Citation

Atilgan M. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2010; 31(1): 85-86.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine, Akdeniz University Medical Faculty, Antalya Branch of the Council of Forensic Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181c21c24

PMID

19935390

Abstract

Ligature strangulations are usually homicidal. Accidental and suicidal ligature strangulations are quite rare. In this study, an unusual case of suicidal ligature strangulation with a tourniquet method using a walking stick is presented.A 70-year-old-man was found dead in his room, a piece of cloth wrapped around the neck, knotted, and tightened by a walking stick. His hand was still on the walking stick which was seemingly used by him for a tourniquet effect. Autopsy showed bilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle hemorrhage. A thorough death scene investigation, detailed corpse examination, and autopsy are extremely important for determining the manner of death in such ligature strangulation cases.

Language: en