Homicidal Deaths in the Western Suburbs of Paris

Abstract

The aim of our study was to analyze the homicide pattern in the Western suburbs of Paris and its evolution between 1994 and 2008. All autopsy reports regarding homicides from the period January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2008, were retrospectively reviewed. Five hundred eleven homicide cases were selected of 4842 autopsy cases. The following data were recorded: assailants and victims characteristics, crime scene location, homicide motive, cause of death, and victim's postmortem toxicological results. Homicide rate steadily declined over the period at the exception of the number of homicide-suicide per year, which remained constant. Homicide victims remained unidentified after medicolegal investigations in 2% of the cases. Child and elder homicide cases represented, respectively, 10.7% and 8.2% of the cases. Offenders were male in 88% of the cases. Male and female assailants showed distinct homicide patterns: females were involved more frequently in familial quarrel and child abuse. They never killed a stranger and committed homicide exclusively in a private place with a predominance of sharp weapons. Males, in contrast, assaulted almost equally a stranger or an acquaintance, often in a public place with a predominance of firearm. Victim knew the assailant(s) in 57% of the cases. Homicides mostly took place at the residence of the assailant or the victim. Homicide motive was clearly determined in 71% of the cases. Argument was the most common motive in 44% of the cases. Sexual assault was rarely found (10 cases). Gunshot wounds were the most common cause of death (37%), followed by stab wounds (27%), blunt trauma (19%), and asphyxia (13%). A decrease of gunshot wounds as a cause of death was found over the studied period. Alcohol was the most common toxic detected in blood of the victim, in 48.5% of the cases when toxicological results were available. Blood alcohol concentration ranged from 1 to 500 mg/dL with a mean value of 150 mg/dL.

Intra- and extra-familial child homicide in Sweden 1992–2012: A population-based study

“…Finally, we found that about half of the casesfor which we had access to both offender and victim datadisplayed positive toxicology in both parties. That finding is consistent with prior research, whereby a substantial portion of homicides occur following altercations between individuals who consume alcohol together (Cros, Alvarez, Sbidian, Charlier, & Lorin de la Grandmaison, 2012;Wahlsten, Koiranen, & Saukko, 2007).…”

Medicolegal characteristics of homicides in Belgrade population

“…Ubijene osobe su znatno ređe ženskog pola, a najčešće su bile žrtve svojih partnera ili razbojništva. Dobro poznata i u sudskomedicinskoj praksi često potvrđena činjenica da su žene mnogo ređe žrtve ubistava u odnosu na muškarce potvrđena je i ovim istraživanjem (1,(16)(17)(18).…”

“…kontaktnim ubistvima, pre svega nožem ili nekim tupim oruđem. U francuskoj studiji alkoholisanost je potvrđena čak u 48,5% žrtava ubistava kod kojih je urađena hemijskotoksikološka analiza na alkohol (16), što je znatno veća učestalost nego kod naših žrtava.…”

“…Muškarci kao sredstvo izvršenja ubistva najčešće koriste vatreno oružje, a žene češće koriste mehaničko oruđe (npr. nož) (16). To je još jedan dokaz da napadač izvršenje ubistva i sredstvo kojim će ga izvršiti unapred planira procenjujući fizičku snagu potencijalne žrtve.…”

“…Slično našim podacima, Hilal i ostali su potvrdili da je 54,83% od svih ubistava u Adani u Turskoj tokom petogodišnjeg perioda počinjeno vatrenim oružjem (21). Nasuprot tome, u nekim studijama taj udeo je znatno manji; u Šri Lanki 31%; u zapadnom predgrađu Pariza 37% (16,22). Međutim, svi navedeni podaci govore da je ubistvo ubikvitarna pojava i da se sa njim suočavaju u manjem ili većem stepenu mnoge zemlje sveta.…”