TJPRC:International Journal of Forensic
Science and Medicine (TJPRC:IJFSM)
Vol. 5, Issue 1, Jun 2015, 1-6
© TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.
INCIDENCE OF HOMICIDAL DEATHS RESULTING FROM SHARP WEAPONS
SATHISH
Department of Forensic Medicine, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Karnataka, India
ABSTRACT
The Violence has been an integral part of the human civilization since its inception. Human beings have
progressively become expert in manufacturing various types of weapons both for offensive and defensive purposes. Sharp
weapons are one of the most violent and abhorrent means of death. Sharp force injuries along with other primitive type
injury type such as blunt force trauma have been around for a long time. Majority of victims from the age group 19-26
years with stab wounds dominated the incisions. Flaring up on trivial issues may be the leading cause.
KEYWORDS: Violence, Sharp Weapons, Stab Wounds, Deaths
INTRODUCTION
Violence has been an integral part of the human civilization since its inception. Human beings have progressively
become expert in manufacturing various types of weapons both for offensive and defensive purposes. Sharp weapons are
one of the most violent and abhorrent means of death. Sharp force injuries along with other primitive type injury type such
as blunt force trauma have been around for a long time. It has always been a condemnable method of fatalities indicative of
extreme hatred for the dead and at many times, the mental instability of the murderers 1. Sharp weapons can be classified
into light cutting, moderately heavy sharp cutting and heavy splitting sharp weapons2. The usual weapons for cutting and
stabbing are knives, daggers, ice picks, hatchets and choppers. In Indian context, a very limited work has been done on
sharp weapons injuries. Few studies have reported sharp weapons to be the second most important means of homicidal
deaths during 2001 3
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This was a retrospective study extending over a period 2012 -13 that involved all reported sharp weapon deaths
autopsied at the department of Forensic Medicine, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. The cases included
were those where the death occurred due to infliction of injuries by sharp weapons. The occurrence of deaths in India other
than sharp weapons was excluded. Statistical data was analyzed using SAS-16.50 version. Univariate analysis was
employed to draw the significant inference.
RESULTS
The total number of deaths reported during the study period was73, out of which 48 were due to Shock and
Haemorrhage rate of 65.70 %. Out of total 4.9% found to be homicidal in nature, so the sharp weapon deaths were forming
15.6 % of homicidal deaths during the study period. Out of these 73 deaths, 65 (89.04%) were males and 08(10.95%)
females Table. The age range in which the most (75.78%) deaths occurred was of 19-26years. Most of the deaths were due
to stab wounds (70.0%) involving chest and abdomen while remaining deaths.
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Table 1: Descriptive and Cause of Death N=73
Cause
Year 1999
Year 2000
Total
Percentage
Shock and Haemorrhage
25
23
48
65.70%
Coma
8
7
15
20.50%
Other
4
6
10
13.69%
37
36
73
Total
Include those deaths that resulted due to respiratory failure and cardiac failure consequent upon infection,
exhaustion, Pyaemia, septicaemia, Post Surgical adhesion etc.
