Journal de recherche médico-légale

The results of studies on the interrelation of autobiographical memory with the features of the inward picture of the disease among offenders with schizophrenia. There were examined 17 patients with schizophrenia with criminal history, under compulsory treatment. The comparison group consisted of 17 patients with schizophrenia with prosocial behavior and 18 mentally healthy individuals without criminal history. The following techniques aimed to study the inward picture of disease were used: the types of attitude towards disease, symptom checklist-90-revised, life-line (for studying the autobiographical memory), metaphor of the past, functions of autobiographical memory, the questionnaire of self-attitude and balanced inventory of desirable responding. Specific interrelationships between the types of attitude to the disease and perceived symptoms with the peculiarities of functioning of autobiographical memory were revealed. It was found that patients have less realistic possibilities of consciousness with reduced mediation of autobiographical memory representations of the disease at the higher level of severity of distress due to the perceived symptoms and to the less realistic and adaptive types of attitude to disease. It was discovered that offenders with schizophrenia are characterized by the predominance of negative perceptions of past experience, the fragmentation of attitude to disease with low awareness of their symptoms, which is associated with a lower contribution to the mediation of ideas about the disease of functional constructs of autobiographical memory.

Criminals have long used fire to try to destroy evidence of other crimes. Historically this cover-up attempt has had enough success that today investigators may assume evidence has either been consumed by the fire or ruined by the fire-fighting efforts. Yet research indicates evidence can endure fire and still yield partial or even full DNA profiles. However, there has been little investigation into the robustness of DNA from one biological fluid compared to another. This study examines whether fire degrades the DNA from blood more than the DNA from semen. The two biological fluids were exposed to fire, the DNA from these samples was extracted using Qiagen kits, and DNA degradation was quantified using a real-time polymerase chain reaction. DNA was quantified from 59 postfire samples plus 10 positive controls. Data analysis indicated the DNA degradation levels were not significantly different between blood samples and semen samples. However, DNA degradation levels varied significantly between samples on different substrates (nylon versus polyester).

Background: Several reports are available on human body dimensions (BD), their interrelationships with height, sex difference and sex estimation from different populations. Objectives: To understand interrelationships between linear BD and height in adults and estimation of sex. Methods: A sample of 20-39 years old Nepali-speaking 268 adults (158 men, 110 women) was selected from Naxalbari in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. Anthropometric measurements included height, sitting height (SH), upper arm length (UAL), forearm length (FAL), combined length of forearm and hand (CLFH), total arm lengths (TAL) (left side), hands and feet (bilateral length and breadth). Sub-ischial leg length (SLL) and indices (hands and feet), relative proportion, multiplication factors (MF) of linear BD for height were calculated. Sectioning point (SP) values [(mean value in men + mean value in women)/2] were calculated for anthropometric variables to estimate sex. Results: The SH and SLL each shared almost 50% of height. Relative proportions of BD to height were: TAL (men 45.39%, women 46.36%), CLFH (men 25.88%, women 26.58%), UAL (men 19.48%, women 19.82%) and FAL (men 14.83%, women 15.47%). Foot length (FL) and hand length (HL) was approximately 15% and 11% of height in men and women respectively. Foot breadth (FB) and hand breadth (HB) were approximately 6% and 5% of height respectively. The approximate values of MF of BD for height were calculated for TAL (2), CLFH (4), UAL (5), FAL and foot length (7), HL (9), FB (17), and HB (20). Based on SP value, sex estimation was done accurately (%) for SH (82.10%), FL (bilateral 81.72%), HL and FB (left 79.10%), FB (right 77.99%), HB (right 77.61%), TAL, HL (right) and HB (left) (75.37%), SLL (74.25%), CLFH (70.15%), UAL (66.67%) and FAL (62.70%). Conclusion: The MF and SP values were effective in understanding relative proportions of BD to height and sex estimation respectively.

