Citation

Aquila I, Sacco MA, Ricci P, Gratteri S. J. Forensic Sci. 2019; 64(3): 920-924.

Affiliation

Institute of Legal Medicine, Policlinico Universitario S. Venuta, Loc. Germaneto, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13934

PMID

30332508

Abstract

The analysis of botanical traces can be supportive, especially when the crime scene investigation and autopsy do not provide sufficient information. This issue arises most commonly in fatal falls from height. We report the case of a man found dead below a hill. The body showed traumatic injuries from a fall. During the scene investigation, a sampling of botanical elements was carried out on three zones of the hill called the point of loss of balance, the point of fall, and the point of impact. The botanical elements collected on the three zones were compared with those found on the victim and an autopsy was performed. The botanical analysis clarified the phases of falling, as well as allowing us to reconstruct the dynamics and the accidental manner of death.

© 2018 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

autopsy; dynamics; fall from height; forensic botany; forensic science; head injury; manner of death; undergrowth