Page 163 - VERITAS Vol.2 Issue 2

WHETHER STRANGULATION WAS SUICIDAL, ACCIDEN-
W HE T HER S T R AN GULA T ION W A S SUICID AL, A C CID EN -
TAL OR HOMICIDAL?
T AL OR HOMICID AL?
Suicidal throttling is not possible as the victim cannot pressure himself

for duration needed to cause death by compression of neck. A ligature
tied around the neck and twisted by a stick below the mandible, may

cause suicidal death by the ligature. In homicidal strangulation, the lig-

ature may be tied with one turn and one or more knots may be present.

When there are multiple turns present, each turn will be tighter than

the previous one. Evidence of struggle, injuries, violence, intoxication

or the hands and feet may be tied. Accidental strangulation may occur

in case of the neck tie or dupatta caught inside a machine or vehicles.
Tightening of the umbilical cord around the neck may cause death of

infants in utero or childbirth stage.

S
FER
EN
E
REFERENCES
R
CE
• Mahanta, P. (2014). Modern textbook of forensic medicine & toxi-
cology. Jaypee Brothers.

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Veritas Volume: 2, Issue: 2