CDI 102 Specialized Crime Investigation 1 with Legal Medicine PDF

# CDI 102 - Specialized Crime Investigation 1 with Legal Medicine ## Death ### Stoppage of Respiration - Absence of upward and downward movements of the chest and abdomen. - No palpitation of the respiration movement. - Flow air into lungs can be detected by stethoscope. - **Mirror Test** - Dimmi...

# CDI 102 - Specialized Crime Investigation 1 with Legal Medicine ## Death ### Stoppage of Respiration - Absence of upward and downward movements of the chest and abdomen. - No palpitation of the respiration movement. - Flow air into lungs can be detected by stethoscope. - **Mirror Test** - Dimming of the mirror due to condensation if respiration is present. - Absence of movement of the cotton fiber or feather when in front of the nostrils. - **Winslow's Test** - Stoppage of respiration. There will be no movement of the reflected image on the glass of water when placed over the chest in a person lying on his back. ### Stoppage of Heartaction and Circulation If there is no heart action for a period of 5-10 minutes, death is considered certain. Upon death, the heart stops beating in a persistent and continuous manner which cannot be revived by cardiac massage and other resuscitative and judicial hanging; the heart beats and persist for 15 minutes to 1 hour. ## Methods of Detecting Heart Action and Circulation - **Heart Action** - By palpitation and auscultation with the aid of stethoscope. - Electro cardiogram. - **Magnus Test** - A ligature is tied around the finger. There will be blood zone in the site of application and livid area distal to the ligature. - **Icard's Test** - Subcutaneous injection of fluorescein dye. The skin will exhibit yellowish green discoloration of the living skin. - **Diaphanous Test** - Reddish color of the web of the finger when the hand is placed against a strong light. ### Loss of Body Heat - Algor Mortis When life is extinct and heat production in the body stops, and its temperature is lowered gradually to that of the surroundings; the lowering of temperature is one of the earliest signs of death. The rate of fall of the body temperature is the most rapid in the first 4 hours after death until it reaches the temperature of the surroundings beyond 12 hours. The body temperature is assumed to be 37 or 98.3 at death. Metabolic activity ceases rapidly, including muscle and liver which produce most of the heat of the body. As circulation stops, the mechanism of transferring internal heat to the skin ceases. The body cools according to Newton's Law of Cooling, which states that the rate of cooling is proportional to the difference in temperature between the body and the surroundings. A fall of 15-20 in normal temperature, death is certain. ### Change of Color of the Body Post Mortemphypostasis/ or Livor Mortis or Post Mortem **Lividity** - Discoloration of the body after death when blood tends to pool in the blood vessels of the most dependent portion of the body, which appears 20-30 minutes after death and complete at 12 hours. As circulation ceases, the plasma and red cells are influenced by gravity and seek the lowest level in the vascular system to form a pink or bluish zone of Post-Mortem Hypostasis, which used to be called lividity or suggillation. The color of hypostasis is variable. It is usually dark pink. In carbon monoxide poisoning, the color is cherry pink or red and deep red cyanide poisoning. The significance of hypostasis is indicated that the body has been moved after death. ### Changes in the Eyes 1. Eyeballs are soft due to loss intra ocular tension. 2. Loss of corneal and light reflexes. 3. Haziness and clouding of cornea. 4. Pupils are dilated and fixed. 5. *Tache Noir Schlerotique* is present in the schela of eyes. It is a triangular brownish spots described by Summer in 1833. ### Changes in the Skin 1. Upon death, the skin of the face, lips, and body become waxy and pale. 2. Loss of elasticity of the skin. 3. Absence of the reaction of the injury or stimuli. ## Stage of Post Mortem Rigidity or Rigor Mortis The whole body becomes rigid due to contraction of the muscles as a result of physio-chemical reaction in the muscle. In life, energy for muscle contraction is obtained by releasing a phosphate group from ATP (Adenosine TripHOSPHATE). The reaction converting glycogen to lactic acid, releasing energy, some of which is used to convert it to ADP to ATP; after death, the latter route ceases and ATP diminishes, and lactic acid accumulates. The actin and Myosin then fuse into gel causing muscle to become stiff. The only practical interest in Rigor Mortis is in the estimation of the time since death. Rigor MorTIS may be first detectable within 1-4 hours in the face and 4-6 hours in the limbs. Secondary flaccidity becomes apparent from 48-50 hours. ### Condition Simulating Rigor Mortis 1. **Heat Stiffening** - A condition characterized by hardening of the muscles due to coagulation of muscle protein, when the dead body is exposed to intense heat as by burning or immersion in a hot liquid. 2. **Cold Steering** - A condition characterized by a hardening of a muscle due to solidification of fats, muscles and fluid when the death body is extremely cold temperature. 