Attached
Introduction
Suicidal and homicidal firearm deaths are not uncommon.
In some instances, attempts are made by the criminals to
conceal homicides as suicidal deaths. The case under
discussion highlights the contribution of the forensic
pathologist in the ascertainment of the manner in a firearm
death. ^
Case report
The deceased was a poacher and his dead body was found
in a cashew land with his shotgun lying over him (Fig 1).
The shirt had a roughly circular loss of fabric with burnt
and blackened margin, and a faint muzzle mark (Fig. 2).
Beneath that, a circular shaped, perforated laceration, 2 cm
diameter with a 0.5cm circumscribed muzzle imprint on
front of the left upper chest (Fig 3). Shelving at the upper
margin. Chest X-ray showed the downward pellet
distribution (Fig 4). Cause of death was chest injuries due
to pellets discharged from a smooth bore weapon. Upper
arm reach was 65cm (25 inches) (Fig.5) and the muzzle to
the trigger length was 79cm (31 inches) (Fig. 6).
Fig. 1. Body at the scene Fig. 2. Entry on shirt
Fig. 5. Arm reach (25”)
Figure 6. Muzzle to trigger length (31”)
Discussion: Presence of muzzle imprint in shirt and around
the entry, it was confirmed that the range of fire is contact.
Contact or close range injuries involving the head or thorax
result in instantaneous or rapid death [1], Therefore, in this
case, an instantaneous or rapid death is expected.
Victims of suicides usually pull the clothes aside to bare the
skin before shooting themselves [2], But in this case, the
clothes seem to be not moved at all. It aroused the
suspicion as to the manner of death. Usually, in suicides,
triggering is done by feet and the weapon is kept close to
the body and the direction of the fire is upwards. Direction
of shelving and pellet distribution confirmed that the
direction was downwards. The selection of an elective site
and the contact range, suggest suicide, but the downward
direction of fire was inaccessible without improvisation and
is unexpected in suicide. Further, arm reach 65cm (25
inches) was much shorter than the length from the muzzle
to the trigger 79cm (31 inches). An improvised apparatus
was not found at the scene for triggering. Therefore, selfinfliction is impossible.
Conclusion: It was found to be a fabricated suicide scene
and the manner of death was ascertained as homicide. This
reiterates that the postmortem investigations of the firearm
deaths should be performed or conducted under direct
supervision of forensic specialist to deliver justice.
