An unusual death by transcranial stab wound: homicide or suicide?

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
Pauline Saint-MartinPatrick O'Byrne

Abstract

Penetrating stab wounds of the brain are uncommonly seen in modern times and occur almost exclusively in homicides. We report an unusual death by self-stabbing. A 24-year-old man was found dead at home, the handle of a kitchen knife protruding from his forehead. Data such as the psychiatric history of the victim, the multiplicity and site of wounds, the implement used, the presence of hesitation, and defense wounds were studied to elucidate the manner of death, and the suicidal nature of the event was established after police investigation. Atypical injuries require a careful forensic investigation, and medico-legal aspects of the differentiation between homicide and suicide are discussed in this particular case. A review of the literature revealed few cases of suicidal transcranial stab wounds.

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Citations

Nov 19, 2013·Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine·Jatin BodwalAnil Aggrawal
Apr 14, 2010·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·Matthew LargeOlav Nielssen
Jul 31, 2013·Brain Injury : [BI]·Seong Woo KimZee-A Han
Apr 24, 2012·Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine·Basappa S HugarS H Jayanth
Sep 21, 2012·Prehospital Emergency Care : Official Journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the National Association of State EMS Directors·Benoît VivienPierre Carli
May 24, 2012·British Journal of Neurosurgery·Wellingson Silva PaivaManoel Jacobsen Teixeira
Dec 8, 2010·Medicine, Science, and the Law·M ArunRitesh G Menezes
Sep 9, 2017·The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery·Lukas AndereggenRobert H Andres
Oct 14, 2011·Psychiatry Investigation·Seungnam SonNack-Cheon Choi

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