PANJAB UNIVERSITY REGIONAL CENTRE, LUDHIANA

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL AND
ACCIDENTAL STAB WOUNDS
(FORENSIC SCIENCE)

SUBMITTED TO: MS. SUMANPREET KAUR

SUBMITTED BY: KASHIPRA, ROLL NO. 16,

BALLB 9TH SEMESTER
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SPECIAL THANKS OF GRATITUDE TO MY TEACHER MS.

SUMANPREET KAUR WHO GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS PROJECT ON THE TOPIC
‘DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL AND ACCIDENTAL STAB WOUNDS’, WHICH
HELPED ME IN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND I CAME TO KNOW ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS. I
AM REALLY THANKFUL TO THEM.

I WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR PUTTING UP AND
STICKING UP FROM END TO END OF THE PROGRESSION OF THIS PROJECT.
1 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUICIDAL, HOMICIDE AND ACCIDENTAL STAB WOUNDS

TABLE OF CONTENT

SNO. TOPIC PAGE

NO.

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. CLASSIFICATION OF INJURIES 2

3. WOUNDS 4

4. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LACERATED, INCISED AND STAB WOUND 6

5. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL AND ACCIDENTAL STAB 7

WOUNDS

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY 9

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INTRODUCTION

In case of death occurring from wounds the question is often raised as to whether they
were the result of homicide, suicide or accident. As, suicide is the death at one’s own hand;
and an accident death id dying from an act or event with the foreseen potential for fatal
consequences. homicide is the death at the hand of another.
Wound- can be broadly, described as the ‘disruption of the continuity of tissues produced
by external mechanical force’.
Injury- It is a result of an accident, fighting or when one is hurt while doing something. The
word ‘injury’ has also special connotations as given under Section 44 of the Indian Penal
Code, which provides, the injury means ‘any harm whatever illegally caused to any person,
in body, in mind, reputation or property.
Both injury or wound is caused due to external mechanical force acting over the body either
due to movement of the body and the weapon of offence or movement of the body alone.

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CLASSIFICATION OF INJURIES

Injuries are of the following types:

A) MECHANICAL INJURIES
These can be classified depending on the weapon of offence involved.

1. Blunt force impact: Due to the blunt force impact either striking the body as in a blow
or the moving body striking a fixed object or surface, as in case of a fall on a rough
surface etc. The injuries caused by blunt force impact are abrasion, bruise &
laceration.

2. Sharp Force Impact: due to striking of the body by edge of any sharp object like knife
tip, broken glass, or heavy sharp objects like axe, etc. They cause injuries like,
incised wounds, stab wound and chop wound’.

3. Due to fire arms: a) Firm arm injuries, b) blast wound/ bomb explosions.

B) THERMAL INJURIES
These are caused due to:

1) Due to local effects of cold:

a. Frost bite,
b. Trench foot

2) Due to generalized effects of cold: hypothermia

3) Due to local heat application:

a. Burns,
b. Scalds

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4) Due to generalized effects of heat:

a. heat stroke,
b. heat exhaustion or
c. heat cramps.
C) CHEMICAL BURNS

These are the result of the chemical reaction as in cases of corrosive acids and alkalis.

D) Miscellaneous Injuries:

Electrical injuries causing electrocution

Blasting injuries which can be termed as combination of mechanical and thermal injuries.

Radiation injuries caused as a result of radioactive substances/ X Rays.

Lighting injuries which is a combination of electrical, mechanical and thermal injuries.

Legal Classification:
Legal injuries are classified into:

a. Simple- one which is neither extensive or serious and which heals rapidly without
leaving any permanent disfigurement or deformity.

b. Grievous injuries- one which is covered under Section 320 of IPC. Thus, any hurt
which endangers life of the victim.

