[Differentiation between self-inflicted and homicidal stab wounds to the neck]

39 autopsy cases with throat incision examined in the Bonn Institute of Legal Medicine in the years 1990 through 1998 were evaluated with respect to the query whether the morphological criteria generally established for the differentiation between homicide and suicide are also suitable for the assessment in this special localization. Integrative consideration of localization, direction of incision, hesitative resp. tentative injuries, defence injuries, concomitant injuries and capability to act allowed for a discrimination on grounds of legal medical findings in 84 per cent of the cases.