Delayed deaths after vascular traumatism: Two cases

The differential diagnosis between self-inflicted and nonself-inflicted, suicidal and homicidal, injuries is difficult or impossible in many cases and, above all, cannot be made on the basis of information obtained solely from the autopsy or the medicolegal clinical examination. The purpose of this study is to analyze the literature on suicidal and homicidal sharp force injuries and identify the relevant parameters that may help differentiate between suicidal and homicidal deaths. To achieve this goal, a review of 595 potentially relevant articles was performed. After excluding the nonrelevant papers by screening the titles, all abstracts were reviewed, and articles meeting the inclusion criteria underwent a full-text review. The following parameters were compiled into a table: number of cases, localization of the injuries, and number of injuries. The data were statistically analyzed and compared with those available in the forensic literature. On the basis of the heterogeneity of data revealed by the present review, a simple and short checklist of the parameters that should be included when reporting suicides and homicides by sharp force has been proposed.

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“…The data collected from reviewing the literature concerning suicidal and homicidal injuries are summarized in Table .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicidal or Homicidal Sharp Force Injuries? A Review and Critical Analysis of the Heterogeneity in the Forensic Literature

De-Giorgio

Lodise

Quaranta

et al. 2014

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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“…The estimation of the possibility of physical activity and its duration after injury is necessary to reconstruct the entire event but difficult because of lack of information and possible variation from one individual to another (10). A stab wound of the trachea or jugular vein does not lead to immediate incapacitation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Suicide by sharp force injury to the neck is considered quite rare (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6), and few cases have been published in the forensic literature (1,3,(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). In these cases, the main task for the pathologist is to state the manner of death (homicide versus suicide).…”

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confidence: 99%

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A Case of Multiple Self‐Inflicted Stab Wounds of the Neck Captured on Surveillance Video

Alunni

Cabusat-Mailliet

Quatrehomme

2020

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Multiple sharp force injuries in a victim make it difficult to distinguish between homicide and suicide. Forensic pathologists also may be unable to determine the total survival time and the survival time with physical activity due to lack of evidence. The authors report here on a case of nineteen stab wounds of the neck, which led to an initial suspicion of homicide. The scene was however captured on surveillance video, which provided a precise description of the wound mechanism and led to the injuries being reclassified as suicidal. No other description of a suicide with such a high number of severe stab wounds has been documented in the literature. The video footage provided additional information concerning survival time. Physical activity was well documented during at least 4 min after the last stab wound and the total survival period was at least 6 min, despite the perforation of both jugular veins and the trachea. Vein injuries are less rapidly lethal than artery injuries. Injuries of the major airways are not immediately lethal and do not lead to immediate incapacitation. The benefit of the video evidence is to highlight wound features that may suggest a suicidal manner and inform forensic pathologists about survival intervals after severe stab wounds to the neck.

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“…Dealing with the crime scene scenario we emphasize that the first two victims were found about not far the place where the fatal injuries were sustained. Recent literature reports that a person whose carotid is cut is able to move for at least 10 m [22][23]. In case 1 only the jugular vein was cut -the victim was able to survive for minutes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicidal cut-throat and stab fatalities: three case reports

Solarino¹,

Buschmann²,

Tsokos³

2011

RJLM

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Fatalities resulting from sharp force injuries may be of accidental, homicidal or suicidal origin. Cut-throat and cut-stab wounds are "effective" in homicidal attacks with sharp objects, e. g. knifes, while accidental injuries in this topographic region caused by sharp objects are rarely seen and most often caused by broken glass. Self-inflicted cut throat and stab wounds are uncommon but nevertheless a well recognized method of suicide. In these cases, presence or absence of particular features (e.g., hesitation marks, defensive wounds) can allow distinction between suicide and homicide, especially if further circumstances, i.e. atypical crime scene scenarios or missing suicide notes, need the forensic pathologist to have an incredulous approach regarding the manner of death. The present article describes three cases of suicidal cut throat and stab wounds-crime scene investigations as well as medical history and autopsy findings are discussed.

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Delayed deaths after vascular traumatism: Two cases

Cited by 7 publications

References 12 publications

Suicidal or Homicidal Sharp Force Injuries? A Review and Critical Analysis of the Heterogeneity in the Forensic Literature

Suicidal or Homicidal Sharp Force Injuries? A Review and Critical Analysis of the Heterogeneity in the Forensic Literature

A Case of Multiple Self‐Inflicted Stab Wounds of the Neck Captured on Surveillance Video

Suicidal cut-throat and stab fatalities: three case reports

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