Homicidal hanging

We report a case of homicide by hanging of a 29-year-old woman that was committed by her husband, who nearly escaped from justice. We offer some reflections on the rarity of this method of mechanical asphyxia in cases of homicide, and on the difficulties in the diagnosis of the medico-legal etiology of these situations. We also offer a short review of similar cases in the medico-legal literature.     

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and other amphetamine derivatives

As various substances of abuse come under Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Schedule restrictions, slightly modified derivatives (designer drugs) replace them. A series of amphetamine derivatives are discussed in this presentation. Applicable analytical methods are presented. Details of cases handled by the office (hospital patients, driving while under the influence/driving under the influence of drugs [DWI/DUID], and medical examiner cases) are discussed.     

Sex determination of human blood micro-stains and single hairs using specific DNA amplification with polymerase chain reaction

Amplification of Y chromosome specific DNA in vitro enables a rapid and reliable sex determination of human minute traces such as blood stains and hairs. In presence of male DNA a band of 154 bp is visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis after amplification, this band is lacking in case of female DNA alone. Amplification of a sex independent DNA locus (such as a fragment from the alcohol dehydrogenase gene) generates identical reaction products for both sexes. This shows that the absence of a band is not due to the lack of trace DNA. It is possible to perform this technique with as little as 0.5 microliters of blood or with a single hair.     

Survival time and acting capability after fatal injury by sharp weapons

Autopsy reports from 109 victims of fatal injury from sharp weapons were investigated with regard to type and number of lesions, blood loss, degree of alcohol intoxication, survival time and acting capability after the injury. Of the 13 who died immediately, nine had penetrating lesions of the heart. This group also had the highest number of lesions. Sixty-four victims survived for some time. The survival time increased with decreasing number of lesions. The greatest blood loss and the highest blood alcohol concentrations were found in those who survived between 0.5 h and 1 h. Twenty-four victims were able to make physical efforts after the injury and the movements varied from a few steps to the running of several hundred meters. Decisive factors for decrease in survival time and acting capability are penetrating lesions to the heart and the great vessels, and multiplicity of injuries.