Death after anal "fisting"

A 45-year-old homeless woman was found dead at her usual sleeping place. Apart from traces of blood on the lower abdomen of the body, the police investigations did not produce any clues pointing to an unnatural death. At autopsy, it was found, however, that death had been caused by extensive disruptions of the intestine. After being confronted with the results, the sexual partner of the victim admitted manual anal penetration, but claimed that this had been done by mutual agreement. The court did not accept that statement and sentenced him to life imprisonment for murder. The frequency of such fatal outcomes of anal penetration, the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim and the special features at the scene are discussed.     

Site of injuries in falls on staircases]

52 autopsy cases in combination with falls on staircases examined in the Bonn Institute of Legal Medicine in 1992 to 2000 were evaluated with respect to the query whether the morphological criteria were valid for reconstruction of the fall, in what way facial injuries were involved and whether isolated trunk injuries caused the death. In 80 per cent of all cases the localization of impact on skull and trunk could be deliminated in regards to heaviness of injuries with fractures and involvement of inner organs. Facial injuries were noticed in 50 per cent and were--as well as arm and leg injuries--caused by strike in fall or after impact. In only two cases in consequence of falls on staircases trauma of the trunk led to death by bleeding.     

Histological examination of carotid artery tissue in cases of ligature strangulation and hanging

Violence against the neck can result in a range of macromorphological and micromorphological findings. However, the forensic relevance of the carotid sinus in cases of violence against the neck remains controversial. In this follow-up study of 22 cases of suicidal and accidental strangulations, carotid bifurcations were examined histologically for morphological changes implying direct trauma, including haemorrhage and immunohistochemical expression of heat-shock proteins 27, 60, and 70 and aquaporin-3. These cases were compared with a control group (82 cases) without neck compression or head trauma and with variable causes of death. No relevant histopathological findings implying direct trauma of the carotid bifurcation were found. No cases showed positive aquaporin-3 staining and only five cases showed positive heat-shock protein-27 staining, all of which were hangings. Without massive trauma of the carotid bifurcation, histological alterations cannot be expected. Without signs of rapid death, findings of acute circulatory failure, macromorphological and micromorphological findings of neck compression, and reliable markers indicating relevant impact on the carotid bifurcation the diagnosis of a lethal reflex cannot be verified.

Key points

• Among 22 cases of strangulation causing death, there were 16 cases of hanging and 6 cases of ligature strangulation
• Few cases showed small haemorrhages located predominantly in the surrounding fat and connective tissues; however, the haemorrhages did not have any effects on the tissues
• Neck compression had minimal effects on heat shock protein 27 expression in carotid artery tissue
• Aquaporin-3 staining suggested it is not a useful marker for relevant neck pressure, or that there had not been any relevant neck impact
• Our findings suggested no direct evidence for reflex cardiac death resulting from a brief force against the neck

     

Homicide by unusual‐edged weapons: Forensic considerations of two cases

Homicide by stab wound is common worldwide. However, the use of unusual edged weapons is rarely reported in the forensic literature. Here, we report two cases of homicide involving a Japanese sword, or katana, and a sickle. Both of these weapons can create either stab or incised wounds with some particularities. In our cases, characteristics of the external wounds, internal injuries, and the depth of penetration raised the possibility of an unusual weapon. Meticulous forensic examination of these injuries (morphological characteristics, depth of penetration, trajectories, and cut marks in the bone) may allow the forensic expert to determine the type of weapon used.     

Identification of furosemide in hair in a post‐mortem case by UHPLC‐MS/MS with guidance on interpretation

Testing for drugs in hair raises several difficulties. Among them is the interpretation of the final concentration(s). In a post‐mortem case, analyses revealed the presence of furosemide (12 ng/mL) in femoral blood, although it was not part of the victim's treatment. The prosecutor requested our laboratory to undertake an additional analysis in hair to obtain information about the use of furosemide. A specific method was therefore developed and validated to identify and quantify furosemide in hair by UHPLC‐MS/MS. After decontamination of 30 mg of hair, incubation in acidic condition, extraction with ethyl acetate, the samples were analyzed by UHPLC‐MS/MS. Furosemide was found in the victim's hair at 225 pg/mg. However, it was not possible to interpret this concentration due to the absence of data in the literature. Therefore, the authors performed a controlled study in two parts. In order to establish the basis of interpretation, several volunteers were tested (four after a single 20 mg administration and twenty‐four under daily treatment). The first part indicated that a single dose is not detectable in hair using our method. The second part demonstrated concentrations ranging from 5 to 1110 pg/mg with no correlation between dosage and hair concentrations. The decedent's hair result was interpreted as repeated exposures. In the case of furosemide analysis, hair can provide information about its presence but cannot give information about dosage or frequency of use.     

Postmortem behavior of the rheobase

Own investigations on the postmortem rise of muscular threshold were conducted on 20 bodies with exactly known time of death. Muscular contraction was objectified using a sensitive force transducer. The muscle was excitated using rectangular impulses of 1 second duration of a current intensity which produces a force of muscular contraction of 2.5 mN. These excitations were continued over the postmortem interval until a current intensity of 80 mN doesn't cause a contraction of 2.5 mN any more. Investigations were mainly performed at the thenar muscles. There is a linear relationship between ln of muscular threshold (current intensity) and the time since death (r = 0.965). For any case the linear regression line between ln of muscular threshold and time since death was calculated. With mean values for slope and intercept the time of death was calculated for each measured threshold. Extrapolation of the time since death with mean values also for the slope reveals a much more precise estimation of the time since death than an extrapolation with an individual slope as proposed by Joachim and Feldmann (1980). The method was proved on a random sample of 8 practical cases. The real time since death was always within the 95%-limits of confidence of the extrapolated time since death.     

Determination of the time of death--integration of various partial methods

The criteria for estimating time of death, lividity and rigor mortis according to data worked out by Mallach, together with data concerning the mechanical excitability of skeletal muscles (Prokop), the electrical excitability of face muscles and pharmacologic excitability of the iris (Klein and Klein) were combined with a nomogram of the rectal/brain temperature at time of death to make a rational and practical method of estimating time of death that would be suitable for use at a scene of crime. In each actual case, only a few additional criteria can be used to verify the upper and lower limits of the nomogram readings and to reduce these defined limits. For this reason the outer data from Mallach's tables and Klein's results were separated into upper and lower limits, chronologically arranged and clearly presented. After rectal temperature measurement and corresponding nomogram reading, it is easy to recognize which further criteria must be examined. Analysis of the test results is extremely simple with the aid of the proposed chart.