Homicide by Multiple Fatal Methods: A Study From South Delhi, India

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Criminology
• Public Health

Background:

• Homicide studies traditionally focus on victim demographics, victim-offender relationships, and single causes of death.
• Previous research shows conflicting findings regarding the sex of victims most commonly subjected to multiple homicidal methods.
• Commonly studied combined methods include sharp force trauma, blunt force trauma, and strangulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the patterns of homicide involving multiple fatal methods in South Delhi.
• To analyze the specific combinations of methods used and the number of perpetrators involved.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of autopsy data from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
• Inclusion criteria: homicidal deaths utilizing multiple distinct fatal methods between January 1996 and December 2015.
• Data collected included victim demographics, methods employed, and perpetrator information.

Main Results:

• 187 cases (13.6% of all autopsied homicides) involved multiple fatal methods.
• Multiple methods were more frequently used against female victims.
• Common combinations for males: head injury + stabbing; strangulation + smothering. For females: ligature strangulation + smothering; smothering + throttling.
• Gunshot + stabbing was a rare combination.
• Single perpetrators often used combined asphyxial methods or head injury with other methods.
• Combinations like sharp + blunt weapon injury or gunshot suggest multiple perpetrators.

Conclusions:

• Multiple fatal methods constitute a significant proportion of homicides in South Delhi.
• Distinct patterns exist in the combination of methods used against male and female victims.
• The nature of combined methods can indicate the number of perpetrators involved in the homicide.