Introduction:
I am submitting case details of one Post mortem performed in our department when I was working as Professor in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at GMC, Nagpur. I am purposefully not revealing details which can lead to identification of victim/case.
In the evening, we received dead body of one man, aged about 54 years as a case of homicide.
Spot Details (as per police report)-- on the complaint of near relative, police went to a building which was under construction. Observations of police in short:
•Room was on the top floor with attached open terrace.
•Two windows with iron grills.
•Two doors- one for entering into the adjoining room and other opening to terrace. Door opening to terrace was not locked from inside.
•Adjoining this floor, terrace of other building was at distance of about 15 feet . adjoining building was also under construction.
•On the first floor, family of deceased (wife and one daughter of about 14 years age) were living. Brother of deceased was living on second floor. He was alone. He was not in good terms with deceased as told by relatives.
•All entries from outside into the building were closed from inside except that of terrace.
•Inside the room, body of deceased was lying on one iron cot with mattress in supine position.
•Collection of blood with stains on floor.
•One iron rod of about 4 feet length found on floor with blood stains. One end of rod was somewhat tapering with blood stains.
• Post mortem examination Findings:
o External & Internal:
Clothes: one Baniyan—One payjama- One underwear.-- On examination- Blood stains present on Baniyan and Payjama-- one hole (1.2 cm diameter) with irregular margins on right chest area of Baniyan. Deposition of black granular powder near cut margin seen.
No s/o decomposition- Rigor mortis well marked all over.
Injuries :
•1- LW over rt Frontal region of scalp- 3 X 2 cm, scalp deep- no fracture of bone underneath.
•Puncture wound/Firearm wound- oval 1.2 cm in diameter- Rt mammary region of chest- 3rd Intercostal space in midclavicular line—margins irregular and abraded- puncturing intercostal space and ribs – piercing pleura, lung ( thru & thru)—Lung collapsed-
•About 2 liters of blood & clots in pleural cavity seen.
•Track was contaminated with black granular material for small distance from external puncture wound.
•On exploration of pleural cavity, one button like projectile was found lying in pleural cavity- was properly collected as per protocol , labelled, sealed and handed over to PC on duty.
•There was no other injuries on body.
•Stomach was empty.
•All major internal organs were pale.
•Opinion as to the cause/probable cause of death :
- “Shock & hemorrhage caused by injury to lung caused by Firearm injury”.
• Samples for Investigations :
1.Routine viscera
2.Blood for DNA fingerprinting & grouping
3.Clothes
4.Wet swab from margins of puncture wound with black granular material.
5.Complete skin with underneath soft tissue of margins of puncture wound.
6.Projectile.
oQuestions before IO:
Is this a case of homicide ?
Is it a case of Firearm wound Or Stab wound ?
What can be the manner of entry of accused in the victim’s room?
Whether accused is insider?
Why there was no sound of shot if it is a case of firearm wound?
Was there possibility of entry of accused from outside or from nearby terrace?
DISCUSSION :
How Forensic Medicine expert can help IO to find out answers to questions before IO—
1) From circumstantial evidence, PM report, Type of injury—definitely case of Homicide.
2)Recovery of projectile- granular material, character of injury etc suggest that it is case of Firearm injury—
3)Type of firearm to be decided by FSL Ballistic division.—may be discussed in session
4)Range of shot to be decided by FSL Ballistic experts—may be discussed in session 5) Answers to other questions--- IO to investigate.
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