List the common methods of suicide in Myanmar.

Describe the factor which are useful in differentiating

between accident, sucide and homicide.

Common methods of Suicide in Myanmar

1. Poisoning

2. Hanging

3. Drowning

4. Stabbing

5. Cut throat

6. Firearm injuries

7. Run-over by train

8. Jump from height

9. Burns

10. Blunt force injury to head

I. Examination of the wound

1. Situation of the wound

Suicidal wounds are generally in "easily" assessable parts of the body such as: - throat

and wrist for incised wound

- abdomen or heart region for stab wounds

- centre brow, temple, mouth for firearm wounds

But is should be noted that a murderer may choose any of these sites to simulate suicide. Wounds on the

back of the body are rare for suicide. However, a lack of knowledge or accidental slipping of the hand

will cause a wound in a place where one might least expect it. The precise election of a classical suicidal

site is a strong indication of deliberate self-infliction. Accidental wounds could be of anywhere on the

body. Usually, an accidental fall will produce abrasions and bruises on one side of the body.

2. Nature and Extent of wound

Contused wounds are rarely seen in suicide because it causes great pain, and there is uncertainty of

causing death.

Exception – where a man threw himself from a height or in the path of a train, there will be multiple

bruises and abrasions.

Incised wound – suicidal cut throat and homicidal cut throats have different features.

Sometimes when an insane person commit suicide, they may inflict extra ordinary wounds upon

themselves. e.g., axe wound on the head.

Regarding the severity of the wound, if there is more than one fatal wound it is in favor of homicide.

Cutting of the spinal column in two distinct places would point to homicide.

3. Multiplicity of wounds

The presence of defense wounds on the hand, palm, and forearm indicates murder.

Multiplicity of wound is presumptive of murder but this is not true in every case because multiple

tentative wounds may be present in suicide. So the number of fatal wounds is of more importance.
If there is more than one fatal wound it is indicative of murder, as a suicide would not be able to inflict

another fatal wound after the first fatal wound.

II. Examination of the scene of crime

Position and lie of the body in relation to the surroundings objects such as weapon,

furniture will be of importance. e. g., a female with a ligature around her neck with her clothing

disarranged and in a lying position with feet apart indicate rape with strangulation.

Examination of the scene may be important for the reconstruction of the circumstances.

The medical witness may be required to say how far the evidence at the scene is consistent with

the wound of the victim.

e.g., adherent particles of fiber or blood stains on furniture may be consistent with an

accidental fall.

III. Evidence from the weapon

When a person died from self-inflicted or accidental wound, which is likely to cause death within a few

minutes, the weapon is usually found close to the body. If the weapon is firmly grasped in hand in a state

of cadaveric spasm, it is strongly confirmative of suicide. But if should be noted that it is compatible with

suicide to find the weapon at some distance or even washed and put away.

IV. Cause of death

Simultaneous use of more than one method to end life is in favor of suicide. e g., the ingestion of

kerosene together with cut throat wound is a strong indication of suicide. Hanging is a common form of

committing suicide. The possibility of homicidal hanging is quite rare while accidental hanging occurs

occasionally. A suicide generally chooses the quickest and least painless way to die.

V. Age and sex

Death of young children from wounds or drugs precludes suicide.

Females usually choose sleeping pills, insecticides or drowning to commit suicide. Rarely do they choose

firearm or knives or by hanging.

VI. Evidence from examination of assailant

A person committing murder may have blood of the victim on his clothing and injuries on his body

produced in the struggle. He may attempt to explain that the stains are animal origin like chicken or pig,

but the species precipitin test and blood grouping will identify the source.

State the role of doctor at scene of crime. What are the broad principles that

should be followed in SOC examination procedure?

The role of a doctor at the scene of crime is to: -

1. pronounce the person dead

2. help identification if not known

3. determine the cause of death

4. assist in determining the manner of death

5. if unnatural – determine the agent causing death

6. help establish approximate time since death

7. if homicide, assist in identifying the person responsible for death

Procedure

1. Fix your position e.g., stand at the point from which the photographs were taken or stand at

the foot of the bed; your notes are best taken as if from that spot.

2. Before walking about or moving anything, see that photographs have been taken.

All wounds on the body must be photographed. After photographs have been taken and the fingerprint

expert has done his work, make sure that the photographer remains, in case your examination reveals

something afresh. He should not allow the photographer to depart until it is certain that his services will

no longer be required. The medical examiner is the only person who appreciates the significance of

certain findings, for example, drag-marks, defense wounds, or injuries etc. If you have a camera, take

photographs yourself.

3. Adequate notes should be made which should include : -

(a) Date and time

(b) Address or site or locus

(c) Name and sex of deceased and of identifying person.

(d) A list of all persons present

(e) Any tears, cuts or stains on the clothing. The presence of grease or tyre marks on

the clothing in road accidents or seminal stains in sex crimes is of significance.

