[Identification of an unusual stabbing weapon based on the shape of injuries of the kidney and humerus].

The body of a 38-year-old man was found buried. The first step of the discovery was an anonymous telephone call. The body had 5 stab wounds (3 in the back, 1 in the left upper arm and 1 in the right leg). The cause of death was considered to be loss of blood due to a stab wound in the lung. The wounds in the kidney and the left humerus had peculiar shapes. The wound on the kidney was 1.1 cm long and had notches in the center of both margins of the wound. A V-shaped nick was noted on the humerus. Based on the above findings it was assumed that the murder weapon was a tapering 4-edged instrument. Later, based on the confession of the assailants, a pickaxe with the above-mentioned characteristics was discovered in a river. The victim was a member of a gang (Bohryoku-dan) and the assailants were members of another one. The present situation of gangs in Japan is briefly outlined.