Stab wounds, cuts, bruises or bullet wounds in certain locations may indicate that the victim struggled against the assailant and tried to protect vital body parts.
Locations of defense wounds:
(1) hand
(2) arms
(3) legs
Hand wounds are usually inflicted when a person tries to grab the weapon and cuts the palm or proximal fingers on the blade. Fingers may be cut off if the weapon is an axe.
Arm wounds are typically over the lateral aspect of the forearm as the person tries to protect the face and neck. Wounds may also be on the lateral aspect of the upper arm.
Wounds to the legs may occur if the person is supine during the attack. Wounds to the anterior, lateral and/or medial thighs may be inflicted during a sexual assault.
In bullet wounds the entrance and exit wounds may line up with a bullet wound to head, neck or torso.
Differential diagnosis:
(1) multiple slashes by a deranged killer
(2) suicide with a double edged bladed weapon
(3) wounds to the assailant caused when the hand slipped down onto the blade during a struggle. In this case the wound would be on the dominant hand.
(4) mutilation after death
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