NCJ Number
55694
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
IN ADDITION TO KNIFE WOUNDS, THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF WOUNDS INFLICTED BY SCISSORS, MEAT CLEAVERS, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER SHARP-EDGED OBJECTS. WAYS TO DIFFERENTIATE HOMICIDE AND SUICIDE ARE GIVEN.
Abstract
ATTACKS INVOLVING A MULTIPLICITY OF WOUNDS ARE USUALLY EASY TO INTERPRET, BUT IT DIFFICULT TO TELL IF A SINGLE ABDOMINAL WOUND IS SELF-INFLICTED, ACCIDENTAL, OR THE RESULT OF AN ATTACK. THE PATHOLOGIST IS ADVISED TO FOCUS ON THE NUMBER OF WOUNDS ON THE BODY, THEIR POSITION, SHAPE, LENGTH, AND DEPTH; AND THE DIRECTION OF THRUST. TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINING DEPTH AND DIRECTION OF THRUST ARE GIVEN. THE FORCE NEEDED TO INFLICT SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY IS OFTEN LESS THAN IMAGINED BECAUSE UNDERLYING TISSUES OFFER LITTLE RESISTANCE. BECAUSE PERSONS SUFFERING SEVERE WOUNDS OFTEN LIVE FAR LONGER THAN ONE WOULD ANTICIPATE, PATHOLOGISTS SHOULD BE GUARDED IN THE ASSESSMENTS OF TIME LAPSE BEFORE DEATH. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE TYPES OF WOUNDS LEFT BY SINGLE-BLADED, DOUBLE-BLADED, AND BLUNT BUT POINTED OBJECTS. OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS AND THOSE INFLICTED BY AN ASSAILANT. SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN CONDUCTING AN AUTOPSY ARE ENCOUNTERED WHEN THE PERSON HAS UNDERGONE SURGERY IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE LIFE. IN SUCH CASES THE SURGEON SHOULD BE PART OF THE POST MORTEM EXAMINATION TEAM. ACCIDENTAL STAB WOUNDS ARE OFTEN QUITE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. CAREFUL ATTENTION MUST BE PAID TO ANY MINOR ABRASIONS WHICH WOULD THROW ADDITIONAL LIGHT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE INJURY. GREAT EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE INJURIES ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE DEATH AND THAT THE SO-CALLED ACCIDENT IS NOT A WELL-PLANNED HOMICIDE. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)