International Journal of Legal Medicine最新文献

Pepper spray guns have gained popularity as self-defense weapons in recent years. Marketed as "less-lethal," these devices are designed to be easy to use, accurate, and capable of deterring assailants without causing permanent harm. We present a case of a 53-year-old man who sustained a fatal injury caused by a JPX6 Jet Protector pepper spray gun. The device was found in close proximity to the body at the scene. External examination revealed a small entry wound and a triangular, burned stretch zone in the right inguinal area. The cause of death was exsanguination due to laceration of the right internal iliac artery (A. iliaca interna dextra). To our knowledge, this is the first documented fatality caused by a JPX6 Jet Protector.Following this incident, we have conducted a series of ballistic soap experiments using the JPX6 to evaluate its potential for skin and soft tissue penetration, especially at distances shorter than the manufacturer's recommended safety distance of 1.5 meters. Our findings confirmed tissue-penetrating capacity at distances as short as point-blank, 10 cm, 20 cm, and 40 cm.We emphasize the potentially lethal capabilities of pepper spray launchers, particularly when used at close range and by untrained individuals, and advocate their recognition as potential weapons of homicide during forensic scene investigation.

The estimation of age is considered to be one of the essential steps in the reconstruction of the biological profile of human remains, along with the estimation of sex. In this regard, the utilisation of three-dimensional images for this purpose has seen a substantial increase, given that it constitutes a straightforward methodology, as evidenced by the substantial body of prior research on the subject. For the purpose of this study, a sample of 240 thoracic CT scans of adult individuals was selected from a collection of 3D images belonging to the University of Granada. These images were provided by the Castilla-La Mancha Health Service (SESCAM). The ossification of the costochondral cartilage at the level of the first to seventh ribs, both at the costal end and at the sternal notch, was evaluated in these individuals, as was the degree of synostosis of the sternal segments. The purpose of this was to construct regression formulas that allow an accurate estimation of age. The results obtained in this study are of considerable value in estimating the age of bone remains through the analysis of 3D images. This estimation is facilitated by a series of regression formulae that are both replicable and reproducible, and which also have high coefficients of determination.

Age estimation is a prerequisite for human identification. Within the skeletal framework, pelvic acetabular variables constitute a promising age marker. Previous investigations with the coxal bone have utilised either acetabulum for age estimation whilst assuming bilateral symmetry or selective side standardised practices, with two published studies reporting significant bilateral asymmetry within acetabular variables. The present study delves into this aspect of bilateral asymmetry further, and explores the prevalence, and impact of these side differences on age estimation. Data for analysis was obtained from 463 CT scans (195 females, 268 males) collected ethically from a medical institute in India previously. These scans were scored using a CT-based modification of the SanMillán-Rissech acetabular age estimation method, which utilises only the first five slightly modified variables of the original method as opposed to all seven. Collected data was then statistically analysed to illustrate the prevalence of asymmetry. The Wilcoxon test, Chi-square tests, mean % directional asymmetry values and equivalency ratios were utilised to assess population level lateralisation within the acetabulum. Furthermore, the association between asymmetry/ directionality, and biological sex and chronological age was investigated, and the impact of asymmetry on age estimation was evaluated using Bayesian regression analysis. Statistically significant bilateral differences were observed with the acetabular groove in females and the apex activity in males, and for all five variables the left acetabulum garnered older/ higher scores. Males largely demonstrated a greater degree of directionality wherein one side scored higher than the other more often, and patterns of directionality were seen to mostly increase with age in both sexes. The right, and/or younger scoring acetabulum consistently garnered most accurate age estimates, contradicting previous standardised practices of using the left acetabulum more, leading to its selective utilisation. Further, in-depth, investigation is wanting with regards to anatomical factors and lived experience of individuals capable of rationalizing these findings.

