Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine

Aims & Scope/Editorial Board

2010-08-01

The use of infrared aided photography in identification of sites of bruises after evidence of the bruise is absent to the naked eye

Peter Rowan, Michael Hill, G.A. Gresham, Edward Goodall, Tara Moore — 2010-08-01

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine whether Infrared imaging could play a role in the detection of previous blunt force injury after resolution of skin changes were no longer visible to the human eye. Investigations were performed using an adapted digital camera and the same standard Nikon camera body to photograph the bruises of ten volunteer adult subjects. The same lens was fitted to each camera body and each bruise was photographed until it was no longer possible to identify it with the naked eye.The results of photographing subjects over 6 months demonstrated that the median time the bruises persisted in both groups was approximately between 18 and 19 days. There was no statistically significant difference between groups of bruises photographed with both the infrared digital camera that had been adapted to capture only infrared light, and with the standard camera which had the same lens fitted to it.The two groups of photographs of bruises imaged at the same time with the two cameras were not significantly different with regard to what skin changes could be detected. The use of the near infrared spectrum, with wavelengths that are longer than the human eye can detect, did not reveal significant evidence of bruising after it had faded from view to both the human eye and to a standard camera.

Forensic implications of carnivore scavenging on human remains recovered from outdoor locations in Greece

Konstantinos Moraitis, Chara Spiliopoulou — 2010-08-01

Abstract: Mammalian carnivores rank among the most common scavengers of human remains. The present study discusses the forensic implications that carnivore scavenging had on human remains recovered from outdoor locations in Greece, and reviews the current literature on this subject. The forensic anthropological investigation indicated that carnivores were able to disarticulate and scatter body parts and personal effects over the recovery area, destroy skeletal elements and affect their survival, and alter or destroy indicators related with the cause and manner of death. In one case, scattering of bones over a considerable distance compromised the recovery efforts, causing later a problem in re-associating the skeletons. Other taphonomic factors than scavenging such as rolling of skeletal elements may be also responsible for the movement of bones. Carnivore scavenging was also responsible for the production of tooth marks on bone, and for bone removal especially noted on the articular ends of long bones. Matching different bone alterations with such activity is of vital importance since as it was seen carnivore scavenging can confound the interpretation of perimortem skeletal trauma.

Age-at-death estimation based on the macroscopic examination of Spheno-occipital sutures

2010-08-01

Abstract: Objective: To examine the closure degree of spheno-occipital synchondrosis and its relationship with chronological age.Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the closure degree of spheno-occipital suture was done through direct inspection of 376 autopsies from both sexes whose ages ranged between 8 and 26 years in Legal Medicine Organization of Tehran, Iran from 1st of July 2007 to 1st of July 2009. The correlation between the degree of closure and chronological age was investigated.Results: Mean ages of open, semi-closed and closed sutures were 12.27, 16.12 and 21.17 years in males, and 9.04, 12.38 and 19.44 in females, respectively. Seemingly, their difference was significant (p < 0.001). Partial fusion (semi-closed) was seen at the age of 12 in both sexes while complete fusion (closed) was seen at 15 year olds or above in males and 12 year olds or above in females. Spearman’s correlation ratio coefficient showed a linear correlation between age and suture situation in both sexes (rho = 0.788, P < 0.001 in males and r = 0.645, P < 0.001 in females).Conclusion: The study showed that the closure degree of spheno-occipital suture can be used as a good indicator for age estimation in both sexes. Cadavers can be correctly grouped above or below 16 years old with sensitivity of 79.82% and specificity of 89.47% in males and above or below 13 years old with sensitivity of 100.00% and specificity of 81.58% in females.

Dental age estimation from the developmental stage of the third molars in Iranian population

Balwant Rai, Jasdeep Kaur, Hamid Jafarzadeh — 2010-08-01

Abstract: A sharp increase in forensic age estimation of living persons has been observed in recent years. However, ethnic populations residing in different countries have been insufficiently analyzed. The aim of this study was to achieve a referral database and regression equations for dental age estimation of unaccompanied minors of Iran nationality. A total of 1200 orthopantomograms were collected from original Iran and equally divided in age categories between 10 and 27 years. On the radiographs, the developmental stage of the third molars was scored applying a Demirjian et al. scoring technique. Inter- and intra-observer reliabilities were tested using kappa statistics. Correlation between the scores of all four wisdom maxillary and mandibular third molars teeth and left/right symmetry were evaluated with spearman correlation coefficient. Student’s t-test on asymmetry was performed and regression formulas were calculated. The present database was the first to assemble third molar developmental scores on radiographs of Iran individuals and provided more appropriate dental age estimation of unaccompanied Iran minors. To enhance the accuracy of forensic age estimates based on third molars mineralization, the use of population-specific standards is recommended.

