Term
| Sharp Force Injury Statistics |
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Definition
| 92% of police officer injuries are caused by edged weapons; screw driver = common weapon used |
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Term
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Definition
| 21 feet - if inside 21 feet, a gun can be slapped out of hand, assailant can close gap between him & victim in a sprint very quick |
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Term
| Injuries from Edged Weapons |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp object cuts & divides tissue |
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Term
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Definition
| Wound inflicted is deeper than its length on the skin surface |
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Term
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Definition
| Wound inflicted is longer on skin surface than it is deep |
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Term
| Distinguishing between Homicide vs. Suicide |
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Definition
| 1. Multiplicity of injuries present; 2. Area of injury precludes possibility of self-infliction; 3. Self-defense type injuries present on decedent |
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Term
| Top Leading Causes of Homicides in US |
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Definition
| #1 Firearms, #2 Cutting & Stabbing |
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Term
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Definition
| Overkill - perp acting in rage, rage - victim & perp knew each other, difficulty killing victim - lack of experience or planning |
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Term
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Definition
| Action involving cutting is much more common than stabbing; 1. Location of wound is important, 2. Area involved is accessible to victim, 3. Vital parts of body generally picked for quick death - throat, heart or blood vessels of wrist |
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Term
| Accidental Death Considerations |
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Definition
| Associated w/ plate glass shattering, boat/propeller type incidents, or industrial job incidents |
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Term
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Definition
| Air embolism, asphyxia due to blood aspiration, infection |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - stab wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - incised wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Cutting edge skips from crest to crest of the skin leaving a string of cuts, all of which have resulted from a single slash - occur when the skin is not flat, but instead the skin is in folds |
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Term
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Definition
| "Lines of Cleavage"; lines of tension or cleavage within skin that are characteristic for each part of the body - correspond clearly w/ crease lines on surface of skin in most parts of body; an incision made parallel to lines appear more linear |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - Langer's Lines |
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Term
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Definition
| Wound will appear w/ sharp edge on 1 end & the blunt square back edge - blunt edge will often show 2 small tears appearing as "rabbit ears" |
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Term
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Definition
| Both edges will have sharp appearance |
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Term
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Definition
| Usually single edged, not normally distinguished from non-serrated blade unless abrasion left |
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Term
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Definition
| Can be discerned if blade has passed through cartilage or bone |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - single-edged blade |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - stab wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - chop wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - multiple wounds |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - serrated wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - serrated wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - serrated wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - hilt mark |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - hilt mark |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - hilt mark |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - defensive wounds |
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Term
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Definition
| Sharp force injury - defensive wounds |
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Term
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Definition
| Part of knife that stops hand from sliding down onto blade may cause a contusion around a stab wound if sufficient force was used to thrust weapon into body - examine contusion to see if pattern present to align w/ hilt of particular weapon |
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Term
| Evidence Consideration of Sharp Force Injury |
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Definition
| Trace - close physical contact between victim & perp to have sustained SF injury, examine hands & nails; Clothing - possibility of trace evidence & character & dimension of offending weapon; Blood; Knife tip - broken off when striking bone & may still be in body; Tool mark ID - possible if knife blade has struck bone |
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