Citation

Cipolloni L, Besi L, Baldari B, La Russa R, Frati P, Fineschi V. J. Forensic Sci. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Anatomic, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Science, University of Rome "Sapienza", viale Regina Elena 336, 00161, Rome, Italy.

Copyright

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

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.14162

PMID

31404476

Abstract

This study analyzes postmortem records from 260 homicide cases autopsied by the Department of Forensic Medicine in Rome from 2000 to 2014. The victims were mainly males (74%) and young (61% aged from 21 to 50 years). Although the victims were mostly Italians, the number of foreign victims (33%) has increased since 1990, primarily due to immigration. The offenders frequently used firearms (39%), particularly in multiple murders. An increase in blunt (20%) and sharp force (32%) weapons was also seen. The primary crime scene was residential (42%), and the head was the most frequently injured body region. Male victims occurred frequently in the context of organized crime (7.6%). In family or intimate-sexual relationships, women were the majority of victims (8%). Forensic pathologists play an important role during investigation. They should consider all the information available to them, including autopsy information, crime scene information, and crime investigation data.

© 2019 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

Rome; firearms; forensic pathology; forensic science; homicide; sharp instruments; victims