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WOUNDS

Wounds can be caused in a number of different ways by a variety of different objects, be it

blunt, sharp or projectile. They are classified into several categories dependent on the
cause and resulting injury:

Incised wound – A clean, straight cut caused by a sharp edge (i.e., a knife). Tends to bleed
heavily as multiple vessels may be cut directly across. Connecting structures such as
ligaments and tendons may also be involved.

Laceration – A messy looking wound caused by a tearing or crushing force. Doesn’t tend
to bleed as much as incised wounds but often causes more damage to surrounding tissues.

Abrasion – A wound caused by a scraping force or friction. Tends not to be very deep but
can often contain many foreign bodies such as dirt (i.e., after a fall on lose ground).

Puncture – A deep wound caused by a sharp, stabbing object (i.e., a nail). May appear small
from the outside but may damage deep tissues. Particularly dangerous on the chest,
abdomen or head where major organs are at risk.

Avulsion – A wound caused by a tearing force in which tissue is torn away from its normal
position. May bleed profusely depending on the size and location. The tissue is often
completely detached

Defence wounds:

These are caused by the immediate and instinctive reaction of the victim to save himself.
These are classified into:

Active Defence Wound: caused when the victim tries to grasp the weapon.

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Passive Defence Wound: caused when the victim raises the hand, arms or legs to defend
himself.

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LACERATED, INCISSED AND STAB WOUND

TRAIT LACERATED INCISED STAB

Manner of Blunt objects Sharp objects Either
production
Site Usually over bony Anywhere Usually over vital
prominence organs, but can be
anywhere
Margins Irregular Clean cut Either depending
on the weapon
Abrasion of edges Present Absent Present if weapon
is blunt
Bruising Present No adjacent Present
bruising depending on the
weapon
Shape Irregular Spindle shaped or Depends on the
linear weapon
Dimensions Usually longer Length is the Depth is the
greatest greatest
dimension dimension.
Underlying Crushed with Clean cut. Clean cut.
structures bridging of tissues
seen.
Hair bulbs Crushed Clean cut Clean cut in case
of sharp weapon.
Haemorrhage Not profuse Usually, profuse Profuse
especially internal
haemorrhage
Bones May be fractured May be cut. Depends. May
show cut.
Foreign bodies Usually, present Absent May be Absent.
Clothes May be torn May be cut. May be cut.

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL AND ACCIDENTAL STAB WOUNDS

FEATURE SUICIDAL HOMICIDAL ACCIDENTAL

WOUND WOUND WOUND
CAUSE Self- inflicted Inflicted by other Falling on sharpp
objects.
Position Accessible areas Generally, on vital Can be anywhere.
parts and can be
anywhere
Grouping Uniform in parallel No definite Most of the time
lines with grouping single large
hesitation cuts wound.
Direction Left to right in the Any direction Generally, straight
right-handed inside
person and vice-
versa
Severity Mostly Usually very deep Variable.
superficial and severe
Defence Absent Present Absent
Secondary Absent Present Mat be
injuries associated with
all.
Weapon Found by the side May not be Present.
of the body present by the
side.
Clothes Not Damaged Damaged Damaged
Scene of Crime Usually in a Disturbed and Varies with the
closed isolated disorganised nature of
room with no surrounding with accident.
disturbance of signs of struggles
surrounding
household goods

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Motive Present eg. Robbery, revenge, Absent.

Domestic sexual offences
violence, etc.
disappointment,
worries etc.

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CONCLUSION

Distinction between suicide, homicide or accident is a major issue for the forensic
pathologist [1]. Homicide refers to the killing by another person, suicide is the act of
intentionally causing one’s own death, whereas accidental implies usually that the act was
by accident, sudden. And, on of the most difficult decisions for the forensic pathologist is
the differentiation between homicide, suicide and accidental injuries and the complete
knowledge of the investigative findings (scene of death, topography, number and type of
injuries, clothes, expressions of suicidal intent, implements presence or absence, autopsy
and toxicological findings, etc.) are needed to minimize the uncertain cases.