Citation

Sharma SK. Internet J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 2000; 1(1).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Anil Aggrawal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A lady, who was noticed hanging from a tree, was brought for autopsy. Neither the initial circumstances nor the autopsy was indicative of homicidal hanging. It is reported that killer's confession turned a simple case of hanging in to that of homicidal. The homicidal claim of the relatives of the deceased appeared incredible till the time actual assassins were caught. Could doctors conducting the autopsy have straightened the homicidal claim of the relatives? It is argued that with the kind of injuries the deceased had, he could not do. The case report discusses the bearing of autopsy on the decision-making of whether hanging was homicidal or suicidal. Autopsy alone may not differentiate suicidal from homicidal or post-mortem changing.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; article; autopsy; case report; cause of death; decision making; female; forensic pathology; hanging; homicide; human; injury; offender; suicide