A retrospective review of homicides in Mangalore, South India

Akshat Vij, Anand Menon, Ritesh G. Menezes, Tanuj Kanchan, Prateek Rastogi — 2010-08-01

Abstract: A five-year retrospective study of homicides was carried out to determine the profile of victims and the pattern of injuries sustained between 2001 and 2005 at Government District Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore, South India. Of the 89 victims of homicide, 71 were males and 18 were females. On an average, about 17 cases of fatal assault cases were autopsied each year. The commonest age group affected was the 21–30 age group (28.1%). The head was found to be the most common site of injury followed by the extremities, abdomen and chest. In 49.4% of the cases, the victims had sustained sharp force injuries while in 34.8% blunt force injuries were present. Fatal injuries to the head were the commonest cause of death. Homicide by strangulation was seen in 8 cases and involved mostly women. The incidence of homicidal burns was low (n = 2, 2.2%). In 61.8% of the cases, death was immediate. In 52.8% of the cases the assailant(s) had a pre-planned motive for killing.

Postmortem diagnosis of acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis

2010-08-01

Abstract: Forensic pathologists can help in the investigation of sudden unexpected deaths in co-operation with the officials responsible for the maintenance of law and order to administer justice. Sudden unexpected deaths form the subject of medicolegal investigation if they occur in apparently healthy individuals, wherein an autopsy would shed light regarding the cause of death. A 4 year retrospective review of autopsy files at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, South India was undertaken for cases of sudden unexpected deaths due to acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis occurring between May 2004 and April 2008. A total of seven cases of acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis diagnosed at autopsy as the cause of sudden unexpected death during the study period are discussed herein.

Morphometric features and sexual dimorphism of adult hyoid bone: A population specific study with forensic implications

Partha Pratim Mukhopadhyay — 2010-08-01

Abstract: Hyoid is a U-shaped bone present in the ventral aspect of neck at the level of fourth cervical vertebra. Morphological variants of hyoid are well documented. The present study was designed to identify these morphological features and examine the sexual dimorphism of adult hyoid bone in Indian Bengali population. The present work consisted of direct measurement in autopsy cases in a population specific sample. It was observed that the hyoid was larger in males regarding width, antero-posterior length and slope of cornu. Using t-Test with alpha level of 0.05 the length of greater cornu was found to be the only variable not significantly different in the two sexes (p = .116).

Significance of teeth lead accumulation in age estimation

S.I. AL-Qattan, M.A. Elfawal — 2010-08-01

Abstract: Lead accumulation in 398 permanent teeth of Kuwaiti subjects, aged between 11 and 74 years (mean age=25±8 years) was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A significant correlation was found between dentin lead levels and age. The mean dentin lead concentration was significantly higher in males than in females (6.8±4.7 and 5.6±4.6, respectively, p=0.015). A formula was established to calculate age from lead levels in teeth (Age=1.2×dentin Pb+17.6). The proposed formula was applied to a validation group of 90 Kuwaiti subjects (45 males and 45 females, aged between 13 and 58 years). The standard error of age estimation, applying the proposed formula, was ±5.8 years with R square=52.3%. The mean difference between the true and calculated ages was 1.3±4.8 years. The coefficient of variation was 43%. The proposed formula is merely applicable to Kuwaiti population, and can be of a significant value in forensic practice whenever examining human skeletal remains, particularly of Kuwaiti war victims. Other formulas may well be established via similar studies on dentin lead levels on various populations.

