HOMICIDAL HANGING MASQUERADING AS SUICIDE

Homicidal hanging is rare and presents special problems for the forens ic pathologist. We report a case of homicide by hanging masquerading a s suicide, in which the forensic evidence was of crucial importance. T he victim was a 61 years old man, who was found in his house suspended by a rope around his neck. The autopsy showed fresh bruises due to bl unt trauma. Moreover, a voluminous subdural haematoma with brain swell ing was found which indicated that the victim was unconscious at the t ime of the hanging, An obvious vital reaction consisting of cutaneous bleeding in the ligature mark supported the opinion that the deceased was alive and not dead at the time of the hanging. The estimation of t he time of death was of great importance, as only one other person cou ld have been present at the estimated time interval. This person was l ater sentenced to prison for manslaughter. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science I reland Ltd.