The pattern of injuries in homicidal deaths: A retrospective study

Homicide is the deliberate act of causing death or injury, leading to the unlawful demise of an individual, with 464,000 homicide cases worldwide in 2017. In Malaysia, there is a lack of information on homicidal statistics and patterns, with most studies focusing on medicolegal autopsy practices. This research aims to study demography and fatal injury patterns.

This study is a retrospective analysis of homicidal deaths occurring in the Forensic Unit of Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz from 2009 to 2018. A descriptive analysis was conducted to outline the patterns of homicidal injury and the sociodemographic characteristics of the cases.

The findings identified 138 homicidal death cases out of 3468 total autopsied cases. The prevalence of homicides has been decreasing for the past ten years. The male, Chinese and young adults led the number of homicide cases and immigrants account for almost half of the total cases. Most of the homicidal cases were involved with the sharp injury. The head is the most common site for fatal injuries in homicide cases, with blunt and firearm injuries being the most common pattern of injury inflicted by the assailant. Less common sites include the back and extremities.

This study can provide insights and understanding into homicide within the sociodemographic framework and pattern of injury in homicidal death in Malaysia.