Planned complex suicide combining pistol head shot and train suicide and Virtopsy examination

Wolf Schweitzer,Garyfalia Ampanozi,Michael J Thali

doi:10.1016/j.fri.2021.200485

Wolf Schweitzer, Garyfalia Ampanozi + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fri.2021.200485

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Journal: Forensic Imaging	Publication Date: Mar 1, 2022
Citations: 1	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Zurich

Abstract

• What resolution is necessary for forensic triage post-mortem CT • How to search for and identify gunshot injury to the head in apparent case of train suicide • Comparison of CT and macroscopy of bone fragments This case report focuses on the findings in what appeared to be a planned complex pistol head shot and train suicide. The post mortem computed tomography (PMCT) scan in this instance yielded two interesting skull fragments among the many fragments of a highly fragmented body and head. These two fragments, based on initial resolution, appeared to show findings consistent with a firearm shot to the head. Upon reconstruction of higher resolution data, the necessary discrimination of non-gunshot related semi-circular fragment rims and firearm-related beveling matched the macroscopic aspect of the skull fragments. As a first lesson to be learned, a thorough examination of PMCT data in relatively high degrees of fragmentation may have to inspect all bone edges also for relatively subtle changes, possibly indicative of sharp force trauma or gunshot trauma. To that end, individual bone fragments should be placed on the scanner table carefully and with proper spacing, to expose their edges. Only this allows to capture data that avoids edge overlaps or edge collisions and that allows for optimal checking of the edges of all bone fragments for possible semicircular defects in the PMCT data. A second technical lesson to be learned is that particularly in instances of high fragmentation of at least parts of a body, resolution may have to be at least as good as maximally achievable. To that end, availability of the raw data to reconstruct images with maximal image quality rather than using a trade-off between lesser cost and lesser yield may be a key issue. A third lesson to be learned is that findings in relatively highly fragmented bodies as consequence of an apparent form of injury - fire/thermal, fall from great height, collision with a train - for other forms of trauma - sharp force trauma, firearm injury - may have to interpreted with caution, particularly with regard to what can be ruled out.

Highlights

Forensic medicine typically poses questions as to the type or form of violence exerted in any given case.One particular question in any instance of an apparent train suicide is whether there are findings that suggest that death or significant incapacitation by a third party had occurred prior to the body being overrun by the train [1]
A third lesson to be learned is that findings in relatively highly fragmented bodies as consequence of an apparent form of injury - fire/thermal, fall from great height, collision with a train - for other forms of trauma - sharp force trauma, firearm injury - may have to interpreted with caution, with regard to what can be ruled out
In a rural alpine canton, a 52-year old man placed a wooden chair onto railway tracks, reportedly sat on it, presumably shot himself through his Planned complex suicide combining pistol head shot and train suicide and Virtopsy examination ·14th Dec, 2021·20:40

Summary

Introduction

Forensic medicine typically poses questions as to the type or form of violence exerted in any given case.One particular question in any instance of an apparent train suicide is whether there are findings that suggest that death or significant incapacitation by a third party had occurred prior to the body being overrun by the train [1]. Forensic medicine typically poses questions as to the type or form of violence exerted in any given case. Another, overlapping problem is that of differentiating a complex suicide, whereas a planned complex suicide connotates the simultaneous or combined application of different forms of violence, from an (initially unplanned) complex suicide with what may appear as more improvised sequential attempts of using a single method at a time [2, 3]. Planned complex suicide combining pistol head shot and train suicide and Virtopsy examination ·14th Dec, 2021·20:40 for pre-autopsy screening or triage [4], for the head in context of the bone morphology in firearm injuries, and yet, with one exception, the proposition of specifications for related procedural PMCT improvements appears to remain untouched so far. Current developments in high grade trauma screening such as mass disaster victim examinations will benefit from an increased focus on PMCT performance in particular, in order to better inform the design of such an overall procedure.

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