OBJECTIVES: To explore the influencing factors of the horizontal distance of bodies in the high falling scene and the feasibility of inferring the falling mode based on it. METHODS: A total of 614 high falling deaths and 15 cases of corpse dumping from high altitudes were collected. The relationship between the horizontal distance and the falling height, as well as the sex, age and manner of death (suicide, accident and corpse dumping) were observed. RESULTS: The horizontal distance increased with the increase of falling height, and the difference among the height groups was statistically significant. The horizontal distance decreased with the increase of the age of the deceased, in each height group, the difference between the group over 60 years old and other age groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The horizontal distance of male deceased was (1.99±0.27) m, which was greater than that of female deceased (1.88±0.19) m, and the difference was statistically significant in partial height groups (P<0.05). Roof falls had a greater horizontal movement distance than window falls. Except for the >20-30 m group, there was no significant difference in horizontal distance between suicide high falls and accidental high falls in other height groups. CONCLUSIONS The horizontal distance is affected by the falling height, the sex and age of the victim, and the spatial characteristics of the falling starting point.
Body Height ; Cadaver ; Female ; Homicide ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Suicide

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively analyze homicide cases of death after injection and provide reference for forensic identification. METHODS: Six homicide cases of death after injection which were investigated by the Criminal Investigation Team of Shanghai Public Security Bureau were collected and analyzed, including case situation, scene investigation, autopsy and other materials. RESULTS: The 6 cases were premeditated crimes, 5 cases took place in private spaces, and 5 cases involved the victims approached by suspects' decoy. There were no obvious abnormalities at the scene of the 6 cases. In 6 cases, the victim's body surface injury was mild or no, lividity color was abnormal, and the needlestick injury showed different manifestations from conventional medical measures. CONCLUSIONS Death after injection is a highly concealed crime and easy to be ignored. For the suspected injection injury found in autopsy, it is necessary to carefully examine, identify and analyze, be alert to the situation of injecting poison (drug) and do a good job in evidence fixation and material extraction.
Autopsy ; China/epidemiology* ; Homicide ; Poisons ; Retrospective Studies

Humans ; Homicide ; Forensic Pathology

Forensic Psychiatry ; Homicide ; Humans

DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Homicide ; Humans ; Mitochondria

DNA ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Homicide ; Humans

Forensic Medicine ; Homicide ; Technology

Objective To retrospectively analyze 40 cases of hanging and 33 cases of ligature strangulation in Kunming, to explore the neck injury characteristics and similarities and differences of related asphyxia signs of corpses in hanging and ligature strangulation cases, in order to provide reference for forensic identification. Methods Statistics of hanging and ligature strangulation cases accepted by Kunming Municipal Public Security Bureau from 2000 to 2017 were collected. Data including the gender, age, injury tool, neck injury and related asphyxia signs of the deceased in hanging and ligature strangulation cases were statistically tested by SPSS 23.0. Results There were more males in hanging cases than females. However, there were more females than males in ligature strangulation cases. In hanging cases, suicide was common, while homicide was rare. In ligature strangulation cases, homicide was common, while suicide or accidental death was rare. The average age of the deceased in hanging cases were older than those in ligature strangulation cases. The ligature mark in hanging was usually above the thyroid cartilage. The ligature mark in ligature strangulation was usually at the same level of the thyroid cartilage. The most common vital reactions were exfoliation and subcutaneous hemorrhage at the ligature mark, common among the deceased in hanging cases. Hyoid fracture rate of the deceased in ligature strangulation cases was more common than those in hanging cases. Conclusion The gender, age distribution, position of ligature mark, detection rate of vital reactions at the ligature mark and hyoid fracture rate of the deceased can help distinguish hanging from ligature strangulation.
Asphyxia ; Female ; Homicide ; Humans ; Male ; Neck Injuries ; Retrospective Studies ; Suicide ; Thyroid Cartilage

BACKGROUND: Tick anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal outcome of improper tick removal and management. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether killing ticks in-situ with ether-containing sprays or permethrin cream, before careful removal by the mouthparts could reduce this risk. METHODS: This was a prospective study at Mona Vale Hospital Emergency Department (ED) in Sydney, New South Wales, over a 6-month period during the peak tick season of 2016. Tick removal methods, allergic/anaphylactic reactions were recorded for patients presenting with ticks in situ or having already removed the ticks themselves. Primary endpoint was allergic/anaphylactic reaction after tick killing/removal. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-one patients met study inclusion criteria. Sixty-one patients (28 known tick-hypersensitive) had ticks killed with Wart-Off Freeze or Lyclear Scabies Cream (5% w/w permethrin) before removal with fine-tipped forceps or Tick Twister. Three patients (2 known tick-hypersensitive) had allergic reactions (5%), none anaphylactic. The 2 known hypersensitive patients suffered reactions during the killing process and the third patient had a particularly embedded tick meaning it could not be removed solely by mouthparts. Fifty patients presented to the ED posttick removal by various methods, none using either fine-tipped forceps or Tick Twister, of which 43 (86%) experienced allergic reactions – 2 anaphylactic. Five patients suffered allergic reactions before presentation despite no attempt at kill or removal, but ticks had likely been disturbed by some other method. Five patients had live ticks removed in ED – 3 refused killing and had no reaction despite 1 having known hypersensitivity; 2 had ticks on eyelids contraindicating killing, 1 with known hypersensitivity but both had allergic reactions post removal. CONCLUSION: Results support killing ticks in-situ before careful removal by mouthparts to reduce allergic/anaphylactic reactions although further research is still required.
Anaphylaxis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Eyelids ; Fatal Outcome ; Homicide ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Methods ; New South Wales ; Permethrin ; Prospective Studies ; Scabies ; Seasons ; Surgical Instruments ; Tick Bites ; Tick Toxicoses ; Ticks

BACKGROUND: Dating violence refers to violence occurring between people in an intimate relationship. Forms of dating violence are often categorized into physical, psychological, and sexual violence, and most existing literature has followed this frame. However, few studies have focused on the phenomenon of living under the perpetrator's coercive control in victims of dating violence, although those experiences are known to be signs of severe forms of violence later on. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of being coercively controlled in female victims who had experienced dating violence. METHODS: For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 14 female victims, and all interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The data were analyzed using the phenomenological analysis method suggested by Colaizzi. RESULTS: Three themes were derived in chronological order: idealizing the relationship (period of potential control), facing severer tyranny (period of coercive control), and escaping from the unending trap (period of post-control). The results showed that the victims experienced perpetrators' control with specific patterns. The perpetrators' controlling behaviors were invisible, literally benevolent, at the beginning; however, severe forms of violence seemed to appear as their relationship deepened and the perpetrators failed to control the victims. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study presented vivid experiences of female victims who needed help and care. Hopefully, the results can benefit in terms of developing evidence-based prevention strategies for victims as well as assessing the risks of severe forms of dating violence, such as physical attack or murder.
Crime Victims ; Female ; Homicide ; Humans ; Intimate Partner Violence ; Methods ; Physical Abuse ; Qualitative Research ; Sex Offenses ; United Nations ; Violence