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shyscyberchamber.com
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THE ATTIC
:
Strangulation |
Date
Added
FEB 2003 |
Strangulation -
Strangulation with a Ligature |
Death is
caused by constricting force around the neck exerted by means of some pliable
strip, such as a rope, neckties, etc., but unlike
hanging is not dependent on the suspended weight of the victim's body. The
ligature may have been knotted, tied into a running noose, or simply had the
ends crossed over, in any event, in cases of homicide some agent other than the
victim will need to have pulled the ligature tight in order for strangulation to
occur. Death is by asphyxia, and can result from accident, suicide or homicide.
Ligature marks usually consist of a furrow (or furrows) impressed horizontally
around the neck, because the weight of the body has not been pulling against the
noose, the mark will be lower than that characterizing
hanging and will be less defined. The nature of the ligature and the degree
of pressure exerted will dictate the physical appearance of the marks - a wire
noose will produce a deep mark, while the mark made by a soft scarf may be
hardly noticeable.
Suicidal strangulation is effected by the victim themselves tying and tightening
the ligature, and it is common to find a double knot used, or the ligature wound
round the neck more than once - this ensures that pressure is maintained even
when the victim has passed into unconsciousness.
It is vitally important that any ligature is photographed in situ around the
victims neck at the scene of the 'crime', it is equally important that in
removing the ligature it is cut in such a way that the knot is preserved intact
to give what clues it might - for example, in the notorious case of the 'Boston
Strangler' thirteen-times killer
Albert DeSalvo tied knots in such a characteristic way that it was
immediately obvious when a murder was the
Strangler's handiwork. |
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Manual Strangulation |
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Sometimes
described as 'throttling', manual strangulation is caused by compression of the
throat by the hands and fingers of an assailant. There are three ways in which
the natural functions of the body are impeded by strangulation - the obstruction
of respiration, obstruction of the blood supply to the brain, and pressure on
the carotid nerve plexuses. Although they may put up a struggle - and the
physical signs of that struggle may be observed on the body - throttling renders
victims helpless very quickly as they fall into unconsciousness. |
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Post Mortem Appearance - Ligature
Strangulation |
The nature
and extent of injury will depend on the degree of force exerted, and little
damage may be caused to the underlying muscles, except that they may show blood
due to ruptured vessels. The cartilages of the trachea and larynx are generally
intact, except in cases of homicide where it is frequently the case that an
assailant will exert for more pressure than is required and fractures in the
cartilages result. Homicidal strangulation will almost always cause fracture of
the hyoid, suicide and accident almost never.
Other
post mortem appearances, both external and internal, will be consistent with
forms of death by asphyxia. |
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Post Mortem Appearance - Manual
Strangulation |
Bruising of the victim's neck will
depend upon the way in which the attack was made and the relative positions of
the victim and assailant. Marks are produced by the fingers and thumbs at the
points where pressure is exerted and appear as roundish bruises about half an
inch in diameter. If the attacker has long fingernails, these may inflict
crescent-shaped indentation marks. There may be damage to the tongue through
pressure on, or being trapped between the teeth. A victim's face may exhibit
other signs of bruising and abrasion received during a struggle.
Internal appearances will be a greater or lesser degree of muscle bruising
depending on the severity of the attack and the amount of violence used, likely
damage to the thyroid and crocoid cartilages, and almost certainly fracture of
the hyoid bone. In addition, there may be bruising to the tongue and the floor
of the mouth, epiglottis and lining of the larynx. The usual signs consistent
with asphyxial death will be found. |
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