Citation

Guo W, Luo G, Wang H, Meng X. J. Forensic Leg. Med. 2015; 30: 25-28.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine, Basic Medicine College, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: mengxiangzhi63@163.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jflm.2014.12.010

PMID

25623191

Abstract

The compound crossbow can be used to eject syringe-like dart loaded with poisonous solution. Succinylcholine (Sch) is a short-acting neuromuscular blocker medically used to achieve complete relaxation of muscle for a good intubation condition. Without the help of an artificial respirator, intramuscular injection of a large dose of Sch can paralyze the respiratory muscle and result in the receiver's death. In this paper, we present the homicide case of a young male killed by Sch from a syringe-like dart ejected by a compound crossbow. The subcutaneous and muscular hemorrhages observed around the entry were more severe than that caused by a medical injection. Additionally, other autopsy results showed the external appearance of a pinhole, general asphyxia signs and pathological findings which were not characteristic. The discovery of a syringe-like dart at the scene is the critical clue and reason for analyzing for Sch, which is commonly used to load syringe-like dart to paralyze and steal dog in the countryside of China.

Language: en