Citation

Grimm U, Sigrist T. Arch. Kriminol. 1998; 201(5-6): 137-145.

Vernacular Title

Verbrennen im Freien. Tod durch eigene oder fremde Hand?

Affiliation

Institut für Rechtsmedizin am Kantonsspital St. Gallen.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Verlag Schmidt-Romhild)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9701748

Abstract

The authors report on four cases of suicidal fire deaths in the open air. In three cases the proper cause of death was severe burning and in one case deep cuts of the neck. In all these events the concentrations of CO-Hb were < 30%. Kerosene was indicated in lipophile tissue or lung in two cases. There was no evidence of incapacitation preceding the exposition to fire. The autopsy findings and the scene allowed a reconstruction of the course of events. All victims had motives of suicide. The authors conclude that close cooperation between police, fire experts and forensic medicine is necessary to permit a correct classification of the mode of death in such cases.

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