Retrospective Study of homicide in South Delhi (1996–2005)

Nine hundred and fifty nine autopsy cases of homicides received from South Delhi were studied during the period of 1996–2005. Data for the study were gathered from autopsy reports and hospital records. The cases represented approximately 7.3% of all autopsy cases received from South Delhi at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (India) during the same period. Data was analyzed with regard to age and sex of the victim, the method used during the act of homicide, part of the body involved and seasonal variation. The commonest age group of the victim was 21–30 years (37.53%) followed by 31–40 years (20.95%). Of these cases, 736 (76.75%) were male and 223 (23.25%) female. Incidence of crime was evenly distributed during winter, summer and rainy seasons. Most deaths occurred at the scene of the event. In our series sharp force injury was the most common type (n=305, 31.80%) followed by blunt force injury (n= 243, 25.33%), firearms (n= 208, 21.68%) and violent asphyxial deaths (n=198, 20.64%).