Citation

Kumar S A, Kumar Ms V, Babu YR, Prasad M. Med. Leg. J. 2016; 84(3): 156-158.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka), District Hospital, Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Medico-Legal Society, Publisher SAGE Publications)

DOI

10.1177/0025817216656582

PMID

27381317

Abstract

Cut-throats can be of homicidal, suicidal or accidental origin. In cases of death from a cut-throat, distinguishing the cause is one of the important functions in crime investigation. The features that differentiate suicidal and homicidal cut-throat injuries are the presence of hesitation cuts, depth of wound, signs of struggle, edges of the wound, etc. In the case of a suicidal cut-throat, it is not uncommon to find hesitation cuts but in a homicidal cut-throat, it is uncommon. We present a case of a homicidal cut-throat injury but with hesitation cuts and tailing over the neck, unlike the classical description of homicidal cut-throat injury. This resulted from a curved, sharp and moderately heavy weapon.

© The Author(s) 2016.

Language: en