Double Murder Following Intoxication with Sedative Drugs

Background: Sedative drugs are important in many ways in medicolegal practice. They are used to subdue or alter the mind of a victim and also such drugs themselves can cause death. These drugs are used in robberies as well as in murder cases.Case Report: Two averagely built healthy parents were found dead on bed with deep cut injuries to neck, with minimal evidence of volitional activities and defense injuries. An involvement of a poison was suspected. The elder daughter had felt a bitter taste of the dinner and kept it in the refrigerator at that night. The dinner was sent for toxicological investigations. Causes of deaths were cut injuries to neck. At the same time, the investigators found out that the younger daughter had mixed diazepam to dinner and her boyfriend and 4 others killed the parents. A film they had watched had influenced them to initiate this incident.Conclusion: Two well-built conscious adult victims in sober state should have received at least few defense injuries or leave evidence of volitional activities. In such circumstances, intoxication with drugs or incapacitated with other means should be considered by the forensic pathologist

Medico-Legal Significance of ‘Self-Embedding of Foreign Bodies’

Self-embedding is a form of self-injury where foreign objects are inserted underneath the skin. Though it is reported in scientific literature, it is not being reported in forensic literature.In the year 2010, a housemaid returned from Saudi Arabia with 24 nails and needles in her body. After arrival, she had not informed that she had been tortured by the employer.      In the year 2013, another Sri Lankan housemaid from Middle East admitted to hospital with needles in her body alleged that needles being inserted by her master.  X-rays showed 4 needles in her face and limbs, placed parallel to the skin surface. She would have self-embedded these needles in a way to escape from employer.    There are cases of self-inflicted injuries in people with Munchausen syndrome, where people simulate trauma or illness in order to draw attention.In conclusion, ‘the medico-legal significance of self-embedding of foreign objects’ is a new concept where the forensic physician has to exclude ‘torture’ by a third party before ascertaining the concept of self-harm. Multiple foreign objects, found parallel to body surface, at accessible sites and accessible directions to push foreign bodies between the thumb and index finger favors self-embedding