Analysis of Defence Injuries in Homicide Cases Categorised in Accordance to Homicide Injury Scale

Abstract

Introduction: The instinct of self-preservation drives a person to defend themselves from any violent attackwhich in itself may produce injuries on the body. These are termed as defence injuries. This study aims toanalyse defence injuries in homicide cases which are categorised based on its severity as determined byHomicide Injury Scale (HIS).Methods: This is a retrospective study which included all homicide cases which were autopsied during atwelve year period in a tertiary care hospital. Each of these cases were categorised according to the HIS. Thepresence, type and distribution of defence injuries were then tabulated and analysed.Results: A total of 85 homicide cases were autopsied during the specified study period. Out of these 85cases, 53 cases showed defence injuries (62%) and majority of these cases fell under higher categories ofHIS. Cases categorised under HIS 2,3 and 4 had defence wounds which were more blunt force in naturewhile cases under HIS 5 and 6 had more sharp force defence injuries. Passive defence injuries were founduniformly across all categories of HIS, however active defence injuries were found more in higher categoriesof HIS than in lower ones.Conclusion: This is rare study where the pattern and distribution of defence injuries was analysed based ona standardised scale. Active defence injuries were more commonly seen in homicide cases placed on higherscales of HIS.