If I had been accused of murder (n Ancient Rome, say 10AD) how would the investigation of this murder play out?

by alekzander01
LegalAction

I have no idea. The crimes that got recorded and whose records survive tend to be political crimes. Now, some political crimes included charges of murder, but it's murder of a political figure, not you. No one cares if someone kills you. Sorry.

A good example of a political murder case in the 1st century CE is the case of Cn. Calpurnius Piso, because we have the verdict. Unfortunately the only access to this document I know is behind a paywall, but if you have some way to get it, you can look up AJPh vol. 120 no. 1 (1999) pp. 13-42.

You can look up the story in Tacitus, Annals books 2 and 3. The story of the trial occurs in book 3.7 ff. Briefly, the presumed heir to the throne, Germanicus, under the emperor Tiberius died mysteriously in Syria. He had been having problems with his subordinate Cn. Calpurnius Piso (including a brief war against each other). Piso ended up being charged with murder. Piso died before the trial ended. The case was tried in the senate. Here is the question Tiberius put to the senate (this is reported in the verdict. Sorry for the spoiler):

How the case of the elder Cn. Piso had seemed and whether he seemed to have taken his life with due cause, and

How the case of M. Piso [Piso's son] had seemed (to which item he had added that the senators be mindful of his entreaties on behalf of the young man); and

How the case of Plancina [Piso's wife] had seemed (for which person he had previously explained what he sought and for what reasons), and

What the Senate's judgment was concerning Visellius Karus and Sempronius Bassus, members of the elder Cn. Piso's staff

In the trial, according to Tacitus, Tiberius spoke in the senate (Tac. Ann. 3.12 ff) in a way that seems to me quite even handed. Tiberius asks the senate to determine whether Piso killed Germanicus, or merely rejoiced at his death. The prosecution had two days to make its case; the defense, three. The prosecution argued Piso had corrupted the troops, abandoned his province, he had personally insulted Germanicus, and he had poisoned him. The only defense the defense (ick at my prose - sorry) made was about the poisoning charge. Tacitus seems to think that was totally implausible, but reports that the senate found Piso guilty on that charge also. Some senators asked to see correspondence between Tiberius and Piso; Tiberius refused to show them anything. Plancina (Piso's wife), when things looked bad for Piso, started a separate defense. Someone started a rumor that Piso had a document from Tiberius instructing Piso to kill Germanicus. Shortly after that, Piso showed up dead, officially a suicide.

The verdict (which I already mentioned) is inscribed and survives; it is an authentic legal document. The senate decided Piso was a thoroughly bad guy; that he had killed Germanicus; that he had tried to start a civil war; that he executed Roman citizens without trial; that he had rejoiced at Germanicus' death and disrespected Augustus the god. Therefore, given the fact that Piso was already dead, this was what to be done: Piso didn't get what he deserved; no one is allowed to mourn his death; no one in his family was allowed to be mourned when they die; his name was to be stricken from any public monument and his property confiscated; some property would be left to Piso's son if he changed his name; any buildings Piso built were to be demolished; Plancina (the wife) got off scott free; and that Tiberius was a really great guy.

TL:DR I wrote all that and you will damn well read it. Also, don't let anyone think you killed important people.

EDIT: OMG I can't spell names to save my life!