Citation

Chmieliauskas S, Laima S, Andriuskeviciute G, Jurolaic E, Jasulaitis A. J. Forensic Sci. 2018; 63(3): 724-727.

Affiliation

Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Ciurlionio str. 21/27, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13618

PMID

28810069

Abstract

Homicide rate in Lithuania between 2004 and 2013 decreased and reached an average of 6.7 per 100,000 people in 2013. The data regarding forensic autopsies of intentional homicide victims were obtained from the State Forensic Medicine Service. Spearman's correlation test was used to assess trends in the homicide rates. A significant correlation was observed between homicide distribution and the following variables: Lithuania's gross domestic product (r = -0.85, p = 0.003), the number of alcohol intoxication cases of victims (r = 0.97, p < 0.05). After regression model adjustments, these variables remained significantly associated with the homicide distribution (p < 0.05). 73% of victims were men, with a mean age of 45.5 ± 15. Alcohol intoxication was present in 58% of victims. 66% of homicides were carried out indoors, 57% in urban area. The presented findings help decide which prevention programs may be the most effective in homicide rate reduction.

© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

autopsy; crime; forensic science; homicide; murder; victim