Biomechanics of judicial hanging: a case report

A prisoner in Washington State in the United States of America appealed against sentence of death by hanging on the grounds that it was 'cruel and unusual' and hence contravened the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution. The man weighed 184 kg (406 lb) and it was suggested that the 'drop' proposed to effect judicial hanging might result in decapitation. This hypothesis was tested by applying simple biodynamic principles to the available data from past hangings. It was concluded that decapitation was a significant possibility.