Forensic Injury Interpretation to Aid Criminal Investigations: A Case Series

Background: Injury interpretation, a core component of forensic practice, has the potential to alter the course of an investigation and guide it in the correct direction. Here, we discuss four cases in which the identification, analysis, and interpretation of injuries led the investigating agency to revise their understanding of the cause of death. Aim: This case series aims to highlight the importance of injury interpretation in forensic practice. Methodology: We reviewed the results of all medicolegal autopsies conducted in the Whitefield area of Bengaluru city, India, over the seven-year period from 2015 to 2021, to identify those in which a discrepancy existed between the history submitted by the investigating officer and the autopsy findings. Results: Of 781 postmortem reports, only the current four cases showed a significant difference between the history documented by the investigating officers and the observations of the autopsy surgeons. In one case, the cause of death was reported to be a road traffic accident, but was found by autopsy to be homicide. The second case, found deceased approximately 1.5 km from the main road, was presented as a homicide but found at autopsy to be a road traffic accident. In the third case, there were fatal injuries to the head, a stab wound to the brachial artery in the arm, and injuries to the external genitalia, but the investigating officer had suspected dog mauling as the cause of death. The fourth case involved the mutilated remains of a body discovered on a road, suggestive of multiple runovers. Upon meticulous examination, however, a stab wound was identified on the chest region, causing the investigating authorities to alter the investigation from that of a road traffic accident to that of homicide with concealment of evidence. Conclusion: Accurate and timely injury interpretation plays a significant role in criminal investigations, with the potential to reveal concealed injuries and facilitate justice.