Journal of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2024
  • Volume: 24
  • Issue: 1

Decapitation following a long drop, is it suicide or murder

  • Author:
  • Harvinder Singh Chhabra1, Ravdeep Singh2, Ashwini Kumar3,*, Rajiv Joshi4, Alwin Varghese5
  • Total Page Count: 5
  • Published Online: Dec 24, 2024
  • Page Number: 162 to 166

1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, HIMS, Dehradun

2Assistant Professor, GGS Medical College & Hospital, Faridkot, Postal address: GGS Medical College & Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab

3Professor & Head, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Dr B. R. Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences, Mohali, Punjab

4Professor & Head, GGS Medical College & Hospital, Faridkot, Postal address: GGS Medical College & Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab

5Junior Resident, GGS Medical College & Hospital, Faridkot, Postal address: GGS Medical College & Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab

*Corresponding Author: Dr. Ashwini Kumar, Professor & Head, Dr B. R. Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences, Mohali, Punjab, E-mail: drashwinifmt@gmail.com, Contact: +919988778949

Online Published on 24 December, 2024.

Abstract

Murder is an odious crime. Identifying such crime requires precision and cooperation between the various agencies, including the police and forensic pathologist. Both need to keep an open mind, and consider each crime through all the possible perspectives. We present a case of hanging associated with a long drop which resulted in a complete decapitation, but was alleged to be the result of a sharp force injury by unknown assailants. The preparators of this crime, dumbfounded by the unexpected outcome, tried to conceal the crime. However, on meticulous examination and review of past literature we are of the considered opinion that decapitation in this case was caused by hanging. However, the manner of death was not clear and the police ruled it as murder based on their investigation.

Keywords

Neonaticide, Infanticide, Homicide, Pregnancy, Criminology