Forensic Analysis of Shoe Lace used in hanging- a Rare Case of Custody Death

Background: Custody deaths are a serious problem for the law enforcement agencies. Most of the reported custody death cases are by hanging using different available ligature material. Present forensic investigation of custodial death is focused on the detailed fiber analysis comprising of microscopic examination, nature of fiber, spectrophotometric analysis and thermal analysis of the samples sent by medical officers and investigating authorities. The present paper shows application of modern analytical techniques that can be successfully applied in sensitive cases of hanging, especially in cases of custody death. In this way, the importance of involvement of forensic science in custody death cases along with the opinion of medical officers is highlighted. Case Presentation: In the present rare case of hanging, a shoe lace was used by an accused in police custody. This case was submitted to the forensic science laboratory for comparison of the fibers of the shoe lace and fibers found on the ligature mark obtained from the neck and both the hands. All possible analytical techniques such as microscopy, thermal methods and spectrophotometric analysis were used and results successfully revealed that the characteristics of the seized lace in the shoe matched with the ligature material. Similarly, microscopic examination of shoe lace fibers tallied with fibers like material lifted on transparent cello tape during post mortem. Conclusion: This case highlighted the fact that a shoe lace can also be the reason for suicide of accused in police custody and thus added one more preventive measure to be taken by the concerned authorities. In addition to the opinion of medical officers, the role of the forensic examination report is equally important.