TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Whodunit? A reconstruction study in a case of one-handed strangulation
JO  - Forensic science international
A1  - Braun, Christian
A1  - Graw, Matthias
A1  - Peschel, Oliver
SP  - e110708
EP  - e110708
VL  - 320
IS  - 
N2  - A 27-year old woman reported an attack by her ex-partner. According to her, he suddenly started to strangle her with his left hand, using a claw-like grip against her throat. After 30-60 seconds the victim reacted by kicking the attacker in the groin, thereby disrupting the strangulation. During the court hearing, pictures of the strangulation marks taken by the police were shown as evidence. From a forensic viewpoint, the pictures and the victim's statements did present several inconsistencies, suggesting the possibility of self-inflicted injuries. The ex-partner was found guilty. The defense appealed against the sentence and demanded a thorough forensic expertise on the origin of the strangulation marks. To identify the possible origin of the strangulation marks considering the victim's statements and the presented strangulation marks, a reconstructive study with 26 participants (25 attackers, 1 victim) was carried out. In the study, the expected strangulation marks did show a vertical, C-shaped pattern on the study subject's neck and throat, while the wounds on the victim's neck were aligned horizontally on the right side of the neck. These results show that the strangulation marks on the neck of the victim did not correspond to the claw-like grip at the throat as described by the victim. In this light, the possibility of self-inflicted injuries is discussed.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0379-0738
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110708
ID  - ref1
ER  -