Murder Followed by Suicide: A Newspaper Surveillance Study Using the New York Times Index

Abstract: Murder–suicide is a relatively uncommon event but as reported by the New York Times, it has occurred and continues to occur yearly. Previous research has indicated that those who commit murder–suicides tend to be men, are in or have been in an intimate relationship with the victim, victims tend to be women, and a firearm is most likely to be used. This study uses a newspaper surveillance methodology to examine such cases. Articles from the New York Times as found in the New York Times Index were coded, analyzed, and examined. The cases, 166 in total, support the findings from prior research. The trend data was examined by cross tabulations and chi‐square analysis. The findings suggest that murder–suicides are rare events and when they occur they usually involve a male perpetrator and an intimate partner victim who is either a wife or girlfriend with the event occurring in a private home. A firearm is the most commonly used method for both murders and suicides, particularly if there was more than one murder victim. The authors conclude by suggesting that future research should focus on using the forthcoming data resource in the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to examine the occurrence of murder–suicide.     

Tales of Deviance and Control: On Space,Rules, and Law in Squatter Settlements

In Latin American cities, around a third of the urban population lives in tenure situations that can be designated as informal, yet variation in the ways and extent to which these arrangements do not comply with law is extensive. Furthermore, informal dwellers often employ a variety of strategies to legitimize and ultimately legalize their tenure, implying a dynamic rather than a static relationship between illegality and legality. Conceiving of land tenure in dichotomous terms, as simply being either legal or illegal, therefore, fails to reflect this diversity, nor does it capture the evolving nature of the relationship between informal settlements and the state system. Drawing from the development of squatter settlements in Buenos Aires, this article proposes an alternative perspective and shows how settlements alternate strategies of noncompliance with adaptation to the state legal system to gradually increase their legality.     

A Checklist of Calliphoridae Blowflies (Insecta,Diptera) Associated with a Pig Carrion in Central Brazil*

Abstract: Although the Cerrado is the second major Brazilian biome, few studies have been undertaken about its entomofauna. Blowflies have an important role in forensic entomology, helping in the determination of postmortem intervals. The main goal of this exploratory study was to identify and to catalog the blowfly species associated with a pig carcass. The study was conducted in a pasture in Brasília, Distrito Federal. A pig (Sus scrofa) was killed with a .22 caliber shot in the frontal region of the head. Adult blowflies were surveyed daily from June 1 through 30, 2004. A total of 14,910 adult calliphorids were collected, representing eight species: Chrysomya albiceps, C. megacephala, Cochliomyia macellaria, Chloroprocta idioidea, Hemilucilia semidiaphana, H. segmentaria, Lucilia cuprina, and L. eximia. C. albiceps was the most frequent species, amounting to 94.76% of the catch. Five decomposition stages were observed, and for calliphorids, the most attractive stage was the bloated one.     

Ricochet of a Bullet in the Spinal Canal: A Case Report and Review of the Literature on Bullet Migration

Abstract: Ricochet of a bullet in the spinal canal is well known by neurosurgeons but relatively not a common event in usual medico‐legal autopsy practice. This article presents a homicide case of a penetrating gunshot injury of the lumbar spine through the T12‐L1 intervertebral foramen with active movement of the projectile within the spinal canal to the L5‐S1 level. This case illustrates a bullet intradural and intramedullary active movement because of a ricochet of the body of T12 with active redirection of the path. In the current literature, different types of migration in caudal or cranial direction, intradural, or intramedullary are reported. If spontaneous migration of T10 to S1 seems to be more frequent, some authors reported a C1 to S2 migration. Such migration could be asymptomatic or induce neurological impairment. The medico‐legal consequences of these migrations within the spinal canal are described.     

The Purposes of Legal Punishment

There is a vast literature on the meanings of legal penalties. However, we lack a theory that explains them according to the formation of the modern state. Oakeshott's theory can help explain this phenomenon, leading to an attempt of the individual to take over as many powers of the state as possible. Thus, Kant's and Smith's retributivism is the most consistent of all those theories. Nevertheless, the preventive and resocializing theory of Bentham succeeded eventually. But is this a liberal theory? We contrast the explanations of H.L.A. Hart and Frederick Rosen in order to lay the groundwork for a liberal theory of the meaning of legal sanctions.     

欧洲女翻译家宣言——玛格丽特·泰勒对赞助修辞的颠覆性解构

在《〈骑士伟迹之镜〉译者序》中,玛格丽特·泰勒对权力阶层强加于作为他者存在的非权力阶层的赞助修辞、尤其是对该修辞所遵循的自贬—请求—报效的逻辑,进行了颠覆性的解构。研究其颠覆性本质、特征和意义,将为我国翻译界研究文艺复兴之初的欧洲女性翻译家的创作状况,以及欧洲女性翻译写作话语权的形成,提供重要的参考。     

城乡互动、工农互促的新起点和新课题

我国的城乡互动、工农互促进入了新的历史起点的基本特征是,虽然工业化和城市化拉动了农业和农村的发展,但工农差距、城乡差距进一步扩大了.在这个新的起点上,城乡互动、工农互促,不是单纯靠非农化、城镇化来带动农业和农村的发展,而是要直接以农业、农民和农村为发展对象.因此,工业反哺农业、城市反哺农村是一个新课题.     

刑事庭前程序比较研究——兼论我国刑事庭前程序的重构

在我国刑事审判制度改革过程中,刑事庭前程序改革存在五个亟待解决的问题:单纯的程序性审查,不利于案件的集中审理和诉讼效率的提高;庭审准备不足,致使庭审法官无法集中精力进行庭审;庭前审查程序无法从根本上排除预断;我国现行庭前审查程序使得辩护方的先悉权得不到保障;缺乏对公诉权的制约,审判权与公诉权未能合理配置。可借鉴德国现行的庭前实质审查模式重构我国的刑事庭前审查程序,将立案庭职能扩大,改设为形式审查庭,使我国的庭前程序具备司法审查、过滤、分流和庭前准备四大功能,体现公正与效率两大价值。