论相貌侦查技术员的想象力

相貌侦查是指刑事侦查部门从事模拟画像及颅骨复原等专业技术的人员专门绘制嫌疑人或塑造死者肖像用于通缉疑犯、查找死者身份的专门侦查工作。这种技术员再创造的能力需要侦查人员的丰富想象力。     

Evaluating the accuracy and precision of cranial morphological traits for sex determination

Sex determination is a key analysis that forensic anthropologists perform in order to construct a biological profile of human remains. The techniques used in forensic investigations must meet the Mohan or Daubert criteria, for admissibility in a court of law. In this study, the precision and accuracy of 21 morphological characteristics of the skull were tested on a modern sample of 50 adult crania of European White ancestry. The following craniofacial features are identified as high-quality traits, defined by intraobserver error or=80%: mastoid size, supraorbital ridge size, general size and architecture, rugosity of the zygomatic extension, size and shape of the nasal aperture, and gonial angle. Ninety-six percent accuracy and 92% precision were achieved using 20 traits in combination. Fisher's exact probability tests revealed no significant differences (p=0.05) in the levels of precision or accuracy between age categories. Sex-related bias in accuracy was found for the following cranial features: ramus symphysis (p=0.009), zygomatic extension (p=0.0016), and occipital markings (p=0.0013). These traits demonstrated a greater tendency to be scored male than female.     

The Role of Interface Shape on the Impact Characteristics and Cranial Fracture Patterns Using the Immature Porcine Head Model, ,

The forensic literature suggests that when adolescents fall onto edged and pointed surfaces, depressed fractures can occur at low energy levels. This study documents impact biomechanics and fracture characteristics of infant porcine skulls dropped onto flat, curved, edged, and focal surfaces. Results showed that the energy needed for fracture initiation was nearly four times higher against a flat surface than against the other surfaces. While characteristic measures of fracture such as number and length of fractures did not vary with impact surface shape, the fracture patterns did depend on impact surface shape. While experimental impacts against the flat surface produced linear fractures initiating at sutural boundaries peripheral to the point of impact (POI), more focal impacts produced depressed fractures initiating at the POI. The study supported case‐based forensic literature suggesting cranial fracture patterns depend on impact surface shape and that fracture initiation energy is lower for more focal impacts.     

颅骨三维模型制作和数据库的构建

目的采用激光扫描深度图像法和CT影像法,制作颅骨模型,并建立无身源颅骨模型数据库。方法收集各省(区)送检的59例无身源颅骨样本,采用三维激光扫描仪进行颅骨深度图像的采集;采用多排螺旋CT进行颅骨断层影像数据的采集。分别经处理后建立颅骨三维模型。利用3D打印技术实现数字颅骨模型的实体复制。建立具有颅骨信息查询和三维模型显示的无身源颅骨模型数据库。结果采用深度图像法可以获得颅骨的外表面模型,且通过调整扫描仪的参数使细节特征更清晰。采用CT断层影像法可以重建颅骨的内、外部结构,且对于牙齿具有更好的重建结果。建立数据库并将59例无身源颅骨样本信息和三维模型纳入数据库。结论三维建模和3D打印技术可实现对颅骨的重建和模型复制。无身源颅骨数据库的构建,可实现存储和管理颅骨样本的各类信息和三维数据,有助于查询和信息共享,对法医学实践有积极的应用价值。     

Machinery‐Related Deaths: Relevance of Workplace Investigation and Antemortem Radiological Data in Reconstructing the Fatality

Abstract: Machinery‐related fatalities are one of the leading causes of traumatic occupational deaths. In our report, we present the case of a 40‐year‐old male who suffered a severe head trauma while working in a cut‐foam industry and died despite an early craniectomy. The radiological reconstruction of the skull based on preoperative computed tomography scans disclosed a large depressed conical fracture of the left parietal bone. The 3D‐reconstruction of the work area, combined with a fit‐matching analysis between the machinery and the depressed skull fracture allowed us to conclude that the head was crushed between the sliding bar of the cutting device and the metallic protuberance on the opposite side. The case underlines the importance of a detailed workplace investigation and of a thorough evaluation of all circumstantial, clinical, radiological, and autopsy data in the reconstruction of machinery‐related fatalities to identify any possible legal responsibilities of the worker and/or the employer.     

