Traditional punishment and unexpected death in Central Australia

Three cases of traditional punishment in Central Australian Aboriginal men are presented in which the thighs were speared or stabbed as part of a "pay back" system. In two cases, an unexpected effect of the stabbing or spearin g was death due to severing of major leg vessels. The relationship between customary Aboriginal law and general law in Australia has not been clearly defined; however, these cases demonstrate that significant and untoward eff ects may result from traditional punishments. Pathologists working near tra ditional Australian Aboriginal communities may still encounter such injurie s at autopsy.