Table 2: Age Distribution of Homicidal Deaths Resulting from Sharp Weapons during the
Year 1999 and 2000 at Victoria Hospital N=73
Age
Group
0-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61 and
above
Total
Number of Homicidal
Death
Caused by Sharp Weapons
Male Female
Total
1
0
1
6
0
6
33
7
40
10
2
12
3
3
6
5
0
5
3
0
3
61
12
Percentage
1.36%
8.2%
54.7%
16.4%
8.2%
6.84%
4.1%
73
Table: 3 Motive of the Cases Studied N=73
Motive
Motive of Homicidal Deaths Causes by
Sharp Weapons in the Year 1999-2000
Percentage
19
26.02%
20
4
4
27.39%
5.47%
5.47%
1
1.37%
25
34.24%
Quarrel and Sudden
Provocation
Enemity
Robbery
Proerty Gain
Adultary/Sexual
Motive
Not known
Table 4: Survival Period of Cases Studied N=73
Survival Time
Immediate or within Half
an hour
30 Min.- 6 hrs
7 – 12 hrs
13 – 24 hrs
24 – 48 hrs
More than 48 hrs
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Male
Female
Total
Percentage
28
5
33
45.20%
16
4
3
4
6
3
2
0
0
2
19
6
3
4
8
26%
8.20%
4.10%
5.40%
10.90%
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Incidence of Homicidal Deaths Resulting from Sharp Weapons
COMBINED
ISOLATED
Table 5: Total No of Cases Showing Region on Injuries Pattern N=73
Type of
Wound
Incised
Chopped
Stab
Incised & Chopped
Incised &
Stabed
Incised, Choped
& Stabled
Total
Male
Female
Total
12
2
15
3
2
2
15
4
17
5
17
10
2
2
1
7
19
11
61
12
73
Table 6: Weapon Used in the Present Study N=73
Weapons
Used
Sharp Cutting
Single edge only
Double edge only
Heavy cutting only
Combine d
Multiple Weapons
Doubtful or Undetermined
Total
Year 1999
Male
Male
Year 2000
Male
Male
Total
18
2
13
4
37
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
4
5
1
12
1
19
8
32
1
5
3
29
1
7
13
73
Weapon used in study are classified into Light cutting Single Edge, Ex. Kitchen Knife, Raizor, Blade, Glass
Piece, etc., Double Edge Ex. Dragger, Knife etc Heavy Cutting, Chopper, Axe, Longs Sword etcs
DISCUSSIONS
Among the victims, males were 2.5 times more frequent than females. Similar, male dominance has also been
reported by other. The male predominance may be explained by the fact that the males by nature indulge in more violent
activities as compare to females. Family, tribal, clan, land disputes and murder for honour sake is the common causes in
this part of the world. Higher incidence of sharp weapon death was seen in the age group of 19-26 years. Persons in this
age group are more active, violent and more vulnerable to the fast changing social trend and culture. A noteworthy finding
is that none of the sharp weapon death in our study was due to suicide. Studies within India have reported sharp weapons to
account in some measures of suicides. A study conducted in
The analysis shows the incidence of homicidal deaths caused by sharp weapons to the number of autopsies in the
Victoria Hospital mortuary, during 1999 to 2000 the injuries in number of homicides as shown in the table 1A. are due to
increased socioeconomical, cultural factors. The seriousness of the social problem to homicide hardly needs to be
emphasised. (uniform crime reports of US 1975). In USA for every 20 minutes 1 murder is committed. In India
approximately one third of homicides are not due to negligence (Indian Police Journal 1972)
Homicidal deaths rates vary widely in the areas of different culture as also pattern of the murder. Age appear to be
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an supportive factor directly or indirectly on frequency of murder committed. Physical and physiological conditions need
not be of importance in committing murder. Murders are closely associated with sex status, the male sex has greater access
to murders However, and American females are committing more murders than females of other Countries (Uniform
Crime Report of US 1975). Most of the murders are generally pre-determined. And these murders are generally committed
under the influence of alcohol, great emotions anger. The planned murders committed could be due to enimity, jealously,
property gain or long standing disparities. They are also of products of quarrel, nuscience, and drunkenness. Increased
Socio economic problems like unemployment, Alcohol and Psychological illness like depression, greediness, and
dictatorship of elderly persons in a family, provokes younger the numbers of the family, and migration from neighbouring
states play important role in homicidal cases (Ross 1974). The present study shows an increase in the percentage of deaths
due to sharp weapon injuries. The increase may be due to socioeconomics problems and relaxed Law & Order position of
the government and police department and by anti-social elements. In the present study, alcohol examination of the
assaliants were not made at our end, and the victims stomach did not show any sign of irritation and smell of alcohol was
not done in the present study and in a few cases the chemical analysis report showed insignificant Percentages. Incidence
of homicidal deaths caused by sharp weapon injuries in the city of Bangalore is rather high. The percentage obtained was
that of an incidence of Homicidal deaths caused by sharp weapon injuries in the department of Forensic Medicine
Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore was 0.98% & 1.14% for 1999 & 2000 respectively. Of the total homicidal deaths
reported at the department of Forensic Medicine Bangalore College, shows Incidence of 2.34% & 2.51% of the year 1999
& 2000 respectively.
