title: Self-defense injuries in homicidal deaths.
abstract: In order to determine specific patterns and distribution of defense wounds, this study was done on 162 homicidal deaths which showed defense wounds in 54 (33.3%) cases. Of these 54 victims, 85.2% were males and 14.8% were females. Maximum numbers of victims were in the age group of 21-40 years. In 68.5% of cases more than one assailant were involved. It was found that in 57.4% cases, sharp weapons were used, whereas, in 11.1% and 31.5% of victims, blunt weapons and multiple weapons, respectively, were used. Fatal wounds were seen most commonly on the head and neck region. In 40.7% of cases defense wounds were seen on left side only whereas in 37% cases both sides were involved. Victim's left forearm and hand were more commonly involved because these are nearest to the perpetrator and consistent with the preponderance of right handed individuals in the population.
authors.affiliation: Dr Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Forensic Medicine, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India. manmohanty@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Manoj Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.forename: Manoj Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Panigrahi
authors.forename: Sachidananda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.forename: Jyotin Kumar
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.forename: Shreemanta Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dash
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019548:Crime Victims; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*