The “Bestie di Satana” Murders

In recent years, satanic groups have been responsible for various types and degrees of crimes. We report the case of a number of murders committed in Italy by a group of young people calling themselves the “Bestie di Satana”. Forensic psychiatric assessment of the members of a satanic sect charged with the crime revealed that all the young people had a fragile, immature personality, a very low level of education and were socially disadvantaged. The trial of the members of the “Bestie di Satana” sect was concluded with the verdict of deliberate murder, and all the members were given long jail sentences. This report should lead us to explore social and cultural responses to juvenile satanism, statistically shown to be a relatively rare phenomenon but with a high criminal potential.     

CRIMINAL BEWARE: A SOCIAL NORMS PERSPECTIVE ON POSTING PUBLIC WARNING SIGNS*

Recent studies have suggested that crime‐prevention strategies tend to interact with characteristics of the community in such a way that what works in one community might not work in another. In this article, we extend this finding to fear of crime and residents' perceptions of crime using a Focus Theory of Normative Conduct framework. Data are reported from three experiments that examine the impact of publicly posted Neighborhood Watch signs on perceived crime rates and worry about victimization. The studies used a virtual community tour to assess the causal impact of Neighborhood Watch sign presence and content. Across the experiments, we consistently find the potential for publicly posted Neighborhood Watch signs to produce unintended consequences such as increased fear of crime and worry about victimization. Moreover, the outcomes associated with posting the signs are influenced not only by the information printed on the sign but also by an interaction between the signs themselves and the environmental context in which they are posted.     

Fractography of the long tubular bones of the lower extremities in trauma by blunt objects

New data on micromorphological signs of fracture of long tubular bones in normal distribution and transformation of deforming forces are presented. Fractographic signs of bone for each destructive stage, signs of repeated trauma are singled out. Interrelationship between bone microstructure and conditions of its destruction is stated.     

Sudden death in an infant caused by rupture of a basilar artery aneurysm.

Ruptured aneurysms of the cerebrovasculature in infancy and early childhood, except for "giant" aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, are rare. Seizures, loss of consciousness, and apnea are the usual presenting signs in infancy; symptoms such as headache or visual disturbances and signs such as cranial nerve compression or meningeal irritation commonly found in older children or adults are absent in infants. However, the morphologic findings (i.e., subarachnoid and retinal hemorrhage, and occasionally subdural hemorrhage) may be mistaken for inflicted trauma, especially if the aneurysm is not identified. Sudden death caused by rupture of a cerebral aneurysm has not been previously described in an infant. This report outlines the investigation and autopsy findings in a 7-month-old infant who died unexpectedly as a result of rupture of a complex basilar artery aneurysm.     

Sudden death in an infant caused by rupture of a basilar artery aneurysm

Ruptured aneurysms of the cerebrovasculature in infancy and early childhood, except for "giant" aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, are rare. Seizures, loss of consciousness, and apnea are the usual presenting signs in infancy; symptoms such as headache or visual disturbances and signs such as cranial nerve compression or meningeal irritation commonly found in older children or adults are absent in infants. However, the morphologic findings (i.e., subarachnoid and retinal hemorrhage, and occasionally subdural hemorrhage) may be mistaken for inflicted trauma, especially if the aneurysm is not identified. Sudden death caused by rupture of a cerebral aneurysm has not been previously described in an infant. This report outlines the investigation and autopsy findings in a 7-month-old infant who died unexpectedly as a result of rupture of a complex basilar artery aneurysm.     

Variants of the signs of death from acute alcohol poisoning stipulated by different features of thanatogenesis

Two variants of thanatogenesis were formulated in cases of death of acute alcohol intoxication; according to the above variants, different combinations of macro- and micro signs as well as of biochemical indices of carbohydrates content in the hepatic tissues and blood are revealed during cadaver examinations. The diagnostic value of the mentioned signs demands that the thanatogenesis specific features must be taken into account in each separate case.     

Geographical indications outside the European Regulation on PGIs, and the rule of the free movement of goods: lessons from cases judged by the Court of Justice of the European Communities

Several recent cases judged by the Court of Justice of the European Communities (the Court) have raised interesting issues related to the possibility for operators of food chains to use national quality signs to indicate territory of origin, which are different from the regulatory European ??Protected Geographical Indications??. The various attempts by France (a list of quality signs), Germany (??Markenqualit?t aus deutschen Landen?? sign) and Belgium (??Walloon?? sign) have all been condemned as protectionist policies contradicting the free movement of goods in the European Market. These national quality signs can be seen as attempt to defend the viability of specific kinds of activities (involving small enterprises) in specific places (rural areas). These cases are a good illustration of the difficulties that a Member State of the European Communities (Member State) faces in trying to protect its traditional activities and/or rural areas in a way that is compatible with free markets. The paper analyses the recent court decisions underlining economic aspects such as information delivery and the cost of alternative protection mechanisms for these activities. We highlight in particular the collective trademarks and the kind of intellectual property right they form by the economic theory of clubs, and make some comparisons with protected geographical indications.     

Potentialities of histological examinations of the spleen in the diagnosis of alcoholic and narcotic intoxication

Qualitative changes observed in the spleen in chronic narcotic and alcoholic intoxication are described. The below signs are recommended for use in the diagnosis of chronic exogenous intoxication: an increased thickness and sclerosis of the splenic connective structures and myelosis of the red pulp. The diagnostic criteria of chronic intoxication with intravenous opiates are the below changes in the spleen: hyperplasia of the splenic follicles, germinative foci in the follicles' stases and folds in vessels, edema of the vascular wall, hyperemia of follicular arteries and diapedetic hemorrhages. Hypoplasia of the follicles and venous hyperemia of the spleen should be regarded as signs of chronic alcoholic intoxication. The data obtained within the case study can be used by forensic medical experts in the diagnosis of narcotic and alcoholic intoxication.     