The separation methods of duct tape, packing tape, aluminum foil tape, clear tape, electrical tape and the semi-transparent tape was studied. Adhesive-side to adhesive-side adhered tapes, adhesive-side to non-adhesiveside adhered tapes and adhesive-side to A4 paper adhered tapes were prepared, and the performance of three separation methods (dipping in liquid nitrogen, liquid nitrogen spraying with a cryogun and application of Un-Du) were compared. The fingermarks on the surface of the adhesive surface were developed with Adhesive Side Developer (duct tape, packing tape and aluminum foil tape) and Rose Bengal dye dissolved in a phase-transfer catalyst (clear tape, semi-transparent tape). No differences were observed between the dipping in liquid nitrogen and liquid nitrogen spray methods with respect to the following features: tape fracture and brittleness; transfer of adhesive material to the adhesive-facing side of the tape; separation of the adhesive material from the plastic backing layer; and fingermark development. Un-Du method was successful in separating adhesive-side to adhesive-side adhered tapes, adhesive-side to non-adhesive-side adhered tapes and adhesive-side to A4 paper adhered tapes. We also confirmed a decrease in fingermark quality when using the Un-Du method.

Sexual addiction has become the catch-all for infidelity, cheating, promiscuity, and rape. Recently it has become the newest claim for rapists and child molesters. Sexual addiction was defined similarly to how the DSM-5 has defined substance use disorders. Following the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, as well as how Carnes et al. defined sexual addiction, it sometimes appears as though sexual offenders are sex addicts and are therefore not responsible for their sexually abusive behaviour. Sex offenders may have a sexual addiction in addition to being a sexual offender; however the sexual addiction has nothing to do with sexual offending. No different than a sex offender having a substance use disorder- the drugs or alcohol used never cause the offender to rape, rape is a choice the offender makes whether sober or intoxicated. Sexual addiction involves having intense thoughts involving sexual activities and may include engaging in numerous promiscuous sexual encounters and frequent masturbation. However, those sexual encounters are not about forced sex, just about sex. Sexual offenders rape and molest because of thoughts involving the use of physical or psychological use of force to obtain sex and/or because of sexual thoughts involving children or adolescents.

The development of latent skin impressions on a variety of fabrics (cotton, rayon, polyester, nylon, and acrylic fabrics in five colors; white, black, yellow, blue and red) has been studied. Squid soaked in artificial sweat solution or de-ionized water was used as an alternative to human skin to make skin impressions on the fabric. A piece of squid was subjected to a constant force, to transfer the skin components onto the fabric. The fabrics bearing the skin impressions were treated with various reagents such as ninhydrin, 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one (DFO), 1,2-indanedione/ Zn (1,2-IND/Zn), Amido black and Hungarian red, to know the most effective method for developing the skin impressions on the fabrics. Comparing the sensitivity of the reagents, stronger development was observed from the impressions made with the artificial sweat soaked squid than the de-ionized water soaked squid. These results show that the development quality of the latent hit mark is influenced by the sweat, as well as other skin components. Also, the development efficiency of the reagents varied depending on the chemistry, color and texture of the fabric. Therefore, before the development of skin impressions on the evidence fabrics, it is suggested to perform a preliminary experiment with different methods on a similar fabric to decide the most sensitive method.

This article reports on techniques used in forensic facial identification with a 3D modeling software system to create a virtual sculpture. In this forensic case study, Free Form Modeling SensAble Technologies and a haptic feedback Phantom® Desktop™ were used to reconstruct the facial features of the deceased from her skull. It was previously C-T scanned and then imported as an STL file under which the work was done. The advantages of the haptic feedback device is that the forensic specialist is able to “feel” the surface of the skull, not only to provide a more accurate assessment of the individual -such as their ancestry, sex and age determination-but also to visualize the process of the Manchester method of forensic facial reconstruction step by step.

We describe a case of death by facial and skull fractures with brain injuries of a motorcyclist wearing a full-face helmet. A 40-year-old man driving a high-powered motorcycle crashed violently into the rear of a stopped car. The main results from the autopsy revealed the deformation of the left orbito-zygomatic and fronto-temporoparietal regions corresponding to bone fractures with laceration at the left temporal lobe. The CT scan of the helmet revealed the detachment of the energy-absorbing liner. Moreover an impact speed of 93 Km/h resulted from the analysis of accident dynamics. We analysed the literature regarding the effectiveness of full-face helmets in reducing the risk of fatality and we sought the factors that may have deleted the protection offered. The lesions causing death were due to high speed and probably the inadequacy of the helmet.

