Image Based Question – 65943

A dead person was presented with a “red arrow in the neck in the picture below.The underlying soft tissue of neck showed extravasation of blood.Identify the most probable cause.

A. Throttling.

B. Hanging.

C. Strangulation by ligature.

D. Chocking.

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Correct Answer » C Explanation

Ans:C. Strangulation by ligature.

Horizontal ligature mark in the neck is seen in strangulation.

Ligature mark over the neck

• There are three types of compression of neck which are of prime forensic importance –

I) (1) Manual strangulation (2) Hanging (3) Ligature strangulation.

II) Ligature mark is found in the latter two types.

• Ligature mark is a pressure mark on the neck underneath the ligature.

• The distinction between the two types is very important because strangulation is presumed tobe homicidal and hanging is considered to be suicidal unless proved otherwise.

• While determining the cause of death resulting from compression of neck, three important parameters i.e. level,discontinuity and obliquity of ligature mark are always considered to differentiate hanging from strangulation.

• Ligature mark is situated above thyroid cartilage in most of the cases of hanging.

• In majority of cases of ligature strangulation, ligature mark is present below thyroid cartilage.

• Ligature mark is incompletely encircling the neck and obliquely present around the neck in all cases of hanging.

• In all deaths due to ligature strangulation,the ligature mark was completely encircling and transversely present around the neck.

• Underlying soft tissues of neck are glistening white in all hanging deaths while it shows extravasations of blood in all ligature strangulation cases.

• Maximum (well marked) external signs of asphyxia such as congestion, cynosis & petechiae on face along with extensive bruising of neck muscle and ecchymosis of sub cutaneous tissue is characteristic of strangulation.