Necrophagous insects are often used in cases of suspicious death to estimate the minimum post-mortem interval (minPMI) and, less frequently, to provide evidence of the movement of a body, the antemortem neglect, intoxication or the post-mortem handling of a body. In the current case, the body of a victim of a train accident, heavily infested with fly larvae, was delivered by a funeral home to the autopsy. As a result, the prosecutor's office was notified of the suspected desecration of the cadaver, by storing it outside the funeral home's cooler. The entomological analysis was ordered to indicate, whether the body had been stored in or outside of a cooler. By reconstructing thermal conditions at the scene of death and in the funeral home's cooler, and simulating the initial development of blow flies (Calliphoridae: Lucilia sericata and L. caesar) under cooling conditions, the analysis provided evidence that, under the conditions of this case, the flies were able to complete their egg and early larval stages in the cooler, ultimately forming a massive aggregation of third instar larvae, as revealed at the autopsy. Therefore, insect evidence proved crucial in concluding that the body had indeed been stored in a cooler and had not been desecrated. This is the first case report demonstrating the successful development of the initial life stages of blow flies in a cooler and one of the few cases of insect development under cooling conditions. This case report also perfectly illustrates the specific conditions that favor such development. The two key factors in this respect are thermal conditions on the cadaver that conduce insect colonization and development (both before the body is placed in a cooler and during the storage itself) and abundance of the insects.

Filicide is defined as the killing of a child by a parent. Although this definition is generally intended to apply across all age groups, it frequently varies in the literature, with no clear consensus regarding characterization and underlying factors. This systematic review aims to organise existing information for analyzing the elements that can help to distinguish the different features and circumstances related to these homicides and contribute for definition and classification. The review follows the PRISMA criteria (Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses). Filicide is defined as the killing of a child by a parent. Although this definition is generally intended to apply across all age groups, it frequently varies in the literature, with no clear consensus regarding characterization and underlying factors. This systematic review aims to organise existing information for analyzing the elements that can help to distinguish the different features and circumstances related to these homicides and contribute for definition and classification. The review follows the PRISMA criteria (Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses). Studies primarily aim to profile offenders and explore contributing factors such as mental illness, domestic violence, and attachment. Female perpetrators tend to be younger and associated with unwanted pregnancy, mental health issues, abuse, or lack of support. Male perpetrators more often act out of jealousy, revenge, or conflict. Frequent methods of filicide include suffocation, neglect, and physical violence. Cultural and gender stereotypes influence media portrayals and legal outcomes, with evidence suggesting that women are less likely to be convicted or receive harsher penalties. Filicide-suicide cases are commonly associated with mental illness and partner conflict, with limited and heterogeneous studies which hinders generalisation of results. The review highlights the need for more balanced, cross-cultural, and gender-inclusive research on this phenomenon.

An evaluation of the stabbing intensity including the degree of force necessary to cause a particular injury is a common task for forensic pathologists in court. Biomechanical analyses are essential for collecting objective data, serving as a baseline comparison among the highly individual circumstances of each case. However, previous investigations have utilized instruments only resembling the murder weapons as well as tissues from individuals other than the victim, including animal tissues or substitutes, which limits their applicability to forensic casework. In this study, a homicidal head stab case is presented, in which the blade penetrated over its full width, crossing the midline and injuring the brainstem and the contralateral hemisphere. A skull sample from the victim's contralateral side corresponding to the injured region was retrieved during the autopsy. For the stabbing experiments, a pendulum setup incorporating the original blade was employed. Three consecutive stabs were executed on the bone sample of the victim obtained at autopsy. Additionally, two other skull samples from different cadavers were each subjected to a single stab. The stabbings were performed at varying bone thicknesses (3-8 mm) and momenta (3.1-13.4 Ns) to account for mild, moderate, and strong impacts. High impact velocities resulted in either a blade entry across its full width, resembling the homicide case, or a multi-fragmental destruction of the bone. Mild and moderate impacts were insufficient to achieve full-thickness penetration of the skull. When stabbings were performed on a considerably thicker skull sample than that involved in the homicide case, only the blade tip penetrated the bone without achieving full-thickness perforation. By utilizing tissue from the victim and the real weapon for biomechanical analysis of the stabbing intensity including the minimum degree of force and momenta in homicidal stab cases, this experimental setup closely mimics the conditions of the actual case. Forensic investigators should proactively recommend such biomechanical analyses and secure appropriate tissue samples during autopsy to obtain objective experimental data relevant to legal questions.

