Decapitation Following A Long Drop, Is it Suicide or Murder.

Chhabra, Harvinder Singh; Singh, Ravdeep; Kumar, Ashwini; Joshi, Rajiv; Varghese, Alwin

Introduction: Murder is an odious crime. Identifying such crime requires precision and cooperation between the various agencies, including the police and forensic pathologist. Both need to keep an open mind, and consider each crime through all the possible perspectives. We present a case of hanging associated with a long drop which resulted in a complete decapitation, but was alleged to be the result of a sharp force injury by unknown assailants. The preparators of this crime, dumbfounded by the unexpected outcome, tried to conceal the crime. However, on meticulous examination and review of past literature we are of the considered opinion that decapitation in this case was caused by hanging. However, the manner of death was not clear and the police ruled it as murder based on their investigation.

FORENSIC pathologists; MURDER investigation; INFANTICIDE; CRIMINOLOGY; CRIME

Journal of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 2024, Vol 24, Issue 1, p162

0972-5687

Academic Journal

10.5958/0974-083X.2024.00029.2