Asphyxia Homicides in Finland, 1983-2012.
Pia Wahlsten1,2, Anders Eriksson3
1Department of Biomedicine, Pathology and Forensic Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Journal of Forensic Sciences
|July 1, 2020
Summary
Asphyxia homicides in Finland are often staged or revealed during autopsy, with manual strangulation being the most common method. These fatal incidents frequently occur in private settings involving known individuals, highlighting critical forensic pathology insights.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Criminology
- Public Health
Background:
- Finland exhibits a high homicide rate in Western Europe, with asphyxiation accounting for a significant proportion.
- A robust medico-legal system, including high autopsy rates, facilitates comprehensive homicide analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a nationwide, 30-year analysis of asphyxia homicides in Finland.
- To identify demographic patterns, common methods, autopsy findings, and contributing factors in these cases.
Main Methods:
- Utilized nationwide records and detailed forensic pathology case files for 383 asphyxia homicides.
- Excluded drowning cases and focused on manual strangulation, ligature strangulation, smothering, choking, and compression methods.
- Examined external injuries, petechiae, fractures, hemorrhages, genital injuries, and performed toxicological analyses.
Main Results:
- Over 20% of cases showed signs of staging; nearly 10% were discovered during autopsy.
- Manual strangulation (approx. 50%) and ligature strangulation (approx. 33%) were predominant methods.
- Victims were often intimate partners (33%) or children (10%), with homicides occurring in private locations.
- External injuries were absent in 7% of victims; petechiae (61%) and laryngohyoid fractures (47%) were common.
- Alcohol was detected in nearly 75% of victims.
Conclusions:
- Asphyxia homicides present unique medico-legal characteristics, often involving intimate partner violence or child victims.
- Staging and delayed discovery underscore the importance of thorough forensic examination in these cases.
- Findings provide crucial data for understanding and preventing asphyxia-related fatalities.
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