Forensic analysis of staging behavior in 100 intimate partner homicides
Objective To investigate the frequency of staging behaviors involved in intimate partner homicide cases,as well as their correlation with the nature of death,medico-legal characteristics,and their correspondence with real causes of death.In order to improve the forensic understanding of staging behaviors in intimate partner homicide cases.Methods Using 100 investigated intimate homicides,forensic elements were statistically analyzed.The Chi square test was used to analyze the correlation between staging behavior and intimate partners,cause of death,injury weapons,time of death,degree of injury,resistance injury,postmortem intervals,and other specific elements and the occurrence of staging behavior.The corresponding partner between staging cause of death and real cause of death was clarified.Results Among the 100 intimate partner homicides,22 involved staging behaviors.Out of 10 cases of"staging"suicide,6 cases(60%)were attributed to staged causes of death.Among the 12"accidental"cases,there were 10 cases(83.33%)of staged causes of death.Staging manner of death appeared in 3 cases(30%)of"suicide"cases,and there was only one in"accidental"case(8.3%).The proportion of staged causes of death in strangulation cases was relatively high(35.71%,10/28).In cases with mild damage,the proportion of staging causes of death is higher(15/46).In cases without defense injuries,the proportion of staged causes of death was 23.19%(16/69).Among the true causes of death,strangulation in homicide was most commonly staged.Conclusion Different relationships of intimate partners did not affect the occurrence and distribution of staging behaviors.In cases involving staging behavior,the number of cases with staging as"accidental"nature of death is higher than that of"suicide"cases.The deaths with minor surface injuries such as strangulation and poisoning can be easily staging as suicide or accident.
Intimate partner homicidesCause of deathStaging behaviorsManner of deathElements of forensic analysisInjury characteristics