Homicide
DR NANG KHIN MYALEARNING OBJECTIVES
Definitions
Disciplines of Forensic Toxicology Types of Poison
Duties of doctor in case of poisoning Purposes of learning toxicology
Divisions of forensic unit in Malaysia
INTRODUCTION
What is Homicide ?
• The killing of a human being by another human being.
• The word derives from the Latin compound homicidam which combines homo (man) with the verb caedere ( to kill).
• Murder is an inhuman act with the intention of causing harm or taking other people‟s life (Alvarez and Bachman, 2003).
• It is perceived as the most serious (Mohanty et al. 2005) and extreme form of violence (Edirinsinghe and
Kitulwatte 2009) committed against a person.
DISCIPLINES OF FORENSIC INVESTIGATION
• Death investigation
Documentation of scene and circumstances
Autopsy using photography, diagrams and text
Analyzing body fluids and organs from death cases and work with pathologists Analyzing exhibited weapons or
evidences
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF MURDER VICTIMS
• Homicide is commonly seen in male
• Types of murder weapon
• Sharp objects were the most preferred murder weapon
• harp force trauma (30.1%) and cause of deaths.
• The chest and abdomen (31.1%) were the most targeted body parts in killing victims, followed by the head (20.3%).
TYPES OF POISON
Corrosive poisons :
Strong mineral acids and
organic acids
Metallic
poisons : Lead, Arsenic,
Mercury and Copper
Animal poisons : Snake and Scorpion bites
Deliriants : Datura,
Cannabis and Cocaine
Somniferous agents : Opium, Morphine and other opioids
Inebriants :
Methyl and Ethyl alcohol
Asphyxiant poisons : Carbon
monoxide and Carbon dioxide
Methane and cyanides
DUTIES OF DOCTOR IN CASE OF
POISONING
Medico-legal autopsy
Preservation and dispatch of viscera for chemical analysis
Role of Forensic Science Laboratory
PURPOSES OF LEARNING
TOXICOLOGY
To produce a physician who is well informed about Medico-legal responsibility during his/her practice of Medicine.
To produce a physician who is capable of making observations and inferring
conclusions by logical deductions to set enquiries on the right track in criminal matters and associated medico-legal problems.
To produce a physician who acquires knowledge of law in relation to Medical
practice, Medical negligence and respect for codes of Medical ethics.
FORENSIC LAB IN KOTA KINABALU, SABAH
Department of Chemistry Sabah Branch
Forensic Unit Environmental Health Unit
• Narcotics
• Toxicology
• Forensic DNA
• Criminalistic
• Document Examination
• Food
• Water
• Environment
• Microbiology
• Industry and Trade Tariff Classification
NARCOTICS
• The analysis of seized substances relating to
possession and trafficking of dangerous drugs
• Investigation of clandestine laboratories
• Drug profiling
Examples:-
• Heroin
• Cannabis, Marijuana (Ganja)
• Methamphetamine (Syabu)
TOXICOLOGY
• The detection of “poisons” in medico-legal cases, clinical toxicology and the control of pharmaceutical drugs.
Examples:-
• Alcohol analysis in blood, urine and vitreous humor
• Human poisoning
• Animal poisoning
• Heavy metal poisoning
• Drugs in body fluids
• Scheduled poisons
FORENSIC DNA
• Analysis on evidentiary biological
samples such as bloodstains, seminal stains, hair and other biological
samples encountered in the
investigation of murder, suspicious
deaths, rape and other sexual offences, assault, and various other crimes.
CRIMINALISTIC
• Examination of physical evidence
related to criminal cases, covering areas such as firearms examination, vehicle examination, trace evidence, pirated optical discs etc.
• Services are also provided for scene investigation of fire/arson, explosion and accident cases
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
• Examination of handwriting
• Examination of signature
• Examination of alteration
• Examination of typewriting
• Identification of printing process
• Examination of indentation
• Examination of charred document
• Analysis of ink
• Analysis of paper
• Consultancy services related to document examination
