Pilot Application of SEM/EDX Analysis on Suspected Cigarette Burns in a Forensic Autopsy Case of Child Abuse.

Cigarette burn lesions present forensic scenarios that are often difficult to investigate, both from a morphological diagnostic point of view and with regard to the mode of infliction, especially if the victim is unable to speak or has died. Although there may be the suspicion for a lesion to be produced by a lit cigarette, to date one can only rely on the morphological aspects that characterize it, and there is a lack of tools to reach the most evidence-based diagnosis possible. This limitation arose when managing a forensic autopsy case of possible child abuse that resulted in the death of the child, characterized by the presence of 3 suspicious cigarette burn lesions.

Two peculiar cases of cranial fractures running through craniotomy burr holes: may this be a kind of "exception" to the Puppe rule.

A correct assessment on the position, path, and direction of fracture lines is crucial when the sequence of different injuries on the skull has to be ascertained. In this context, the so-called Puppe's rule on intersecting fracture lines has always been considered a cornerstone of such an investigation. However, there is one factor that has never been previously considered: how do fracture lines behave when they reach the edges of an old and remodeled hole from a previous craniotomy? Two peculiar cases are presented of subjects undergoing cranial fractures due to blunt force trauma (case 1) and gunshot (case 2).

Sexual assault and abuse committed against family members: An analysis of 1342 legal outcomes and their motivations.

Background: Over the past years medical centres specifically addressed in gender-based violence have developed protocols for the collections of evidence useful in the courtroom, including accurate documentation of physical and psychological states of the victim and collection of samples. Previous studies showed an association between documented physical trauma and conviction but unfortunately, few studies in the recent literature analysed the factors that influence the legal outcome and final judgement. The present study focused on the elements that appeared of significance in the legal outcome, including medico-legal evaluation, source of the crime report and circumstance of the assault.

The Lethal Cutting: An Unexpected Cause of Death-A Methomyl Acute Intoxication.

Cocaine is among the illicit substances most frequently implicated in deaths related to the use of drugs of abuse both worldwide and in Italy. Cutting agents involved in the adulterations of this substance are many, and the process of lacing can take place at various stages of the production of the drug. In this report we are discussing the case of a 27-year-old woman found dead next to her car in a wooded area in the suburban area of Milan.