Citation

Sidlo J, Valko S, Valent D. Rechtsmedizin 2009; 19(3): 165-167.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00194-009-0593-4

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicides using cutting tools are seldom suicide methods in forensic medicine practice. This paper reports the analysis of a suicide committed by a 56-year-old man with a homemade cutting tool resembling a guillotine. The construction was very interesting and sophisticated. The guillotine-like blade was placed in a tin box which was tightly fixed to the neck by a metal collar. The steel blade was triggered by a tensioned rubber band after releasing the safety catch. The cause of death was immediate exsanguination after nearly complete severance of the neck. The suicide motive was tax debts. There are only two similar cases of suicide by a homemade guillotine described in literature. © 2009 Springer Medizin Verlag.

Language: de

Keywords

adult; human; suicide; Suicide; male; case report; cause of death; article; neck; equipment; Cutting tool; Homemade guillotine; Tax debts