A Comprehensive Study on Homicidal Deaths in Hyderabad

Homicide is a serious crime committed against humans and its detection, solution and adjudication are important to the entire society. This study was therefore taken up, to estimate the incidence of homicides and to determine the trends in committing homicide. This was a prospective, observational study done on alleged homicide cases autopsied between July 2007 and July 2009. All alleged cases of homicides, other than those in which death was caused by rash and negligent act, were included. Data collected was expressed as proportions and/or percentages. Total autopsies done were 9248, of which 300 were alleged homicide autopsies (3.24%). Highest number of homicide victims was in the age group of 21–30 years (42.33%). In 69% & 61.3% of homicides, the assailant was a known person & blunt or sharp weapons caused injuries respectively. As most of the homicides were family centered, early detection and prevention is important.