gms | German Medical Science

76th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

04.05. - 08.05.2005, Erfurt

Unusual case of homicide by stab in the neck with subsequent attempted suicide by cut in the neck

Meeting Abstract

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Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie. 76. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e.V.. Erfurt, 04.-08.05.2005. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2005. Doc05hno263

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/hno2005/05hno115.shtml

Published: September 22, 2005

© 2005 Hosse.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

Penetrating neck injuries are potentially life- threatening. For the ENT-specialist the management of the injuries is crucial. The exact documentation of these injuries can be very useful to determine if the injury was homicidal or self-inflicted.

In the present case a Turkish woman aged 37 years was fatally injured by a stab in her neck by her husband aged 65 years. Following her death he deeply slashed his own neck and survived thanks to immediate medical action.

In the medicolegal literature reports of homicide followed by suicide are rare. In this case the question of homicide or self-infliction and sustained capacity to act was significant. The exact documentation and the confession of the husband were compatible with homicide followed by self-infliction in attempted suicide.

In addition to the immediate medical care of neck injuries the exact documentation of the injury can be very important for the reconstruction of the circumstances of the offence.