TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Homicidal strangulation and subsequent hanging of the victim to simulate suicide: delayed elucidation based on reassessment of the autopsy findings
JO  - Forensic science international
A1  - Geisenberger, Dorothee
A1  - Pollak, Stefan
A1  - Thierauf-Emberger, Annette
SP  - 419
EP  - 423
VL  - 298
IS  - 
N2  - In many countries, hanging is the most common suicide method. When a person is found hanged however, one always has to consider that the alleged suicide scene possibly covers up a homicide. In such cases, hanging may have been the actual method of killing or the victim may have been harmed by a different method and was subsequently hanged. Apart from the inspection of the scene, the autopsy findings are of great importance to differentiate between suicide and homicide. Up to now, a considerable number of cases have been observed in which suicide by hanging was wrongly assumed at first. In the case presented, there were some facts raising doubts about a suicidal act already at scene. Nevertheless the forensic pathologists erroneously assumed that the findings on the corpse were consistent with suicide. The later elucidation of the case as a homicide by manual strangulation with subsequent suspension of the victim was essentially based on a new assessment of the autopsy findings in a second opinion.<br><br>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0379-0738
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.02.037
ID  - ref1
ER  -