Sharp Force Injury Fatalities: A Retrospective Study (1982-2012) in Brescia (Italy)

A retrospective study was carried out on postmortem examination data of 131 sharp force‐related casualties recorded by the Brescia Institute of Forensic Medicine between 1982 and 2012. The objective was to identify relevant parameters that may be used to distinguish the manner of deaths between homi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of forensic sciences 2014-11, Vol.59 (6), p.1568-1574
Main Authors: Vassalini, Marzia, Verzeletti, Andrea, De Ferrari, Francesco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
accidental death
Accidents - statistics & numerical data
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Autopsies
autopsy
defense wounds
Female
Forensic Medicine
forensic science
Forensic sciences
hesitation marks
homicide
Homicide - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Injuries
Italy - epidemiology
Male
manner of death
Mental Disorders - epidemiology
Middle Aged
Murders & murder attempts
pathology
Retrospective Studies
Sex Distribution
sharp force fatalities
Substance-Related Disorders - blood
suicide
Suicide - statistics & numerical data
Wounds, Stab - mortality
Wounds, Stab - pathology
Young Adult
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Summary:A retrospective study was carried out on postmortem examination data of 131 sharp force‐related casualties recorded by the Brescia Institute of Forensic Medicine between 1982 and 2012. The objective was to identify relevant parameters that may be used to distinguish the manner of deaths between homicide, suicide, and accident. The following variables were considered: manner of death; demographic data; scene; type of sharp object; location and numbers of wounds; the presence of hesitation marks/defense wounds; toxicological findings; psychiatric history. There were 92 homicides, 28 suicides, and 11 accidents. Most victims were male, with an average age of 43. Injuries in isolation were present in 9.8% of homicides, in 35.7% of suicides, and in 54.5% of accidents. Most injuries involved the left anterior chest in homicides and the forearms in suicides. This study underlines the importance of a meticulous postmortem examination of injuries on the body and their relationship with other results from the death scene investigation.
ISSN:0022-1198
1556-4029
DOI:10.1111/1556-4029.12487