A case of “atypical homicidal” cut-throat injury

Abstract

Cut-throats can be of homicidal, suicidal or accidental origin. In cases of death from a cut-throat, distinguishing the cause is one of the important functions in crime investigation. The features that differentiate suicidal and homicidal cut-throat injuries are the presence of hesitation cuts, depth of wound, signs of struggle, edges of the wound, etc. In the case of a suicidal cut-throat, it is not uncommon to find hesitation cuts but in a homicidal cut-throat, it is uncommon. We present a case of a homicidal cut-throat injury but with hesitation cuts and tailing over the neck, unlike the classical description of homicidal cut-throat injury. This resulted from a curved, sharp and moderately heavy weapon.

Suicidal Cut-throat Fatalities: A Case Report from the Kingdom of Bahrain

“…When it comes to injuries, a neck injury has great importance, in respect to its situation and circumstances. The distinction between homicidal and suicidal neck injuries is essential; accidental cut-throat injuries are meanwhile rare [5].…”

“…The classical feature of a suicidal cut-throat incision is its obliquity, starting high on one side of the neck below the angle of jaw, ending at a lower level on the other side with the presence of tentative cuts [5]. The pattern found in this case although showing differences from the classic suicidal cut throat as it is multiple cuts connected together to form one major deep incised wound with the presence of hesitation cuts, it also presents itself as another evidence for suicidal manner of death as it is compatible with a person inducing the injuries to himself rather than being murdered by another person.…”

“…The classical description of a throat-cutting suicide is of incisions starting high on the one side of the neck below the angle of the jaw, passing obliquely across the front of the neck to the end on the other side [4]. Homicidal cut-throat injuries are usually single, located over the lower part of the neck and associated with the transection of carotid arteries and vital structures within the neck resulting in arterial bleeding leading to death [5]. Some reported cases show atypical cut-throat injuries, both in suicidal and homicidal nature, as absence of hesitation cuts in suicidal deaths and presence of multiple superficial wounds near the incision wounds in homicidal wounds.…”

“…Some reported cases show atypical cut-throat injuries, both in suicidal and homicidal nature, as absence of hesitation cuts in suicidal deaths and presence of multiple superficial wounds near the incision wounds in homicidal wounds. Most reported cases of cut-throat deaths are inflicted by using knives with exception to accidental injuries where the inflicting instruments vary depending on the available instruments in the vicinity of the victim such as chainsaws or broken glass [5,6].…”