Three cases are presented where fatal puncture wounds caused by broken glass were very similar to stab wounds inflicted by a knife with a single-edge blade. Thus, all three cases caused a murder investigation to be initiated. It could only be determined that these wounds had been caused by glass after a detailed forensic autopsy. In two of the three cases, the only evidence for this was the identification of glass fragments in the wounds. The importance of X-ray examinations is underlined because modern glass in common use is radiopaque. Glass fragments logged in the wounds can reduce the loss of blood and thus, prolong the capacity to act despite severe injuries.
Origin
Inst Legal Medicine, Germany
Journal Title
Forensic Science International 121 2001 161-165
Sector
General
Class
G 2904