Citation

Oki T, Asamura H, Hayashi T, Ota M. Forensic Sci. Int. 2010; 202(1-3): e19-21.

Affiliation

Department of Legal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Asahi 3-1-1, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.04.037

PMID

20570454

Abstract

This article presents a highly unusual homicide involving intracranial stab wounds. Of three members of a family killed by intracranial stab wounds apparently inflicted with metal tent stakes, two also showed signs of wounds inflicted during an apparent struggle with the assailant. A wooden mallet appears to be the implement use to drive the metal stakes into the cranial cavity. In all victims, toxicological analysis indicated the presence of brotizolam at concentrations ranging from 30 to 50ngml(-1). The one victim who showed no signs of wounds incurred during a defensive struggle was found to have blood alcohol levels of 2.87mgml(-1). The assailant, another family member with a history of major psychiatric disorders, apparently committed suicide by drowning following the attacks.

Language: en