Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Suicidal strangulation with a lashing belt.

Elke Doberentz1, Julian Geile2, Burkhard Madea2

  • 1Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111, Bonn, Germany. edoberentz@uni-bonn.de.

Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
|March 9, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Commentary on Hoffmann E, Malolepszy L, Hochscheid C, Dettmeyer R, Fritzenwanker M. Stillbirth with a false-positive lung float test result - an unusual case report.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2026
Same author

Lack of gastric emptying at autopsy eleven days after heat trauma in the sauna - a forensic autopsy case report.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2025
Same author

Commentary on: Byard RW. A forensic overview of deaths in mountainous terrain.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2025
Same author

Preservation of a corpse in a zinc coffin - autopsy 47 years postmortem.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2025
Same author

Postmortem mutilation in a case of natural death.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2025
Same author

Sudden unexpected death due to B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia (B-ALL) in a 3-year-old child.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2025

Suicidal ligature strangulation is rare, often presenting challenges in differentiating it from homicide. This case highlights the need for thorough forensic investigation to determine the cause of death.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Ligature strangulation, a cause of death from neck compression, is infrequently associated with suicide.
  • Distinguishing between homicidal and suicidal ligature strangulation poses diagnostic difficulties.

Observation:

  • A case report of a 32-year-old male suicide by ligature strangulation using a lashing belt and ratchet mechanism.
  • Physical examination revealed conjunctival petechiae, but no soft tissue hemorrhages, hyoid bone/laryngeal fractures, or defensive wounds.
  • The deceased was discovered outdoors following a dispute.

Findings:

  • The absence of fractures and significant hemorrhages complicates the forensic assessment.
  • The specific mechanism (ratchet) may offer clues but requires careful interpretation.
Keywords:
HomicideLashing beltLigature strangulationSuicide

Related Experiment Videos

Implications:

  • Emphasizes the critical role of meticulous police and forensic pathologist collaboration in ligature strangulation cases.
  • Underscores the need for comprehensive analysis of scene evidence and autopsy findings to ascertain the manner of death.
  • Contributes to the understanding of rare suicidal methods and their forensic implications.