Objectives: According to WHO, suicide is the act of deliberately killing oneself. The number of suicide autopsies is comparable year by year; there are differences however in the sex and age, and the method chosen. The aim of the study was to analyze the cases of people who used their occupation-related knowledge to commit suicide. Material and Methods: A retrospective study of the Department of Forensic Medicine autopsy protocols from 2010 to 2014 was carried out. Of the 1,908 protocols searched, 292 suicide cases were selected and the reason and circumstances of death were studied.
Results: The number of suicides increased from 49 cases in 2010 to 65 cases in the years 2013 and 2014. The most common ways were by hanging and intoxication. In 7 (2.8%) of the cases, professional knowledge was used. Amongst them were three cases where death was the result of having knowledge of and access to firearms. Three other suicides were committed by physicians with use of pharmaceuticals. The case of a taxi driver who gassed himself with exhaust fumes causing death by carbon monoxide intoxication was found and the case of an electrical engineer who connected himself to a power source using a timer was also recorded.
Conclusions: Although suicides planned and committed with use of professional knowledge are rare, they always succeed. The need for restricting access to means to prevent suicides is underlined.

In India, the forts and fortresses are historical heritage and symbol of grandeur, dignity and strength of our vibrant past. Rajasthan is the most visited place by foreigners in India to feel and explore this heritage. All these forts and fortresses were equipped with every kind of war wares & weapons, which can be found or witnessed decades later, nowadays too and gun powder was one of the essential commodities of warfare. The unutilized gun powder in these forts brings a problem as no one knows about its whereabouts of storage as these forts and fortresses got abandoned on their own and this causes accidental explosions.
Such an interesting in forensic point of view incident was reported in the fortress of village Jasaana where some arc welding for the modernization work in the fortress was being done and a massive explosion occurred. Our team of expert visited the spot of occurrence, in forensic point of view, calculated the amount of explosive materials and level of explosion. On the basis of our observations we concluded that this explosion might have been caused by gunpowder. Through this article we tried to put light on the features and characteristics phenomenon of gun powder explosion and we have performed first ever a forensic attempt to estimate the approximate amount of gun powder that got exploded.

Cardiac myocytes respond to volume overload by undergoing hypertrophy in two phases: Proportionate increase in breadth and length and Continuation only of lengthening after the chamber dilates beyond a defined threshold. These responses have upper limits that are in need of explanation. Hearts were retrieved from 104 forensic autopsies. Myocyte breadths were measured in H&E-stained paraffin sections from LV and RV free walls. Mean myocyte lengths were calculated from chamber diameter and wall thickness (at full systole in these preparations) using a previously defined regression equation. Using body weight as an estimate for volume overload, myocyte breadth obeyed the expected two phase pattern. This pattern differed between ventricles in only one well defined way: the limiting mean breadths in the right and left respectively were 17.5 μm and 21.9 μm. Hence, in the RV it is not the attained size that imposed the limit on further hypertrophy of the mean myocyte because that attained size imposed no such limit in the LV. The behaviour of overworked myocytes is virtually identical in the two ventricles and it seems reasonable to propose that this identity should affect also the upper limit to size. Log normal distributions generally fit reasonably well in both RV and LV with no ceiling exerted upon the most enlarged cells, which further supports the lack of effect by attained size. A body of theory emerges which provisionally places a causal role for hypertrophy on the simple operation of geometry constrained by a fixed number of myocytes. The theory emerged without need to introduce any proposed contractile weakening. If this theory is confirmed by further observations using improved methodology then this conclusion would sharply constrain what subcellular mechanisms might mediate these events.

A quick determination whether a fired cartridge case is a reloaded case or not has several practical implications for responding officers, crime scene technicians, and criminal investigators in the field. Such a determination would give them a precaution: (1) The fired case may have been be fired by one or several weapons. (2) A quick determination of reloaded and fired pistol cases should assist criminal investigation in narrowing down the type of ammunition used, the type of suspects involved, and a possible link between the reloaded case(s) and the reloading machine at the suspect's residence. (3) If the case goes to the court, the expert opinion from the examiner would be challenged heavily by the defense. Currently, little information and research is available on the topic. Based on the observational examinations of reloaded and fired pistol cartridge cases (N=100) with three types of calibers (.45, .40, and 9 mm), this study offers three practical guidelines for a quick determination of these reloaded and fired cases by naked eyes or a magnifier. These three guidelines should be relevant and useful in identifying reloaded and fired pistol cartridge cases at the scene and as reference later in comparing them in the lab to improve criminal investigations.

