Medico-legal profileof homicidal deaths brought to the mortuary at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad

Abstract

Abstract:Homicide is a brutal crime where one person kills another, robs them of their life. Forensic pathologists must distinguish between suicide, murder and accidents using autopsy.Homicides can involve various methods, including assault, strangulation, drowning, burns and poisoning. The rising incidence of homicides prompts a study to identify vulnerable age groups, sex incidence, motives, injury patterns, crime locations and survival periods.The study was conducted from January to December 2023 on 103 cases from 4172 autopsies in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad. In this study we included thecases with alleged homicide history and those later converted to homicide. Most of the cases were in the age group of 21 years to 30 years and least in the age group of 0 to 10 years.Injuries were most common (36.89%) between 6 pm and 12 midnight and least common (17.48%) between 12 noon and 6 pm.The majority of homicidal deaths involved hard and blunt weapons (39.80%), followed by sharp and penetrating weapons (31.06%). Argument was the most common reason for homicidal death in 42.72% of instances. Homicides occurred most common on the street in 38.83% of cases. The majority of victims died within 30 minutes to 24 hours (45.63%) of infliction of injuries.42.72% of incidents involved an acquaintance as the assailant.