Citation

Tsai WT, Chang CY, Hu CI. J. Forensic Sci. 2019; 64(4): 1230-1233.

Affiliation

Department of Engineering Science and Ocean Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.14022

PMID

30735577

Abstract

Fatal fall from a height initiated with a swinging motion on the sagittal plane of the victim's body is examined.

METHOD of analytical mechanics is adopted to establish the functional relations between the swinging angle of the body and the force needed to sustain the body until release, and the amount of the horizontal displacement that would occur after release. The analysis is applied to support an expert opinion presented in a criminal court in which two accused were convicted of murder for dropping a female victim from a bridge. The results indicate that it is unlikely for the body to locate as recorded by the police investigation report in the case. This study demonstrates that a straightforward mechanical analysis can be utilized to examine uncommon falling scenarios.

© 2019 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

analytical mechanics; fatal fall from height; forensic science; human body rotation; mathematical model; rebuttal evidence for retrial