A Cross Sectional Observational Study of Homicidal Death Cases At Tertiary Medical Centre of South Gujarat

Background: Homicide is one of heinous crimes in any civilized community. Nature of homicide incidence, motives of offence, profile of victims differ from time to time and region wise. It is important to analyze these patterns periodically. This research study is an attempt to have a detailed analysis regarding same at a tertiary medical centre in south Gujarat region.

Objectives -The objective of this study was to analyze the socio-demographical variables in homicide cases reported for autopsy at study place.

Materials&Methods: We conducted a cross sectional descriptive observational study at Department of Forensic Medicine&Toxicology, Government Medical College&New Civil Hospital, Surat. Total 211 homicide cases were analyzed that were autopsied during years 2015 to 2017. We noted and analyzed various variables like age, sex, marital status, time of season, victim-accused relation, area type of community etc. The results were documented with statistics.

Results: The incidence rate of homicide deaths was 3.0% of total autopsy cases. Males were victims in more than 2/3^rd times cases compared to females. Young people aged 21-40yrs&married people are more vulnerable for homicidal crimes. More than 2/3^rd victims were belonged to urban or suburban areas. In all identified cases, the accused was a known person to the victim and was near relative or friend in 39.33% cases. Chief motive was ‘out of control quarrel over daily trivial issues’ in nearly 1/3^rd cases followed by ‘financial or property disputes’ 2^nd most common. Leading cause of death in victims was ‘Hemorrhagic shock due to mechanical injuries’.

Conclusion: Homicide crimes are though rare, indicates peak of iceberg of violent offences. The offenders are mostly known person to the victims. Stranger person as accused and so as planned murder is rare in study region. Event or motives leading to homicide offence are manageable socio-economical issues if addressed in time.