Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine

Stab wounds are usually produced when the force is carried along the long axis of narrow or pointed objects. Narrow or pointed objects like knife, sword, dagger, screw driver, arrow, spear etc. commonly cause stab wounds. Stab wound can also occur by broken objects like glass or wooden material. Stab wounds generally occur by assault, sometimes it may also occur by self-infliction. However, self-inflicted stab wounds are rare. Similarly, self-inflicted fatal stab by broken glass bottle is rare and uncommon. In present case, a 30 years old male was brought with history of stab over neck by broken glass bottle causing fatality. In this case, presence or absence of particular features (e.g., hesitation marks, defence wounds) allows distinction between suicide and homicide. The present case is described for its rarity and pattern of causation by broken glass bottle, which is rarely mentioned in literature to the best of our knowledge.