Determination of adolescent ages 14–16 years by radiological study of permanent mandibular second molars

B.M. Balaraj, M.D. Nithin — 2010-08-01

Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the adolescent ages from 14 to 16 years, from dental radiographic study of the closure of apical foramen of permanent second molars. The sample for this study consisted of 116 students (59 males and 57 females) of age range from 13 to 18 years, from South Indian population, from various schools in and around Manipal, Karnataka, India. Here Demirjian method was applied on children of Manipal, where 94.0% of males presented with closed apical foramen at 15 years and 5 months where as 95.0% of female presented with closed apical foramen at 14 years and 9 months.

Drug-facilitated sexual assault in Ontario, Canada: Toxicological and DNA findings

2010-08-01

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine which persons reporting sexual assault to a hospital-based treatment centre may have been covertly drugged and to provide information about whether a sexual assault may have occurred.Each consecutive adolescent and adult presenting at a sexual assault treatment centre was screened for drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA). Urine was collected and tested for central nervous system active drugs. Oral, vaginal, and/or rectal swabs were tested for male DNA. Unexpected drugs were defined as those not reported as having been voluntarily consumed within the previous 72h. Positive swabs for unexpected DNA were determined by whether the person reported having had consensual intercourse in the previous week.A total of 184 of 882 eligible participants met suspected DFSA criteria. Mean age was 25.8 years (SD=8.5), 96.2% were female and 64.7% White. Urine samples were positive for drugs in 44.9% of cases, alcohol in 12.9%, and both drugs and alcohol in 18.0%. The drugs found on toxicological screening were unexpected in 87 of the 135 (64.4%) cases with a positive drug finding and included cannabinoids (40.2%), cocaine (32.2%), amphetamines (13.8%), MDMA (9.2%), ketamine (2.3%), and GHB (1.1%). Male DNA was unexpected in 30 (46.9%) of 64 cases where it was found.Among those persons presenting to a sexual assault treatment centre with a suspicion of DFSA, the presence of unexpected drugs and male DNA was common, lending support for their contention that they had been intentionally drugged and sexually assaulted. Most unexpected drugs found were not those typically described as ‘date rape drugs’.

Cardiac injuries in car occupants in fatal motor vehicle collisions – An autopsy-based study

2010-08-01

Abstract: Motor vehicle accidents contribute widely to population morbidity and mortality around the world, and cardiac injuries are a major factor determining outcome. Autopsy reports from 380 motor vehicle occupants who died in motor vehicle crashes in Adelaide, Australia, and Hamburg, Germany, over a 6-year period were reviewed, analysing the presence and type of cardiac injuries and their correlation with factors such as crash type, presence of seatbelt/airbag and vehicle speed as well as with the presence of other injuries which might predict the presence of cardiac injuries in a clinical setting. 21.1% had cardiac injuries identified macroscopically autopsy or histology. Cardiac injuries were the only cause of death or contributed to a fatal outcome in 76% of these cases. Sternal fractures and left-sided serial rib fractures were predictive of cardiac injury.

Toxicoepidemiology of fatal poisonings in Southern India

2010-08-01

Abstract: An autopsy based retrospective study was conducted from January 2000 to December 2006 at Manipal in Southern India, and a profile of the victims of poisoning was prepared. The study was done to understand the magnitude and pattern of all poisoning fatalities in relation to the manner of death in Manipal region of Southern India. The study included a total of 198 cases of fatal poisoning. Self-poisoning was reported in 92.9% cases. Fatal accidental poisoning was seen in 6.1% cases. Homicide by poisoning was not reported during the study period. Uncertainty regarding the manner of death due to poisoning was observed only in two cases. Males were predominantly affected (71.2%). The majority of the victims were in the 3rd decade (28.3%) of life. The age of the victims ranged from 2 to 82 years with a mean age of 38.4 years. While majority of the victims consumed poison during daytime, most of the poisoning fatalities were reported during summer months. Organophosphate compounds were implicated in 68.7% of the total poisoning related fatalities. Males in the 3rd to 5th decades were prone to self-poisoning with organophosphate compounds. Accidental poisoning deaths were uncommon and poisoning was not a preferred method of homicide in this region. Our approach to the study reveals that quantitative chemical (toxicological) analysis is required to further strengthen and improve the databases of epidemiology of poisoning in our region.