Photographs or recently digital images are routinely taken during autopsies. The analysis and interpretation of those images assumes that they are properly taken and handled, and can be relied upon. This paper concerns a case in which manipulation of such an image may have led to an unfounded conclusion in a death investigation. In 1994, as a result of the wrongful death civil case in United States District Court Central District of California Southern Division (SA CV 93-991) brought against the Department of Defense by Dr. David Sabow and Sarah Sabow, brother and wife of the victim, United States Marine Colonel James E. Sabow, approximately 30 autopsy photographs were released. One of the autopsy photographs differed from all the other photographs by appearing to be poorly taken. This photograph of the victim’s posterior upper body appeared to have had the flash too close to the victim’s lower left side, which caused the upper back, neck and left pinna to be overexposed. Digital analysis of a high resolution scan of this photograph revealed it was likely the result of darkroom manipulation. A nearly identical photograph to the questioned photograph, submitted in a report to the United States Congress, was a different fabrication. In December 2012 the original, unmodified photograph was discovered from which both manipulated photographs were generated. The original photograph allowed for a more detailed analysis of the questioned photographs and showed that perjured submissions had occurred: the first in Federal Court and the second to the United States Congress.

Contact lenses have rarely been relevant in criminal investigations and/or trials. Furthermore, there are no established protocols for the forensic evaluation of contact lenses in a criminal case. Recently, an article concerning the forensic use of contact lenses in a murder case was published in the Journal of Forensic Science. After obtaining a court order, the body of murder victim Janet Abaroa was exhumed for further forensic evaluation. Contact lens remnants were retrieved from her orbital contents and became key material evidence in her murder trial.
This paper describes the contact lens burial simulation study, which served as a vital part of the Abaroa forensic investigation. Additionally, a retrospective summary of other criminal cases involving contact lenses is presented. A finalized protocol for the forensic analysis of contact lenses in a criminal case is presented to assist future investigators.

Background and Objectives: Medical malpractice is a legal cause of action that occurs when a physician deviates from required substandard and causes deterioration, disability, harm or death to a patient. This study documented all the reported malpractice cases according to the forensic medicine authority in Fayoum Governrate in the in the course of regular and proper health service
Methods: All cases of medical malpractice claims of several medical specialties referred to the Forensic Medicine Authority, in 2012-2016 were checked (n=55).
Results: The present study shows that 87.3% of the study group were adults, and 12.7% of them were children, 50.9% of them were males and 49.1% were females, and as regards to the place of residence, 47.3% of the victims were from urban places. The study has also pointed out that the majority of malpractices occurred in general hospitals (67.3%), more than in clinics and private hospitals. The 40% of malpractice were complications of surgery, then 23.6% of them were due to negligence, then 21.8% of patients had medication errors, and the least percentage of 14.5% had forgotten gauze and the majority of malpractices occurred in obstetrics and gynaecology which represent (36.4%) of the cases.
Conclusion: It is extremely essential to analyse the errors properly in order to get the medical malpractice under control to avoid incidence of litigation and to propose professional standards as well as accurate references in connection with medico-legal procedures.

Objective: The main objective of this paper is the estimation of age at death using subjective dental data. This is particularly useful in developing and under developed countries.
Methods: This study provides a framework for the estimation of age at death using very subjective measurements of the teeth using (i) Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and (ii) Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). These predictors of age were all ordinal in nature. A dataset comprising measurements taken on 71 maxillary incisors from different individuals at the time of their death was used. A comparison of two models – the Gamma GLM and the Gamma GAM is used to illustrate the flexibility of this method and the predictive power of the statistical modelling process.
Results: The study showed the effectiveness of the models through the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) as well as the proportion of correct predictions within each of the age groups. The Gamma GAM actually had the higher AIC but the better predictive values within the age groups.
Conclusion: Statistical modelling caters for the types of data and can give reasonable predictions of age at death.