Citation

Zoja R, Battistini A, Gentile G. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2009; 30(3): 303-306.

Affiliation

Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. riccardo.zoia@unimi.it

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0b013e318187df18

PMID

19696595

Abstract

Suicide by train with complete voluntary decapitation is an extremely rare event, however, well known and reported in the scientific literature. The authors analyze 4 cases of suicide with complete decapitation by main line or underground train that were subjected to medico-legal autopsies at the Milan Institute of Legal Medicine between 1995 and 2006. Personal, circumstantial, autopsy, and toxicological data were analyzed to define the type and pathologic characteristics of the injuries (vital reaction of wound edges, absence of any signs of defense); alcohol and drug consumption was considered and the victim's psychical profile was outlined.

Language: en