3. **Cadaveric Spasm or Spontaneous Rigidity** - Instant stiffening of a certain group of muscle which occurs immediately at the moment of death, although its cause is unknown, it is associated with violent death due to extreme nervous tension or injury to the central nervous system. ## Stage of Primary Flaccidity It is a stage of muscular change after death, characterized by relaxation of the muscle and loss of their natural tone so that the jaw or head drops down, thorax collapse and the limbs become flaccid, is soft, the splinters relax, that is why dead person may still urinate and excrete waste product of metabolism. This stage may last for 3-4 hours. ## Stage of Secondaty Flaccidity and Beginning Putrefaction A muscular change characterized by the softness of the muscles in which no longer response to electrical or mechanical stimuli due to dissolution of the protein that have been previously coagulated during the stage of Rigor Mortis. This stage is the onset putrefaction. ## Putrefaction This is the usual course of decomposition, leading liquefaction of tissues by the digestive action in its enzyme and liquefaction of tissues and usually accompanied by the liberation of foul smelling gases and change of color tissues. Some authorities defined putrefaction as the breaking down of complex proteins, carbohydrate, vitamin and minerals to simple components by the action of it enzymes and bacteria resulting in softening and liquefaction of tissues, with liberation of gases and change in color of tissue. Flies will be attracted to the dead body during putrefaction and sipped the juicy portion of the tissues and lay eggs. The eggs will hatch 24 hours into maggots and again feed vigorously in damage tissues. Other destruction agents in decomposition are the rodents, lizards, snakes, vultures, ants, and dogs. Fishes and aquatic mammals when the dead body is in water. ### Special Forms of Putrefaction - **Mummification** - A condition where there is removal of the fluid before decomposition sets in, that resulted to shrinking and preservation of the body. - **Natural Mummification** - The dead body is buried or exposed to a dry, hot, sandy, solid, with considerable air movement. - **Artificial Mummification or Embalming** - Some chemicals are added to the dead body life formalin, phenol, arsenic or mercury and covering the skin with plastic of Paris. - **Adipocere Formation** - It is the formation of a soft friable, brownish white greasy substance called adipocere formed by hydrolysis and dehydrogenation of body fats. Adipocere is a soft waxy material, rancid in smell, dissolves in alcohol, and burns with a blue flame. ## Cause of Death - **Natural Death** - It is death due to a disease or ailment in the body. The disease may occur spontaneously or may have been the consequences of the physical injury inflicted prior to its development. Termination of life occurs quickly, unexpected or delayed due to lingering illness. Sudden death is the termination of the life whose arrival is not expected. A good example of this and frequently observed among males, from 18 years old to 35 years old, and common among low income, called sudden unexplained nocturnal death (SNND) group commonly called "bangungot". - **Violent Death** - It is death due to injuries of some forms of outside force, wherein the physical injuries inflicted is the proximate cause of death. ### Under Violent Deaths 1. **Accidental Death** - Misadventure, outside owns will. 2. **Negligent Death** - Death due to reckless imprudence, negligence, lack of skill and foresight. 3. **Infantical or Neonatal Death** - Death due to killing of an infant less than 3 days old. 4. **Parricidal Death** - It is death due to killing of one's relative. Any person who shall kill his father, mother, child whether legitimate or illegitimate of any of the ascendants or descendants or his spouse shall be guilty of *parricide* and shall be punished by a penal ranging from *reclusion perpetua* or death. 5. **Homicidal Death** - Killing of another person with intent, but without justification. 6. **Murder** - It is the unlawful killings of another person committed with any of the following: - **With Treachery** - Taking advantage of superior strength, with the aid of armed men and employing means to weaken the defense. - **In Consideration** - Price money, reward, or promises. - **With Evident Pre-Meditation**. 7. **Euthanasia or Mercy Killing** - It is a wilful acceleration of death of a person in order to lessen the sufferings and financial reasons. 8. **Suicidal Death** - It is death due to killing or destruction of one's self. A person who commits suicide is not penalized by law, but a person who assist another person to commit suicide is punishable by law. ### Special Death **Deaths Under Special Circumstances** - **Death Caused by Tumultuous Affray as in Riot** - The identity of the killer is not known. - **Any Legally Married Person Who Having Surprised His Spouse in the Act of Having Sexual Inter Course With Another Person Shall Kill One of Them or Both and Shall Suffer the Person Penalty of “Destierro”. ** ## Methods of Judicial Deaths 1. Death by electrocution. 2. Death by lethal injection. 3. Death by firing squad. 4. Death by gas chamber. 5. Death by hanging. 6. Death by decapitation. 