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.     

Elder abuse and neglect cases reviewed by appellate courts

With increasing attention focused on abuse and neglect of the elderly in domestic and institutional settings, nearly every state has passed legislation to protect these vulnerable adults. While the legal system has become involved at the trial court level, the appellate courts have not yet been very active. Only ten reported cases in the United States during 1981–1993 were appealed to a higher court. This article documents these few cases and explores the reasons for their ultimate dispositions.     

Identifying Unit-Dependency and Time-Specificity in Longitudinal Analysis: A Graphical Methodology

Longitudinal analysis in criminology and other social sciences has become an important research tool because it allows us to draw conclusions from observing how multiple units change over time. Unfortunately, its results are more vulnerable to potential influences of unusual observational units or periods of time. Current leverage diagnostics are designed for cross-sectional analysis and are fallible when applied to longitudinal models. This article introduces a graphical diagnostic methodology to systematically examine the sensitivity of longitudinal results to extreme observational units and periods of time—unit-dependency and time-specificity. Further the article illustrates its use with an example testing policy effects on black and white female victimization of intimate partner homicide. Results are displayed in an easily understood graph that provides a snapshot of the results' time-specific patterns and robustness to unit-dependency. Currently, comparable tests for panel analysis are tedious and cumbersome. With this new illuminating methodology, researchers and policy-makers can easily decide whether a time-specific or unit-dependent pattern is consequential.     

Crime patterns and their relation to subjective social stress and support indicators: The role of gender

This study investigated the relationship between the subjective perception of stress and support in the population (as independent variables) and the prevalence of homicide, robbery, and property offenses in society, while controlling for the effect of gender, i.e., how these crimes are related to the differential perception of stress and support among males and females. The theoretical framework is provided by a stress-support model which postulates that crime in society will be positively related to stress factors and negatively related to support systems. Eight stress indicators and four support (solidarity) indicators were included. The data regarding these indicators were derived from continuing surveys of representative samples of the urban population in Israel during the years 1967–1979. The theoretical model was supported by the findings, especially those relating to property offenses. The effects of the female indicators were strongest (and greater than those of males) with regard to property offenses. The regression coefficients of the female indicators were also consistently larger than those of males, indicating that women's perceptions of stress are better predictors of crime rates than those of males. The results are compared to those of previous studies and suggestions are made for future studies in this new line of criminological research.     

制造意外事件型杀人案件的侦查分析

制造意外事件型杀人案件就是行为人通过故意制造意外事件以杀害被害人的刑事案件的总称。该类案件具有极高的刑事案件假象特性，并有不同于其他相似杀人案件的特点，对该类案件的侦破难度相当大。因此,如何制定一套针对该类案件的策略与措施是急需解决的难题。     

疑似失踪人员案件现场勘查探析

血迹是命案现场上常见的痕迹之一。在整个破案过程中，分析案发现场的血迹，研究其规律特点，揭示同案件之间的内在联系，对于我们确定案件性质，认定杀人凶器，分析作案过程，揭露现场伪装，寻找杀人现场，刻画犯罪嫌疑人，肯定和否定嫌疑对象等都起着十分重要的作用。本研究以一起失踪人员疑似被害的案件为例，通过案件的回顾与详细分析研判，以期为疑似失踪人员案件的现场勘查与侦破提供借鉴意义。     

Commotio cordis as a result of a fight: Report of a case considered to be imprudent homicide

Commotio cordis is a clinic-pathological syndrome related to sudden death in young people involved in sports activities. It has been described, mainly, in athletes without previous cardiac anomalies who received a minor blow to the chest which produces ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest in the absence of structural damage to the ribs, sternum, or heart. There are few reported cases of commotio cordis associated with violent, non-sports related actions, which are commonly considered to be imprudent homicides. We present the case of a 20-year-old man, who was kicked in the chest during a fight; he suddenly collapsed although advanced cardio-respiratory resuscitation started shortly. Autopsy showed no cardiac lesions concluding that death was due to commotio cordis (blunt trauma to the chest). Toxicological analysis determined the presence of 5.14 mg/L benzoylecgonine in blood. On the basis of medico-legal investigation, the official prosecution considered the death to be imprudent homicide and the aggressor was sentenced to 4 years in prison. We emphasize the importance of the knowledge of the death circumstances through the witnesses’ testimony, prior to beginning the autopsy, to confirm this important medico-legal diagnosis. Arrhythmogenic effects of cocaine and its contribution in the production of these deaths are also exposed.     

Compatibility Between Mental Disorder and Mental Capacity: Analysis of a Particular Case of Group Sexual Homicide

Abstract: On the night of August 19, 2000, at the foot of Castel del Monte, an 8‐year‐old girl was brutally murdered. The perpetrators were identified as five young men who captured their victim and sexually abused her. The policemen found the cadaver by following “Mario,” one of the five, who had been discovered lying on the ground, near the castle. Investigation led to demonstrate that the murder was not premeditated. The only desire of the group was to sexually molest the little girl. Mario showed signs of psychiatric pathology and for that he underwent psychiatric evaluation by judicial authorities. Analysis of this case, combined with a criminological and medical‐legal perspective led to conclusions very much different from the expectations of Mario’s defense attorneys. Mario, a marginal figure and seemingly the least intelligent, played the role of group instigator, both in the initiation of sexually abusing the child, as well as in the elimination of an inconvenient witness. However, the group was able to activate Mario’s sadistic fantasies and his sexual perversions, and he ended up in a catalyzing role influencing the behavior of others and realizing what would otherwise remain only fantasies. The circularity of the group allows people like Mario, who are apparently subordinate, to influence the behavior of others. Mario was found to have a mental disorder but it was not sufficient to diminish his personal responsibility related to the crime. In fact, according to Italian judicial code, it is necessary that the motivation for the crime was psychopathological. It was for this reason that, according to Italian law, all of the members of the group were considered to be responsible for the crimes committed and were condemned.     

英国盎格鲁—撒克逊时代对杀人和伤害行为的法律规制——以古代中国为参照

人类早期的法律最能体现民族的本性,也最能揭示其法律传统的特色。通过对盎格鲁—撒克逊时代杀人和伤害行为法律规制的考察,兼与历史发展同期的中国法相对照,我们发现,盎格鲁—撒克逊社会主要认可民间解决问题的方法,肯定"私力救济",反映了当时英格兰国家权力因素还没有占据了绝对上峰,社会成员享有较多的"个人自治"空间。中国采取的是自上而下命令式的解决途径,明显带有压迫性,从而扼制了人民权利与自由意识的发展。     

命案追逃工作机制分析

提高命案侦破能力,实现"命案必破"的目标,是摆在公安机关当前的一个重大任务。目前,在故意杀人等严重刑事案件中,犯罪分子作案手段和方法出现了新特点、新趋势。公安机关应根据新变化,把握新特点采取相应措施,不断提高侦破命案能力,努力实现"命案必破"。