(f) His observations regarding the reactions of relatives, neighbors, etc. and remarks

passed- these should be written in full and verbatim

(g) All relevant findings

4. If outdoors, it is advisable to record the type of weather, the state of the ground and thevegetations

present. Take temperature of the surroundings (time taken should be noted) and before removing the body

to the mortuary, the reading should be repeated in one hour, if possible. The rectal temperature of the

deceased should also be taken on at least two occasions at the same time as the surroundings. Rectal

temperature readings should be made while the thermometer is still in the rectum and not after it has been

withdrawn. If this means disturbing the body, axilllary and mouth temperatures are taken (remember the

jaw may be locked).

5. Examination of the bloodstains, or a search for the weapon should be made in a systematic

order-either clockwise or anti-clockwise around the body.

6. Record the presence or absence of rigor mortis or any of the other signs, which may assist in

establishing the time of death or position of the body (hypostasis).

7. It is useful to make a sketch or diagram, noting such points of importance as :

(a) Direction and position of blood stains-pools, splashes, droplets, spurts, trails, smears,

etc.

(b) Position of body and of any lethal weapons, if present. You should also note in this sketch the position

from which it was made. Your plan need note be of scale accuracy, but your relative measurements should

be accurate, although the subsequent evidence will include a scale plan and photographs.
8. Nothing should be left undone or to chance, as such omissions may well be exposed in court later, to

the discomfort of the medical examiner and to the discredit of his whole evidence. This is particularly

important in the so-called 'easy' or straightforward case. Every case should receive the same degree of

care and skill from the medical man. Mistakes, particularly of omission, may be very hard or impossible

to correct later. It is always better to collect too much rather than too little material: unwanted material

can always be discarded. So too, it is better to take too many photographs rather than too few.

Collecting and labeling of specimens

1. In cases of suspected poisoning, the doctor must look for and retain any specimens such as

vomitus, excreta or drinking utensils.

2. All such evidence as hair, fiber, fragments or paint, glass, grease containers (screw -capped

Universal bottles make very suitable containers) which must be sealed and labeled immediately with the

name, source, and the date.

3. A descriptive note should be made of each article as it is removed and examined. When each

article has been examined, it would be placed in a separate brown paper bag and suitably

labeled, e.g., a cartridge case or a bullet may be found in the locality. It is preferable to use

brown paper when wrapping clothing if there is any delay before its subsequent examination

in the laboratory, as experience has shown that plastic bags suffer from the disadvantage of

allowing the growth of moulds on damp or blood-stained clothing. If it is a large garment, it is

well to place a sheet of brown paper in between the folds. Wet clothing should be hung up to

dry on hangers and not heat-dried. After packing, it must be formally handed to the police
officer whose name and designation must also be noted. This officer will have the duty of

asking it to the laboratory for its safe custody and subsequent production as exhibits at the

trials.

State M.P.C section 84. Describe about delusion, hallucination, illusion,

impulse, obsession and lucid interval.

MPC Section 84

Nothing is an offence, which is done by a person, who, at the time of doing it, is, by reason

of unsoundness of mind, incapable of knowing the nature of the act, or that he is doing what is

either wrong or contrary to law.

Murder means killing another person with evil intention (mens rhea). There is no criminal

intent if murderer is insane and therefore he will not be responsible for what he does and

according to law, will not punish him.

The law will pronounce in this case as "not guilty by reason of insanity".

Delusions
Definition: It is the wrong or false belief in something which is not to the fact and which cannot be

corrected by any amount of logic or reasoning power.

Types of delusion are:

(a) Delusion of grandeur – believes that he is a king or millionaire.

(b) Delusion of persecution – believes that somebody is trying to kill him.

(c) Delusion of jealousy – become jealous all the time.

(d) Delusion of infidelity – believes that his/her marital partner is unfaithful.

Hallucination

Definition: It is a wrong sense of perception without any external object or stimulus to produce it.

Affected special sense: It may affect any sense or all the special senses. Hallucination of sight and

hearing are most common. An insane person may hear voices when there is none.

Medico-legal importance: It is a sign of insanity but can occur in ordinary people. Hallucination occurs in

fevers and intoxication (e.g., belladona) as well as in insanity. A person suffering from unpleasant and

disagreeable hallucinations should be classed as a dangerous lunatic, for, owing to the delusions arising

from these hallucinations, he may be incited to commit suicide or homicide.

Illusion

Definition: It is a false interpretation by the senses of an external object or stimulus, which has a
real existence. e.g. a man may imagine a string or a rope as a snake or he may mistake a tree trunk

in the dark for a ghost.

Medico-legal importance: A normal person can also experience illusion but by closer investigation

and judgment, he is capable of correcting the false impression but an insane person cannot do so.

Impulse

Definition: It is a sudden and irresistible force, compelling a person to the conscious performance

of some action without motive or aforethought.

Types of impulse are:

(a) Kleptomania – irresistible drive to steal articles of little value

(b) Pyromania – irresistible drive to set things on fire

(c) Mutilomania – irresistible drive to mutilate the body of animals

(d) Dipsomania – irresistible drive to drink alcohol

Obsession

Definition: It is an imperative idea constantly obtruding upon the consciousness in spite of all

efforts of the sufferer to drive it from its mind.

Lucid interval

Definition: It is the period in which an insane person becomes reasonable and capable of making
good judgment like any other normal person. It is a period in insanity where the person is sane.

During this period, he will be responsible for the consequences of his act.