Forces generated in stabbing attacks: an evaluation of the utility of the mild, moderate and severe scale.

ABSTRACT: The commonest way of killing in the UK is by a sharp instrument. Knight reported in 1975 that it is impossible to discern with any degree of certainty the degree of force used to create a stab wound. Despite this, expert witnesses continue to approximate the degree of force used for their reports and evidence in court. It is usually subjectively categorized as mild, moderate or severe, based solely on the examination of the wound. We undertook a study considering forces generated in a range of blunt trauma actions, using a novel force plate dynamometer to measure the peak forces obtained by adult male and female volunteers. We then studied forces generated by stabbing skin simulants and porcine samples with knives and screwdrivers. Men generated more force than women during stabbings which

SUBMITTER: Nolan G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5748396 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature