Citation

Kakimoto Y, Ikeda H, Matsushima Y, Tsuboi A, Ueda A, Isozaki S, Osawa M. Forensic Sci. Med. Pathol. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s12024-022-00566-2

PMID

36454381

Abstract

Homicide by electrocution is rare in forensics, and the identification of the cause of death can be quite difficult when the electric device is removed from the scene. We present an instance where the police were unsure of homicide in the initial investigation. The offender used hand-made electrode plates for electrocution, which produced unique electric marks different from those produced by common electric devices such as electric wires. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of homicide by electrocution with electrode plates. We believe that the macroscopic and microscopic findings in this instance are quite valuable for forensic practitioners.

Language: en

Keywords

Homicide; Pathology; Axonal ballooning; Electric mark; Electrocution; Electrode plate