Citation

Türk EE, Püschel K, Tsokos M. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2004; 25(1): 83-86.

Affiliation

Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. lisatue@gmx.de

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15075697

Abstract

Four cases of complete decapitation connected to homicidal acts are presented. In 3 cases, decapitation was inflicted postmortem after killing the victim. The motives for decapitation were considered defensive, aggressive, and a possible combination of the 2 in one case each. In one case, decapitation was a vital injury and accounted for death. In this case, an offensive motive for mutilation was suspected. The combination of death scene findings and autopsy results will in most cases distinguish between homicidal and other modes of death.

Language: en