title: Study of defence injuries in homicidal deaths - An autopsy study.
abstract: In order to determine specific patterns and distribution of defence injuries, this study was conducted on 121 homicidal deaths which showed defence injuries in 40 (33%) cases. Of these 40 victims, 72.5% were males and 27.5% were females. Maximum numbers of victims were in the age group of 20-29 years. In 70% of cases, more than one assailant was involved. It was found that in 77.5% cases, sharp weapons were alone used, whereas, in 10% and 12.5% of victims, blunt weapons and multiple (sharp and blunt) weapons, respectively, were used. Fatal wounds were seen most commonly on the head and neck region. In 42.5% of cases, defence injuries were seen on the right side only, whereas in 27.5% of cases both sides were involved. Victim's right 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: Department of Forensic Medicine, MS Ramaiah Medical College, MSRIT Post, MSR Nagar Bangalore 560054, India. basavaraj_hugar2007@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Basappa S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Hugar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harish
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Girish Chandra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Praveen
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jayanth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054041:Weapons; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult