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Forensic Pathology
- Wounds differ according to weapon used
- Patterns of injury are characteristic
- However, different angles, body areas and other factors can make injury from a single weapon look different
- Weapons may be any object
- Weapon may be used in a manner different from typical useage
Cutting injuries on different body regions appear different because of lines of cleavage of the skin as well as the kind of weapon and pattern of use
Injury will appear as on right, but when edges are pushed back together and held, the actual weapon shape is revealed
- Injury pattern differences result from differences in the orientation of the lines of cleavage with respect to the direction of the wound
- Wounds from the same weapon may appear different at different body locations
- Wounds from different parts of the weapon may appear to be from different weapons
- One reason why obtaining the weapon is helpful in proving a case
Sharp versus blunt force trauma
Injury patterns differ
- How to distinguish sharp force trauma from blunt force
- Sharp force versus blunt force weapons may cause similar degree of damage
- Sharp force injuries cut more cleanly
- Do not leave partial tissue “tags” or “bridges”
- Not always clearcut, however, because a cutting weapon still can tear the edges of the tissues
•Weapon structure can make similar wounds appear to be from a different kind of weapon
•Identification of weapon may tell investigator about the user of the weapon
- Weapons may have unusual features and be linked to a specific individual
- Weapons may show class characters, such as serrated steak knives
- Weapons may have individual characters so only that particular one could have cause the trauma on the victim
Size of
injury
may relate
to the
weapon
used or
the type of
weapon
used
Any item can be used as a weapon and many household and everyday items can cause fatal injuries
•Unusual patterns of injury can allow investigator to determine the type of item used to cause the injuries
•Patterns are characteristic for each kind of weapon
What do “hesitation” injuries tell you?
•Explain how defense injuries differ from other kinds
•What is the significance of where these injuries occur?
Defense injuries can occur on many body regions.
How do these occur?