Sex determination from the acetabulum: test of a possible non-population-specific discriminant function equation

P. James Macaluso — 2010-08-01

Abstract: In a recent study of pelvic dimorphism, Steyn and Patriquin demonstrated that sex classification accuracies for a combined sample of South African blacks, South African whites, and Greeks living on Crete, differed very little from those obtained separately for the three groups. These results suggest that population-specific formulae may be unnecessary when using pelvic dimensions to discriminate sex, and according to the authors, the formulae derived in their study from a large and ethnically diverse sample should provide reliable standards for determining sex in a variety of populations. The purpose of the present study was to assess the accuracy of the discriminant function equation for acetabular diameter published by the aforementioned authors on a documented skeletal sample from France. The overall allocation accuracy obtained utilizing the pooled-group equation (84.1%) did not differ appreciably from that achieved using a sample-specific formula developed from the French dataset employed in this study (85.4%). This result is of practical importance to forensic anthropologists working in France, and elsewhere, particularly in situations where there is some question as to the population affinity of the skeletal remains. Future studies should continue to combine pelvic and non-pelvic data from disparate populations, to develop additional osteometric standards for discriminating sex with high accuracy across human groups.

Reliability of inter-anterior superior iliac spinous distance as compared to foot length for stature estimation in South Indians

S. Nachiket, N. Sujatha, R. Priya, V. Raveendranath, D. Rema, R. Roopa — 2010-08-01

Abstract: Estimation of stature from isolated body parts is especially important to forensic scientists and anthropologists. The aims of this study were, to evaluate the accuracy of inter-anterior superior iliac spinous distance in determining stature of an individual as compared to foot length, and to note sex differences in the above mentioned parameters.One hundred normal healthy adult subjects from South India consisting of 50 males and 50 females were studied. The height, interspinous distance, and foot length of the subjects were measured. The mean and standard deviation of the height, interspinous distance, foot length and proportions of interspinous distance and foot length to height were calculated and significance testing done for sex differences. The correlation between stature and interspinous distance and stature and foot length was estimated, and linear regression equations for stature estimation were calculated.The height, interspinous distance and foot length were significantly greater in males. The proportion of interspinous distance to stature was significantly greater in females. Foot length showed a stronger positive correlation with stature compared to interspinous distance. When the sexes were considered separately the accuracy of stature estimation from interspinous distance increased greatly.Though interspinous distance is not as reliable as foot length in stature estimation, it could provide valuable data regarding the stature when isolated pelvises are available.

Injuries in infants must be differentiated from those in toddlers

Steven Bellemare — 2010-08-01

I read with interest Dr Wyatt and his colleagues’ article. Although it confirms that injuries inflicted on children by children are typically mild, it would be interesting for the authors to address the issue of infantile injuries. Child maltreatment and specifically inflicted traumatic brain injuries, are the number one cause of death from injuries in children under the age of a year. Occasionally, caregivers are provided with histories that an infant’s older yet not fully verbal sibling inflicted the injuries; thereby placing blame on a child who cannot be interviewed by authorities to assess the veracity of the story. Although such a situation raises the possibility of child abuse, very little published data is available to support the notion that infants rarely sustain life-threatening injuries at the hands of older siblings. I urge the authors to publish their data with the additional demographic category of infants under one year, instead of grouping all children 0–4 years into one group. Arguably, infants are a very different population from toddlers and should be analyzed separately to reflect that important point.

Forensic Science: A Very Short Introduction

Sara Short — 2010-08-01

This is a useful short text, ideal for anyone considering studying forensic science and should be added to all first year undergraduate reading lists as it addresses the misconceptions of the “CSI effect.” Probably too technical for lay persons and too generalised for many barristers but any aspiring criminal lawyer might enjoy the insights given into the investigative processes of a criminal investigation.

Alcimedes

2010-08-01

The recent formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democratic coalition in the UK has seen a flurry of proposed legislation that might be expected from any new government keen to make its mark. Alcimedes notes that some of these proposals may have implications for Forensic Physicians and their patients alike. One notable suggestion from Messrs. Cameron and Clegg is the preservation of anonymity of rape suspects: this has angered certain women’s rights groups who feel that this panders to the notion that most allegations of rape are false. Interestingly, even as Alcimedes is typing away furiously on his keyboard, it seems that Mr. Cameron has suggested that this plan may require modification.