Tsokos M, Türk E E, Uchigasaki S, Püschel K
Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Hamburg, Butenfeld 34, 22529 Hamburg, Germany.
Forensic Sci Int. 2004 Jan 28;139(2-3):95-102. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2003.09.020.
Despite high suicide rates all over the world, complete decapitation as a consequence of violent suicide methods is exceptionally rare and there is always a potential for confusion with homicide as well as with body dismemberment or mutilation. We analyzed the phenomenology and morphology of 10 cases (six male, four female; individual age 18-60 years) of suicidal complete decapitation that were subjected to medico-legal autopsies at the Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Hamburg, Germany, between 1995 and 2002. All decapitations occurred while the person was alive as proven by signs of vitality. Blood alcohol levels were positive in five cases and ranged between 28 and 202 mg/dl. The applied methods of suicide were running over by a train in eight cases and hanging in two cases. In suicidal hanging resulting in complete decapitation the wound margins were clear-cut with an adjacent sharply demarcated circumferential band-like abrasion zone showing a homogenous width, the latter determined by the thickness of the rope. In decapitations due to railway interference a broad spectrum of pathologic alterations such as the co-existence of irregular, ragged and sharp-edged wound margins, vascular and nervous pathways forming bridges in the depth of the wound and bruising could be observed. In such cases skin abrasion zones were generally not circumferential and showed a heterogenous width. Concerning hanging-related complete decapitations, our findings are well in line with those of other authors, namely that heavy body weight of the suicidal, fall from a great height and in some cases inelastic and/or thin rope material used for the noose are the determining factors decisive for complete decapitation.
尽管世界各地自杀率很高，但因暴力自杀方式导致的完全斩首极为罕见，而且总是有可能与他杀以及尸体肢解或 mutilation相混淆。我们分析了1995年至2002年期间在德国汉堡大学法医学研究所接受法医尸检的10例自杀性完全斩首案例（6例男性，4例女性；个体年龄18 - 60岁）的现象学和形态学。所有斩首均发生在人活着的时候，这由生命体征证明。5例血液酒精水平呈阳性，范围在28至202毫克/分升之间。自杀所采用的方式，8例是被火车碾压，2例是上吊。在导致完全斩首的自杀上吊案例中，伤口边缘清晰，相邻有一条界限分明的环形带状擦伤区，宽度均匀，后者由绳索的厚度决定。在因铁路事故导致的斩首案例中，可观察到广泛的病理改变，如不规则、参差不齐和边缘锋利的伤口边缘并存，伤口深处血管和神经通路形成桥梁以及瘀伤。在这类案例中，皮肤擦伤区一般不是环形的，宽度也不均匀。关于上吊导致的完全斩首，我们的发现与其他作者的发现非常一致，即自杀者体重较重、从高处坠落以及在某些情况下用于套索的绳索材料无弹性和/或较细是导致完全斩首的决定性因素。
