Circular saw-related fatalities: A rare case report, review of the literature, and forensic implications

Legal Medicine
Martin JaníkP Hejna

Abstract

Fatalities attributed to powered circular saws appear to be vanishingly rare events with highly wounding and rapidly incapacitating effects. When they do occur, they are mainly self-inflicted in nature. We report the suicide committed by a 79-year-old man using a self-made circular table saw. Autopsy confirmed that the man received multiple heterogeneously distributed saw-type impacts to the head and neck resulting in complete amputation of the upper skull and partial beheading. Homemade or modified commercial sawing instruments and the resultant injuries pose a number of forensic challenges starting from the death scene investigation, continuing with technical examinations, and concluding with determining the manner of death. As with all deaths due to sharp force injuries, fatalities involving power tools such as chainsaws, circular, and band saws warrant a high degree of suspicion of criminal activity and require diligence during all phases of the death investigation.

References

Dec 1, 1989·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·S P ClarkT L Fernando
Jan 1, 1994·International Journal of Legal Medicine·N G Rainov, W L Burkert
Oct 30, 1995·Forensic Science International : Synergy·P Betz, W Eisenmenger
Sep 29, 2000·International Journal of Legal Medicine·B KargerB Brinkmann
Mar 19, 2004·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Steven A KoehlerCyril H Wecht
Feb 27, 2007·Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine·O Judd, J P Wyatt
May 21, 2008·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Serafettin DemirciGursel Gunaydin
Jul 16, 2008·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Gilles TournelDidier Gosset
Nov 5, 2008·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Migiwa AsanoYasuhiro Ueno
Nov 21, 2008·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Fatma GloulouMoncef Hamdoun
Apr 17, 2009·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Stephanie-Marie Marciniak
Jun 23, 2009·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Wolfgang Grellner, Jochen Wilske
Sep 10, 2009·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Brad Randall
Jan 13, 2010·The Journal of Trauma·Brenda J ShieldsGary A Smith
Feb 2, 2010·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Matthias FrankPeter Hinz
Sep 8, 2012·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·Petr Hejna
Nov 28, 2012·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Petr HejnaLubomír Straka
Mar 5, 2013·Forensic Science International : Synergy·I StojanovićI Jovanović
Apr 2, 2013·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Christian SchymaBurkhard Madea
Jun 17, 2014·Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine·Carlo MoreschiGianfranco Pergher
Aug 19, 2014·Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery·Petr SantavyVladimir Lonsky

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 10, 2019·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Klára HandlosováPetr Handlos
Feb 22, 2018·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Jacqueline M BergerTara L Moore
Jun 11, 2020·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·Bogdanović MilenkoBaljozović Andreja
Apr 23, 2021·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Gábor Simon, Veronika Heckmann

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Forensic Science International : Synergy
Fatma GloulouMoncef Hamdoun
Sudebno-meditsinskaia ekspertiza
Iu V Matveenko, A A Terpugova
Forensic Science International : Synergy
P Betz, W Eisenmenger
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved