Complete decapitation by a metro train: Suicidal motive

Suicidal cut throat wounds are common phenomenon whereas suicide by complete decapitation is a rare phenomenon and is seldom encountered in forensic medicine practice. In the suicidal context, decapitation as a result of violent methods always has a potential for confusion with homicide (execution), as well as with postmortem body dismemberment or mutilation and is important to differentiate between the two. The mid neck region is relatively slender and contains less soft tissue compared with 5th-the regions that are superior and inferior to the 2nd - cervical vertebrae. This study reports the analysis of a suicide committed by a 31 years old man by lying flat on the metro railway track with his neck getting crossed over by a moving train as evident from a CCTV (Close-Circuit Television) footage of the metro station on investigation. Upon conducting psychological autopsy of the deceased by interviewing the relatives, the motive of committing suicide was most likely emotional distress due to the disturbed family life. In medico-legal literature, there has been no similar case of suicidal complete decapitation by a metro train. The ultimate goal in such cases must drive towards a well-documented and complete and meticulous postmortem examination with the appropriate use of ancillary studies that provide a clear interpretation of the mechanism, cause, and manner of death.