Citation

Germerott T, Jaenisch S, Hatch G, Albrecht UV, Guenther D. Forensic Sci. Int. 2010; 202(1-3): e35-7.

Affiliation

Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Berne, Buehlstrasse 20, 3012 Berne, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.04.053

PMID

20554136

Abstract

The literature contains many case reports of planned and complex suicides, which combine various methods to commit suicide. In this article, we present the anomalous suicide of an adult male by strangulation with a belt and simultaneous ingestion of plaster. The specific circumstances of the case are described and relevant literature is briefly reviewed. This case vignette illustrates one example of the wide ranging methods employed in suicides and may represent the first reported case of a fatal complex suicide involving self-strangulation and plaster ingestion. Knowledge of varied and sometimes unusual suicide methods is important to the forensic investigator to prevent unnecessary criminal investigation and to reliably and confidently establish manner and cause of death.

Language: en