Atypical Postmortem "Incaprettamento" After an Honor Homicide

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Criminology
• Cultural Anthropology

Background:

• Honor killing is a murder motivated by perceived shame to family honor.
• Southern Italian Mafia culture exhibits a strong emphasis on honor, influencing criminal acts.
• These crimes often serve an admonitory purpose within the community.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case study of an honor killing within the context of Italian Mafia.
• To describe the specific ritualistic elements, including 'incaprettamento' and mutilation, used in the crime.
• To analyze the motivations behind the violence as expressions of revenge and contempt.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of a specific honor homicide.
• Description of the crime scene, weapon used, and postmortem modifications.
• Inclusion of the perpetrator's confession to understand motivations.

Main Results:

• The homicide victim was the lover of a butcher's wife.
• The crime involved a sharp weapon and a postmortem ritual of 'incaprettamento' (tying like a goat).
• Further mutilation included penile amputation and wrapping the body in plastic tape.

Conclusions:

• The ritualistic mutilation and 'incaprettamento' were intended to humiliate the victim and signify extreme contempt.
• The act aimed to restore the perpetrator's and family's honor, as confessed.
• This case highlights the extreme brutality and symbolic nature of honor crimes within organized crime contexts.