7. ## Death From Starvation **Starvation** - Is the deprivation of the regular supply of food and water. A person cannot survive for more than 10 days without food and water, but with water alone can survive for 50 days. ### Cause of Starvation - **Accidental** - Marooned in an island, where there is scarcity or no supply of food and water, as in airplane accident or trapped in a miner's camp. - **Homicidal** - Intentional and deliberate deprivation of food and water. - **Suicidal** - In case of hunger strike. ## Disposal of Dead Bodies - **Embalming** - Method of preservation dead body by the removal of the body fluid and replacement of the same by chemical like formalin, alcohol, and phenol. - **Burial, Interment, Inhumation** - It is the method of placing the dead body into the grave, according to section 1100 of the Revised Administrative Code, a grave shall be 1 ½ meters deep or 6 feet. - **Cremation** - Pulverization of the body by using intense heat. - **Disposal of Dead Body to the Sea**. - **Use of Dead Body for Scientific Purpose**. - **Exhumation** - It is the raising or disinterring a dead body or remains from the grave. It is done for post mortem examination to establish the cause of death. Exhumation is performed in the morning. # Physical Injuries ## Classification of Physical Injuries 1. Physical Force 2. Thermal Injuries 3. Electrical Injury 4. Change in Atmospheric Pressure 5. Chemical Injury 6. Radioactive Injury ## Reginal Injuries 1. **Head** - It is the heaviest part of the body relative to its size, supported by the muscles of the neck. The brain is enclosed within a strong bony cranium. - **Scalp Injuries** - Scalp consists of hairy skin ones subcutaneous tissues. Scalp is a very vascular organ and blends profusely on damage scalp after lacerated by impact. It is not the fracture of the skull, which cause death or serious damage as assumed by including lawyers. Skull fracture are themselves harmless; it is the damage to the cranial contents that is fatal or dangerous. A skull fracture is an indication that a severe force has been applied to the skull and cause into cranial damage. 2. **Spinal Injury or Whiplash Injury** - This is due to either a hyper flexion or hyper extension of the neck. Spinal fractures are dangerous because of fragile spinal and that passes down to the spinal cord. Paraplegia or quadriplegia can ensue if the cord is crushed or damage. 3. **Chest Injuries** - The chest can suffer many types of injury, including blunt impact, compression and penetration. When the thoracic cage is squeezed for a considerable time with a sufficient force to impair respiratory movements; this is called *traumatic asphyxia*. 4. **Abdominal Injury** - The abdomen is prone to blunt and stabbing injuries; most trauma is applied directly to the anterior abdominal wall. Kicks in the abdomen can tear the intestine or mesentery leading to hemorrhage or peritonitis. Liver may be torn or ruptured by heavy blows such as kicking or an impact against steering wheel in vehicular accident. Stabbing of the abdomen commonly perforate the stomach, liver or intestine leading to hemorrhage. 5. **Neck Injuries** - Cutting and stabbing to the neck is seen as *suicide* and *homicide*. 6. **Cut Throat** - Is most commonly suicidal, and the characteristics feature is repetitive tentative incisions. Right handed people - The suicidal cut throat usually high up in the left side beneath the angle of the jaw and travel downwards and across the right side where the wounds become more shallow. 7. **Homicidal Cut Are Deeper** - There maybe multiple homicidal slashes. The ward wound suggest that the lesion was caused by deliberate action while injury could arise from any cause including accident. It is the impairment of the body function or structure cause by outside force. The effect of the application of force in the production of wound. # Wound **Wound** - It is a break or solution in the continuity of the skin or tissue of the living body. **Vital Reactions ** - Is the sum total of all reaction of tissue or organs to physical injury or trauma. **Wound Damage** - Damage to the tissues of the body caused by mechanical force. These include beating, punching, kicking, biting, knifing, strangling, and injury from vehicles and mechanics, but it excludes injury or damage from heat, cold, electricity, poisons, and corrosives. ### Abrasions - The most superficial type of injury is called scratch or graze; most common cause is falling to the ground with sliding motion. ### Bruise or Contusion - Caused by blunt objects, which is cause damage to blood vessels and blood leaks to the surrounding tissues. Fresh bruises are dark blue or purple. - Spectrum of color change of bruises or contusion: blue-brown-green-yellow and finally falling to normal color. - Bruises and contusion are impossible to inflict on a dead body. - A bruise is a vital injury. ### Laceration - It is a splitting or tearing wound caused by blunt instrument. These wounds bleed profusely because it involves the whole thickness of the skin. - The edges of the laceration are always ragged. - These wounds are common on the scalp, face, elbows, knees and distal limbs. ### Incised Wound - Are sharply cut injuries from razor, knives, broken glass and metal edged. ### Slash Wound - The length is greater than the depth. ### Stab Wound - Causing sharp pointed and shaped edged instrument. The depth is greater than the length. - Stab wounds are generally more fatal or dangerous than slashed wounds, as they penetrate deeply in the chest and abdomen. ### Features of Stab Wounds 1. Stab is usually slit-like cut after removal of the knife; the center widens and the length becomes shorter. 