Discrimination of Falls and Blows in Blunt Head Trauma: A Multi‐Criteria Approach

Abstract: In the discrimination of falls versus blows, the hat brim line (HBL) rule is mentioned in several textbooks as the most useful single criterion. Recent studies, however, have found that the HBL rule is only moderately valid and that its use on its own is not recommended. The purpose of this 6‐year retrospective study was to find additional individually useful criteria in the distinction of falls from blows. Overall, the following criteria were found to point toward blows: more than three lacerations, laceration length of 7 cm or more, comminuted or depressed calvarial fractures, lacerations or fractures located above the HBL, left‐side lateralization of lacerations or fractures, more than four facial contusions or lacerations, presence of ear lacerations, presence of facial fractures, and presence of postcranial osseous and/or visceral trauma. Based on the most discriminating criteria, a decision tree was constructed to be potentially applicable to future cases.     

对尸骸犯罪问题研究——从全国首例“非法经营人类头骨案”说起

公共秩序与善良风俗是刑法所保护的社会法益的重要内容。2009年发生的"美籍华裔博士在中国收购人头骨倒卖"一案引发了众多争议,以何罪名定罪成为争议的焦点。法院判决确定的罪名为非法经营罪,属于破坏社会主义市场经济秩序罪大类中,该罪名强调违反行政手续或经营方式非法,而人类头骨本身属于禁止性的交易内容,因此以刑法分则第六章妨害社会管理秩序罪中的罪名来认定本案更为适当。人类骨骸是尸体蜕化后的另一种存在形式,保护骨骸的尊严在维护社会公序良俗的意义上与尸体有着同等的价值,因此应将倒卖人类头骨的行为认定为盗窃、侮辱尸体行为。     

Are Peripapillary Intrascleral Hemorrhages Pathognomonic for Abusive Head Trauma?*

Abstract: The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, Section on Ophthalmology, acknowledges that searching for retinal hemorrhages (RHs) in infants only in cases of suspected of abuse creates selection bias. However, they also recommend that postmortem eye removal might not be indicated “in children who have clearly died from witnessed severe accidental head trauma or otherwise readily diagnosed systemic medical conditions.” Although infrequently described in the child abuse literature, peripapillary intrascleral hemorrhages (bleeding in the sclera at the optic nerve insertion)—putatively from severe repetitive acceleration/deceleration forces with or without blunt head trauma—have been considered essentially pathognomonic for abusive head trauma (shaken baby syndrome). We present two neonates who sustained accidental, severe in utero head injuries and had associated extensive RHs and optic nerve sheath hemorrhages with peripapillary intrascleral hemorrhages detected at autopsy. Neither neonate had a documented clinical fundal examination in the intensive care unit.     

Discrimination of Falls and Blows in Blunt Head Trauma: Assessment of Predictability Through Combined Criteria*

Abstract: The discrimination of falls from homicidal blows in blunt head injuries is a common but difficult problem in both forensic anthropology and pathology. Three criteria have been previously proposed for this distinction: the hat brim line rule, side lateralization of fractures, and number of lacerations. The aim of the present study was to achieve a better distinction rate by combining those criteria and assess the predictability of these combined criteria tools. Over a 6‐year period, a total of 114 cases (92 males and 22 females) were studied: 21 cases of downstairs falls, 29 cases of falls from one’s own height, and 64 cases of head trauma by a blunt weapon. The results revealed predictability rates varying from 62.5 to 83.3% for criteria pointing towards a fall. As for combined criteria in favor of a blow, the assumption was accurate in all cases (100%).