Abstract
Cut-throat wounds are traumatic injuries to the anterior or lateral part of the neck, between the larynx and the hyoid bone, or over the larynx (but rarely above or below these limits), produced by a sharp and heavy instrument with a cutting edge. The depths of such wounds are variable. They can reach the spine and can be singular or multiple. The medico-legal etiology of such wounds is commonly homicide, whereas suicides are infrequent, and accidental cases are rare. In this work, we report the homicide of a 16-year-old boy in a juvenile correctional unit, whose throat was cut with cruelty using two blades. The body was then partially charred. A careful examination of the injuries along with the death scene evidence was performed to clarify the cause, circumstances, and mechanism of death.
Highlights
Cut-throat wounds are a well-recognized method of homicide
We report an unusual and cruel cut-throat homicide case of an adolescent under custody; following the cut-throat homicide, the victim was set on fire
We conclude that the death was caused by the cut-throat injuries, while carbon monoxide poisoning is excluded
Summary
Cut-throat wounds are a well-recognized method of homicide. These wounds are less commonly found in suicides and are rarely accidental [1,2,3,4,5]. Characteristic signs that help to perform differential diagnosis between homicide and suicide are the presence or absence of multiple preliminary trial cuts (i.e., hesitation incisions) by the perpetrator while gaining the courage to make a final decisive cut, the depth and orientation of the wound, signs of a fight, and the findings at the death scene investigation, but exceptions to this general pattern have been reported [6]. Accidental cut-throat wounds occur when the victim impacts through a sheet of glass or is struck in the neck by a sharp-edged missile or flying piece of glass; they can occur while operating a cutting machine [1,7]. We report an unusual and cruel cut-throat homicide case of an adolescent under custody; following the cut-throat homicide, the victim was set on fire
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