2. If the knife is twisted in the wound, a V-shaped wound results. 3. Stab wounds from a closed pair of scissors, (usually a weapon used by women) leave a wound like a shallow Z or a conventional sign for a flash of lightning. ### Punching - Consists of blows with a clenched fist and directed at the upper parts of the body of the victim. Bruise and abrasion are the most common injuries. - Laceration occur in the body prominence. - Blows in the mouth may split the lips. Fracture the nose and the jaw. - *Around the Eyes* - The blows cause per orbital hematoma or black eyes. ### Bitemarks - Are abraded bruised or lacerated. Injuries from the teeth are most often seen in *sexual assaults*. - A bite mark - A pair of curved of opposing bruises seen in the skin. - *In Sexual Assaults* - Bites, most often inflicts on the side of the neck, shoulder and breasts. ### Special Type of Wounds - **Pattern Wound** - Wound produced by the shaped of the instrument or objects reflected on the body. Ex: Imprint of radiator to chest and tire marks. - **Defense Wound** - Wound produced by instinctive reaction for self-protection. Ex: Sparring the blows will produce contusion in the forearm. ## Legal Classification of Wounds 1. **Mutilation** - The intentional act of cutting or looping any part or parts living body. 2. **Slight Physical Injury** - It is the physical injury wherein the victim is incapacitated for work or require medical attendance for a period of 1-9 days. 3. **Less Serious Physical Injury** - A physical injury wherein the offended party is incapacitated for work or require medical attendance for 10 days or more but not more than 30 days. 4. **Serious Physical Injury** - An injury wherein the victim becomes ill and incapacitated for work more than 90 days. And the injury caused deformity, loss of any parts of his body, and loss the use thereof. ## Gun Shot Wound - Is an open wound brought by penetrating power of the projectile propelled by the expansive force of the burning gun power in the cartridge shell. ### Characteristics Between Gunshot of Entrance and Exit 1. Size of wound of entrance is small than the missile while, the point of the exist is bigger than the missile. 2. The edge of the wound of entrance is inverted, while the exit wound is everted. 3. Contusion collar is present in the wound of entrance absent in the wound of exist. 4. The shaped of the wound - The entrance wound is oval while while the exit wound has not definite shape. 5. Gunpowder tattooing - Present in contact fire in near contact fire, absent point of exit. 6. *Paraffin Test* - Positive in the point of entrance, negative in the point of exist. ### Odd and Even Rule in Gunshot Wound If the number of gunshot wounds of entrance and exit in the body of the victim is even, the presumption is that no bullet in lodged in the body. But, if the number of gunshot wound of entrance and exit is odd, the presumption is that one or more bullets may have lodged in the body. ## Distinction ### Distinctions Between Murder, Suicide or Accident #### Suicide 1. Parts of the body involved in accessible to the hands of the victim. 2. There is only one gunshot wound. 3. Presence of suicide notes. #### Homicide 1. Wound is located in any parts of the body. 2. No weapon is present at the scene of death. 3. Signs of struggle or disarray in the crime scene. #### Accidental 1. One gunshot wound. 2. Wound has no site of predilection. 3. Testimony of the witness. # Asphyxia 1. Asphyxia is a condition wherein there is interference in the process of respiration, resulting to impairment of normal exchange of the respiratory gases, where by the supply of oxygen to the blood and tissue has been reduced below the normal level. ## Mechanism of Death 1. Constriction of the air passages there by preventing the inflow of air into the lungs. 2. Compression of the carotid arteries, thereby diminishing the supply of blood to the brain causing cerebral anoxia. The neck is elongated and stretched with the head inclined the opposite the knot. Eyes maybe partially open with dilated pupils and with congestion saliva drooling from the angle of the mouth. Bluish lips, hands clenched with purple finger nail beds. There is erection pr semi-erection of penis with ejaculation. Post mortem lividity is marked in the lower extremities. ### Special Forms of Strangulation 1. **Palmar Strangulation** - Palms of the hands are used in applying pressure over the neck. 2. **Garroting** - Form of strangulation wherein metal collar or strap is placed around the neck. 3. **Mugging** - Form of strangulation wherein the assailant stands at the back of the victim and forearm is applied in from of the neck. 4. **Compression of the neck with a stick, rod or pipe** - Applying pressure in the neck; the assailant either in front or at the back of the victim.