[Retrospective analysis of changes concerning presumable homicidal poisoning in the region of the Bonn University Department of Legal Medicine over the last 6 decades].
10,739 autopsy protocols from 1946-2005 were retrospectively analysed as to whether they included cases of homicidal poisoning with special attention being paid to the substances used, characteristic features of the perpetrators and the circumstances of their detection. Amongst the 882 homicides, there were 15 confirmed cases of homicidal poisoning (1.7%). The incidence of this method of killing has clearly decreased over the years, while the number of homicides among the autopsies performed remained almost constant. There was a change concerning the substances used with heavy metals and E 605 (parathion) in the 40's and 50's being replaced by highly volatile substances and medicinal drugs, which are difficult to detect by analytical methods. In most cases, the perpetrator and the victim had close relations with males and females being equally represented in the number of perpetrators. 27% of the victims had to be exhumed and in 13% the homicide was detected only after essential hints had been given by the offenders themselves or their surroundings. This points to a larger number of undetected cases.
Lanzerath
Markus
M
Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Universität Bonn.
Musshoff
Frank
F
Madea
Burkhard
B
D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005858:Germany; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality*; D011042:Poisons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
D011042:Poisons