Dynamics of morphological changes in the central nervous system as a criteria for lifetime thermal trauma

An attempt was made in the present study to specify the signs of a lifetime thermal trauma (TT) by examining the dynamics of ultrasound changes in the central nervous system (CNS). Derangements of interneuronic bonds and of interrelations between the neurons and capillaries are typical for changes in the brain at thermal trauma. The former is documented by changes in the synaptic apparatus, and the latter--by an edema of the glia cell processes, which account for the transportation of substances from the blood flow into neurons. Such changes can be regarded as the signs of a lifetime TT, which makes it possible to recommend to use the photo-optic and electron-microscopic examinations of the cerebral tissues in the forensic medicine for the differential diagnosis of lifetime and postmortem TTs.     

Child sexual abuse: an Italian perspective

The problem of child sexual abuse is a growing reality in Italy. The experience of over 200 children seen by the SVS (Soccorso Violenza Sessuale) Centre in Milan (the first Italian large-scale study) may give more information on the European situation. This study is a retrospective study based on information contained in the files of children beneath the age of 14 seen at the SVS Centre between May 1996 and May 2003, who arrived with a suspicion of child sexual abuse. Over 80% of all cases fell within the normal-aspecific category according to Adams' 2001 classification. This first Italian survey, though not based on substantiated cases but only on cases of suspected sexual abuse, supplies a perspective on a large northern European city such as Milan. Data seem similar to those published in other non-European studies, particularly as regards clinical signs observed. Thus, the results of this study, with all their limitations, start to give a perspective on the frequency and type of child population reaching this Italian center, what the scenarios are, what signs the children present and how infrequent it is to find clinical anogenital signs concerning for sexual abuse.     

The role of stretching in the process of fracture formation

The author analyses various kinds of bone deformations. The stretching development and its influence on fracture formation are described in the article. Morphological signs confirming presence of stretching as a destroy moment are represented.     

Assessment of hemorrhagic syndrome of the digestive tract in acute poisoning evaluation

Morphologic features and differential diagnostical signs of hemorrhagic syndrome variants in the digestive tract in acute poisonings are described. Medicolegal value, conditions of occurrence as well as some possibilities to prevent gastro-intestinal hemorrhage occurring due to defects when providing medical care in case of poisoning are presented.     

The forensic medical expertise of acute local radiation trauma]

Informative diagnostical criteria of medicolegal evaluation and prognosis of corporal lesion gravity in case of acute local radiation trauma as well as algorithm of medicolegal diagnostical process concerning these lesions with reference to external radiation exposure, kind of injuring factor, differential-diagnostical signs of acute local radiation trauma are suggested. They make it possible to formulate medicolegal diagnosis and can form the basis for developing diagnostical programmes.     

Strangulation marks in homicides caused by choking ? On an irritant blood stain picture

Three homicides and one attempted homicide by choking in which apparent signs of throttling were present on the skin of the neck are described. The victims wore slender necklaces which were pressed against the skin by the hands of the perpetrator, causing transverse hematomas and cutaneous abrasions. The following criterious are typical for simulated signs of throttling: similarity to objects on the neck, incomplete course around the neck, absence of coarctation of the soft tissues, no lesions of subcutaneous structures.     

Historical aspects of the determination of the time of death

The origins of the determination of the time of death are presented with special reference to the signs of death, rigor mortis and body cooling, as well as to the supravital electrical response of skeletal muscle. The systematic method for future research resulting from these old experiments is presented, with the aim of making a more precise estimation of the time of death by standardization of the influencing factors.     

Diagnostic criteria in acute ethanol intoxication as cause of death

There are described, in the paper, morphological, chemical and biochemical signs in acute alcoholic intoxication. A complex approach is suggested to diagnosing an acute alcoholic intoxication as death reason.     

Anal findings in sexual abuse of children (a descriptive study)

The aim of this study was to assess anal physical findings in children whose abuse was admitted by the perpetrator. Fifty children were studied in whom medical assessment took place remote in time from anal abuse which was admitted by the perpetrator. Medical assessment included examination to detect the presence of anal physical signs. Most frequent signs were anal scars and tags (either single or multiple) present, respectively, in 84 and 32% of cases. In some cases scars extended to the perianal region. Other signs included reflex anal dilatation (RAD) and venous congestion (VC) found, separately or associated with other signs, in over 33% of the cases. In 6% of the cases there were no abnormal anal findings. The results confirm earlier reports that physical signs, including scars, tags, RAD, funneled anus and extensive venous congestion, are often present in abused children, singly or in combination, and that anal examination should be undertaken even months after a known or suspected sexual assault. In the legal setting these physical signs are seen in association with anal abuse and support the child's statement. They do not per se provide proof of abuse.     

The significance of the legal term "corpse" in forensic medicine

The definition of the term "corpse" is relevant for medicine in general and most particularly so for forensic medicine, as it has direct consequences on practical work: legally, postmortems and autopsies may only be performed on corpses. With this in mind, the legal term "corpse" was examined on the basis of German State Law regulations and provisions. Approximately half the burial acts include a definition of "corpse", but even here there are certain variations. The definitions for "corpse" can be divided into four categories: 1) according to the lack of vital signs or sure signs of death 2) according to the degree of decomposition and/or cohesion of body parts 3) on the basis of severed body parts, and 4) terminological differentiation of stillbirths and neonatal fatalities from miscarriages. Laws vary greatly in their definition of the term "corpse". Therefore, the decision whether or not human remains or parts thereof qualify as a "corpse" should be left to medical discretion.