Age Distribution
Higher percentage of homicidal deaths was seen in 21-30 years and 31-39 years of age group. The maximum
persons in the youth full age were the victims. This could be due to their more involvement in day to day quarrels, Jealousy
unemployment, public interfearance, adultary etc., or may who be due to the hot blood or stage of youngness who are
easily provoked or provokes others and who are more arrogant at their age.
During adolescent period, they have a
moral fear in the mind, which prevents them from involving in crime or act which leads to murder. After 40 years, people
have more of family responsibility, job, business to look in. This group is also not much involved. Results 21-30 age group
show 54.7% & 31-40 age group 16.4% involved as compared to Moar JJ A study of homicidal penetrating incised wounds
of thorax were male, predominant age group were 21 – 30 years (71.2%) as compared to Dr. G. K. Sharma & Kari Omstad
et al predominant age between 20 - 40 Years. Similar results have been obtained from Dr. B. G. Shalwadi & Dr. C.
Chandrashekariah, (20-29) 64%. Similar results have been obtained from Avis SP and Vivian Levy et al Study, Minlo et al
Study and Dr. Rouse’s Study shows more predominance of male in their 3rd Decade.
Survival Time
Table 4 shows, the number of cases reported as death due to sharp weapon injuries. Died on spot or after some
time of the incident, they were grouped as with in 30 minutes for this study.
Death with in 30minutes showed the
height numbers of 33 cases (45.2%) though who survived for 6 hour show 19 cases (26%), 7 to 12 hours 6 cases (8.2%),
13-24 hours shows 3 cases (4.1%). There is a short increase of survival time 24 to 48 hours shows 4 cases (5.4%) and
survival more than 48 hours 8 cases (10.9%) similar results have been study of Dr. B. C. Chanderashekaraiah, & Vivian
Levy et al studies.
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Incidence of Homicidal Deaths Resulting from Sharp Weapons
Total No. of Wounds
Insised wounds:
225
Chopped
130
Stabbed wounds
140
Total No. of injuries
495
Total 35 cases of stab injuries in 140 injuries studied showing more involvement to chest of 59 injuries (42%),
and 46 injuries over abdomen (32.8%). Least was seen over face & neck 12 cases (8.57%) this aims that penetrating
injuries caused by share weapon were mainly focused on chest & abdomen as it easily yields to penetration and damage
internal organs. Similar results have been observed by Dr. C. Chanderashekaraiah shows (36.52%) fatal cases had stab
injuries over chest & abdomen predominant area was chest and 20% over abdomen a total of (56.52%) cases confined to
chest and abdomen. Similar result as been obtained by Dr. G. K. Sharma regarding the site of stab injuries.
Number of Wounds
Number of wounds inflicted over the body in the present study showed multiple wounds more than 10 injuries
were the highest in number of 22 cases (30%) followed by 15 cases (20%), 5 to 9 wounds 14 cases (19.1%). In this study
single injuries sustained were almost a cases of stab injuries to the chest or cut throat injury victims. Rest of the others was
inflicted by multiple injuries. Similar studies have been reported by Dr. B. G. Shalwadi & Dr. C. Chanderashekaraiah.
However, these studies are homicidal deaths irrespective of sharp weapon injuries. Similar results have been obtained by
Dr. Rouses study of 65% who had sustained single injury only by stabbing
Weapon
Present Studies of sharp weapons shows light cutting or penetrating weapons like knife, razor, blades, sickle, glass
piece etc., which accounted for 50.68% of total weapons used. 26.9% of the cases showed use of multiple weapons, least of
these 5.4% were Isolated heavy cutting weapons was used. An important aspect of the examination of injuries caused by
sharp weapons is to determine the type of the weapon used, weather single edged sharp cutting or double edged sharp
cutting, Heavy cutting weapons or light cutting weapons present shows more number of cases. In 37 cases (50.68%)
showing the use of single edged weapon were doubtful or unknown 13 cases (17.8%).
CONCLUSIONS
Sharp weapon deaths continue to be a means of quite a number of deaths in Bangalore. It formed about of all
homicides. Male victims outnumbered the female victims. Majority of victims from the age group 19-26 years with stab
wounds dominated the incisions. Flaring up on trivial issues may be the leading cause.
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Sathish
3.
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