Caracterización de las asfixias por sofocación de carácter homicida y su conexidad con la tortura

Abstract

This study aims to determine characteristics and to generate knowlwdge of homicidal suffocation deaths in autopsies carried out in Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses from Medellín city in the period between January 2008 and december de 2015. A descriptive, retrospective study, whose information was obtained from autopsy reports. The present investigation also pretends that this kind of deaths do not pass unseen as a simple homicide without torture, but as an terrible crime against human beings. Of the 82 cases analyzed, 92,7 % (76) were a deceased men and 7,3 % (6) women. The young male population of 15-27 years old was the most affected. During the analyzed period 10261 violent deaths were examined and 9,15 % (82) corrresponded to asphyxial homicidal suffocation, 74,4 % (61) were received as no identification bodies and 17,1 % (14) was considered torture. The most relevant findings on external examination were congested face and pale áreas alternation 67,1 % (55), conjuntival petechia 63,4 % (52), oral bruises 61,0 % (50), facial petechiae 28,0 % (23) and labial commissure bruises 25,6 % (21). 58,5 % (48) showed aditional trauma in other parts of the body. 42,7 % (35) the head was covered by plastic bags, 37,1 % (31) adhesive tape sorrounding tha plastic bag and 17,1 % (14) were covered with a plastic film known in comercial stores as Vinypel TM. 76,8 % (63) had hands and ankles tied firmly.