Archiv für Kriminologie
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Archiv für Kriminologie · Mar 1999
[Homicide by gunshot. An evaluation of 50 homicides with reference to gunshot wound site].
In this paper the homicides committed in the region of Ulm with firearms over a period of 17 years were studied. These included 50 deaths caused by gunshot wounds, 33 males and 17 females. ⋯ Homicide victims were found in all age groups with a markedly higher number up to the 20th year and in the fourth decade of life. In most cases small arms were used, and in many cases multiple shots were fired primarily hitting the head and the left side of the trunk: but injuries in the region of the extremities were also seen.
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Archiv für Kriminologie · Jan 1999
[Pump-gun as a weapon. Type of injuries, prohibition of weapons].
Pumpguns are shotguns with pump action whose injuries and wound mechanisms have several special features: extremely high kinetic energy of the shot (2500 to 3500 J) frequent cases of "Krönlein shots" (exenteration of the brain) punchmark/imprint immediately adjacent to the entrance wound from the front of the pipe magazine exit wounds from buckshot may be similar to pellet entrance injuries from a distant shotgun discharge the use of various shotgun cartridges (plastic ammunition, slug bullet, various lead pellets) within the same weapon. The change in the Austrian gun law and the banning of the pumpgun in 1995 is also discussed in the article.
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Archiv für Kriminologie · Sep 1998
[Death in the milieu of homeless persons. A comparative retrospective analysis of an autopsy sample of different regional population structures (Middle Hessia/Hamburg)].
For an evaluation concerning different regional population and community characteristics, 23 fatalities of homeless individuals were selected from the current autopsy series of the Institutes of Legal Medicine of Giessen/Germany and Hamburg/Germany from 1990 to 1996. The outcome of this retrospective analysis enables to overcome the deficiency of knowledge of causes, manners and circumstances of death among homeless individuals.
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Archiv für Kriminologie · May 1998
Case Reports[Death by burning in open spaces. Death caused by suicide or homicide?].
The authors report on four cases of suicidal fire deaths in the open air. In three cases the proper cause of death was severe burning and in one case deep cuts of the neck. In all these events the concentrations of CO-Hb were < 30%. ⋯ The autopsy findings and the scene allowed a reconstruction of the course of events. All victims had motives of suicide. The authors conclude that close cooperation between police, fire experts and forensic medicine is necessary to permit a correct classification of the mode of death in such cases.
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In this study, 275 fatalities in Hamburg's prisons from 1962 to 1995 have been evaluated retrospectively. 57% unnatural causes of death have been found. These included 120 suicides, 21 drug-related deaths and 6 homicides. Suicides are committed primarily by socially desintegrated prisoners with some experienced time of custody and the expectation of another, longer period of arrest. ⋯ Especially in the last years violent acts with succeeding death increased, but the absolute numbers are very low. Since 1989 a series of drug-related deaths occurred; among these there were no imprisoned being substituted with methadone up to 1995. Although one must regret every single case of death in prison, this study has shown in general that the circumstances in Hamburg have to be assessed by far less critical than it has been done occasionally with single cases in the public discussion.