ask alibi first.

Mar-14-2007 13:37

I don't know if this is great approach or not, but because I have flirting, I try to talk to all the men first. I can usually get them to tell me motives and alibis. The female suspects don't talk as much, so I leave them for last and ask alibis.

I like the hybrid approach you all mentioned, I'm going to try to do more of that.

Mar-14-2007 15:52

lol I combine the above approach and yours happy. [*When I have the option*], I ask the women for motive first knowing I'm more likely to be able to question them more efficiently, the stats being in my favour that way (usually), and leaving myself with a question (or two) left over for motive etc

Obviously it doesn't work if my initial list is populated by men, but in general you might as well use the skills you have to your advantage.

Mar-14-2007 15:53

First para *question (or two) left over for alibi etc

Mar-15-2007 02:30

Happy - I do that too!
So I use what I said above, but first on men :P

Mar-15-2007 17:24

I like that approach too! Think I will use it from now. Thanks for all your help everybody!