This study investigates the cause of a non-Mendelian inheritance pattern observed at short tandem repeat (STR) loci on chromosome 2 in a paternity test and aims to provide a definitive identification opinion. STR genotyping was performed using the AGCU Expressmarker 22, Goldeneye DNA Identification System 22NC, and AGCU X Plus STR kits. Additionally, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) was used to assess copy number variations and regions of homozygosity (ROH). The cumulative paternity index based on 21 autosomal STR loci (AGCU Expressmarker 22) was 8.4361E-04. When combined with the 39 STR loci from the Goldeneye System, the index increased to 3.1806E + 04. All discordant loci-D2S441 and D2S1338-were located on chromosome 2, where the alleged father had genotypes 11,11.3 and 17,19, respectively, while the child had 14,14 and 24,24. The TPOX locus (also on chromosome 2) showed homozygosity (8,8) in the child. X-STR analysis confirmed that the alleged father contributed all necessary alleles. CMA revealed a 243.03 Mb ROH spanning 2p25-q37.3 in the child, suggesting identity by descent or uniparental disomy. These findings highlight the potential for chromosomal anomalies to mimic false exclusions in paternity testing. Comprehensive genetic analysis is recommended when inconsistencies arise at multiple loci on the same chromosome.

In the estimation of the Post-Mortem Interval (PMI), semi-quantitative methods have been proposed to overcome the challenges associated with determining the time of death. Among these, the Total Decomposition Score (TDS) method, developed by Gelderman et al., offers a systematic and semi-quantitative approach for estimating PMI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the TDS by assessing its interoperator variability and comparing the results obtained with known reference data. A TDS-based questionnaire was administered to 100 participants - including forensic pathologists, residents in forensic medicine and professionals in forensic thanatology - using a dataset of six outdoor cadavers representing different decomposition stages. Data were analyzed using Fleiss' Kappa (K) to assess inter-rater agreement and Spearman's rank correlation to evaluate consistency. The results showed moderate overall agreement, with inter-rater reliability decreasing in cases with PMI exceeding 30 days. Linear regression analyses between estimated and actual post-mortem intervals yielded low coefficients of determination, with R² = 34.1% for the TDS-based model and R² = 20.5% for the ADD-based model, indicating that both methods explain only a limited portion of the variance in the actual PMI (PMIa). No statistically significant differences were observed among the professional categories, supporting the method's applicability across different levels of expertise. While TDS shows promise as a practical tool for PMI estimation in field conditions, inter-operator variability remains a limiting factor in advanced decomposition stages.

Short tandem repeats (STRs) have long been the gold standard in forensic DNA analysis, while single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have increasingly emerged as valuable complementary markers. The advent of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technology has significantly enhanced the detection resolution of both STRs and SNPs, providing novel approaches for forensic human identification. In this study, we developed and validated a comprehensive multiplex detection system utilizing MPS technology, which enabled the concurrent analyses of 88 STRs and 348 SNPs. Following the SWGDAM guidelines, validation studies were conducted to assess the forensic applicability of the system. Sensitivity study revealed that 100% STR profiles could be obtained from ≥ 0.125 ng, and 100% SNP profiles were achieved with ≥ 0.0625 ng. The panel showed high accuracy, achieving a 99.78% concordance rate with conventional capillary electrophoresis (CE) DNA profiles. The system exhibited robust performance in the presence of four common PCR inhibitors (including humic acid, melanin, indigo, and hematin). Additionally, 99.42% of STR genotypes and 100% of SNP genotypes were successfully obtained from degraded DNA shorter than 500 bp. Furthermore, across gender combinations in mixed samples, both STR and SNP markers performed robustly at 1:1 and 1:3 ratios. At extreme proportions, male-female mixtures (99:1) enable the detection of scarce minor contributors at Y-STR loci. For SNP loci, the ACR value serves as a key evaluative metric for distinguishing mixtures. ROC analysis of these SNP data yielded an AUC of 0.909. Population genetics analyses revealed that the cumulative power of discrimination (CPD) and cumulative probability of exclusion (CPE) both exceeded 0.999999, highlighting its extensive applicability and practical value in forensic genetics. This comprehensive validation study confirmed that the multiplex panel provided high sensitivity, accuracy, and reliability, representing a significant advancement in forensic DNA analysis methodology.