A Review of Weapon Choice in Violent and Sexual Crime

Dawson, Paul; Goodwill, Alasdair M.

doi:10.4236/blr.2013.41003

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…In contrast, previous long-duration enmity-related violence was commonly observed among sharp trauma cases, though there was a significant number of sudden provocation-related violence. Accessibility and availability of a weapon in the vicinity at the time of argument results in armed violence in cases of sudden provocation and family disputes (22). In a study on domestic violence, Sorenson and Wiebe report that hands and feet were the most common method of assault (23).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicolegal Aspects of Victims of Assault Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka

Jayasundara¹,

Thivaharan²,

Muthulingam³

et al. 2021

Academic Forensic Pathology

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Introduction: Violence with physical assault is a common cause of morbidity and mortality prevalent but not limited to underdeveloped countries. The opinion of the forensic expert is often indispensable in such cases to determine the penalties. This study was planned to describe the pattern of presentation of the victims and evaluate the strengths and limitations in formulating a scientific medicolegal opinion based on the findings of the victim. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study based on the case records of the victims of assault admitted to Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka, was conducted for four years. Results: Out of the 400 victims, the majority (72% n = 290) were males and of the age-group of 21 to 40 (n = 216). The reason for assault in the majority was sudden provocation (n = 99, 25%), followed by previous long-duration enmity (n = 89, 22%). The majority (83%) had isolated blunt force trauma, and the injuries were nongrievous (74%). Defense injuries were significantly associated with attempted defense (p = 0.000) and sharp force trauma (p = 0.002). The underlying reason for the assault was not significantly associated with the causative weapon (p = 0.228) or body region injured (p = 0.195). Conclusions: Even though the presentation and the pattern of injures are definitely of value in formulating a scientific opinion, the study identified the limitations of the forensic experts, and the need for a holistic approach at the investigations was highlighted.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicolegal Aspects of Victims of Assault Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka

Jayasundara¹,

Thivaharan²,

Muthulingam³

et al. 2021

Academic Forensic Pathology

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“…Although a glass bottle can be considered to be a weapon used on impulse, it causes injuries which are similar to those caused by any sharp object. 46 Glass bottles are used to take advantage of and neutralise an opponent. 30 , 47 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glass injuries seen in the emergency department of a South African district hospital

Nzaumvila

Govender

Kramer

2015

Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med.

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BackgroundThe emergency department of Embhuleni Hospital frequently manages patients with glass-related injuries. This study assessed these injuries and the glass that caused them in more detail.AimThe objectives of our study included determining the type of glass causing these injuries and describing the circumstances associated with different types of glass injuries.SettingThe emergency department of Embhuleni Hospital in Elukwatini, Mpumalanga province, South Africa.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study with a sample size of 104 patients. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the characteristics of the glass injuries.ResultsFive different types of glass were reported to have caused the injuries, namely car glass (7.69%), glass ampoules (3.85%), glass bottles (82.69%), glass windows (3.85%) and street glass shards (1.92%). Glass bottle injuries were mainly caused by assaults (90.47%) and most victims were mostly young males (80.23%). The assaults occurred at alcohol-licensed premises in 65.11% of cases. These injuries occurred mostly over weekends (83.72%), between 18:00 and 04:00. The face (34.23%) and the scalp (26.84%) were the sites that were injured most often.ConclusionAssault is the most common cause of glass injuries, usually involving young men at alcohol-licensed premises. Glass injuries generally resulted in minor lacerations, with few complications (2.68%).

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“…Any attempt to define weapons emphasises the fractious nature of the concept. Dawson and Goodwill (2013) defined a weapon as "an object used to cause or threaten injury to another" (p.20). This is a useful definition that covers most forms of violence with a weapon.…”

Section: Definitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Stakes

Brennan¹

2017

Oxford Handbooks Online

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This chapter describes the contradictory roles that weapons play in offender decision making as mechanisms that can both increase the physical harm to a victim of violence and also reduce the need for physical harm in victims of robbery. Because weapons serve simultaneously offensive and defensive purposes, the way in which offenders carry and use weapons is subject to a complex decision-making process. This process is presented and interpreted from a rational perspective, incorporating an offender’s calculation of potential benefits and costs as well as the uncertainty of a victim’s response. A rational analysis of weapon carrying and use is presented along with research evidence suggesting that culture and availability are important influences on weapon of choice and weapon-related behavior. The chapter concludes with a review of the effectiveness of weapons in reducing victim resistance and retaliation showing that weapon use is a high-reward/high-cost activity.

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A Review of Weapon Choice in Violent and Sexual Crime

Cited by 8 publications

References 59 publications

Medicolegal Aspects of Victims of Assault Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka

Medicolegal Aspects of Victims of Assault Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka

Glass injuries seen in the emergency department of a South African district hospital

High Stakes

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