Page 162 - VERITAS Vol.2 Issue 2

Scratch abrasion may be present under the ligature mark, which indi-

cates the victim had struggled to remove the ligature. Fingernail scrap-

ings of the victim may show skin fragments and blood. In manual stran-

gulation, multiple fingertip bruises may be present over the neck, along
with the windpipe, depending on whether one or both hands are used

by the assailant. Various sized contusions of fingertip around the neck

muscles more towards the nape of neck are homicidal. If two sticks are

used for strangulation, there will be horizontal marks on the front and

nape of the neck. Severe internal damages or injuries are also scene in

these cases.

• Internal Findings

Neck structures are examined after the examination of the cranial and

thoracic cavities. Laceration of the carotid artery and internal coats

with extravasation of blood into their walls. Fracture of cornu of hyoid

bones and superior cornu of thyroid cartilages is mostly observed in

adults above 40 years of age. Frothy blood will be present in the upper

respiratory tract and will be congested. The lungs will be congested
with petechial and exude dark fluid blood is on the cut session. The

right side of the neck will be filled with dark blood and the left side will

be empty. The brain and the abdominal organs will be congested.

MEDICO LEGAL QUESTIONS RELATED TO
MEDIC O LEG AL Q UE S T IONS R ELA T ED T O
T
R
T
ION
AN
S
STRANGULATION
GULA
1. Whether death occurred by strangulation?
2. Whether the strangulation was suicidal, homicidal or accidental?
W HE T HER T HE D E A T H W A S DUE T O S T R AN GULA T ION?
WHETHER THE DEATH WAS DUE TO STRANGULATION?
The injury caused by neck structure, ligature material present, number

of ligature marks etc. indicates the possibility for strangulation. Pres-
ence of ligature mark is not a conclusive proof of death by strangula-

tion, as skin fold and necklines may also look like ligature mark.

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Veritas Volume: 2, Issue: 2