Hanging
Hanging is an unnatural death (by oneself or judicial) caused due to suspension from ligature point or from an anchor point by a ligature round the neck or jump from some height having a noose around neck.hanging could be done in a closed area like house , drawing room , bedroom , bathroom etc or it could be done at open space like in a dense forest , remote place etc. Hanging is suicidal in nature but there is a possibility that after killing the victim , the body was suspended from a fan , tree etc. Its the responsibility of the investigating officer and the forensic expert to look out all the possibilities.
Types of Hanging
Partial hanging or kneeing
Complete hanging
Almost complete hanging
Reclining position
Accidental hanging
Types of knots
Fixed noose
Running noose
The investigation and approach to the hanging case must be scientific and it broadly divided in to
Hanging in a close place
Hanging in an open place
First we discuss about hanging in closed place....
When the crime scene is a hanging case in a house or in a room , first to investigate that the room door was open or closed. When the investigating officer find it closed then he must investigate how it was opened and by whom. Who first see the body and is there any recent breaking marks on the door. The investigating officer also looked that the closed door was locked from inside or there was the possibility to bolted it from outside (if gap between door panel exist). In a house or room hanging the common anchor point for suspension is ceiling fan. Other than fan , beam of room , window , bar etc are used . The investigator always looked the dust pattern on these as there will be a possibility of fingerprints.(in a homicide hanging fingerprints of other than victim link the case to perpetrator). Commonly used ligature material is a rope( natural or synthetic) , jute string , sari , dhoti , bed sheet , belt etc.Check the ligature material strength to find out whether it bear the weight of victim. Note the surrounding of crime scene like presence of chair , ladder , stool etc used in hanging. Presence of shoes , chappal and on-off position of computer , radio , TV etc. Presence of any alcoholic item or medicines etc.
Note the height from ground to anchor point , note height of victim , note length between anchor point and knot on the neck , height of item used for hanging. (Chair table stool etc) and distance between heel and floor . Closely look the possibility of footprints at crime scene as the footprints may be present on chair stool etc.
Hanging in an open place
When hanging take place in an open place looked the distance between victim home/office to the crime scene. Consider the age , sex and physical status to checked out whether its appropriate for the victim to approached the spot or not(a pregnant lady or a younger child not came for suicide in a dense forest). Note down the incident time , last seen and by whom , any significant sound heard by the nearing residents. Checked out the strength and height of tree(or any thing like tree). The presence of thorns or sticky materials (latex etc) were possible on the cloths of victim. When there is a single drop from tree you found only one mark on the branch. If the branch is slightly sloping then many marks are present.
Now discuss about the common points of investigation in both cases.
Position of the body (disturbed or undisturbed) . The dead body sometimes put down by family members or taken to hospital by them. Photography of the crime scene is must with ligature mark injuries and picture of suicide note if found. Checked the clothing for identification or for any suicidal note.The Behavior and mental condition of victim should be considered. Find out the reason of such a horrible step. Examine the hanging material and point of suspension. Examine the ligature marks on the neck and injuries on the body. Blood sample(if found) and swab collected. Cut piece of ligature material be collected. Footprints on chair etc and fingerprints on ceiling fan etc as discussed above were examined(if present). Cell phone will be seize for call records , phone examination for voice or video clips related to the case.
Some observations or things that prove that the hanging is a suicide are -
Saliva trickling from mouth is always downward on tilt side and opposite to knot. When knot present on the backside of neck then the saliva occurred in mid of lips. If knot is on front of neck , the face is on upward position and saliva in buccal cavity. Ligature mark is single , non continuous on the neck. There is a flow of urine , tear and nasal secretion. Eyes are found slit like open. Tongue is protruding out or bitten between teeth. Leg and toe formed more than 120 degree angle between them. Head is always tilted against the knot. If anything found to be different from these basic theories of hanging it will be easily calculate by the investigating officer that the case is suspicious.
Some observations or things that prove that the hanging is a suicide are -
Saliva trickling from mouth is always downward on tilt side and opposite to knot. When knot present on the backside of neck then the saliva occurred in mid of lips. If knot is on front of neck , the face is on upward position and saliva in buccal cavity. Ligature mark is single , non continuous on the neck. There is a flow of urine , tear and nasal secretion. Eyes are found slit like open. Tongue is protruding out or bitten between teeth. Leg and toe formed more than 120 degree angle between them. Head is always tilted against the knot. If anything found to be different from these basic theories of hanging it will be easily calculate by the investigating officer that the case is suspicious.
MR. DEEPAK PAWAR has been working as Finger Print Expert / Police Officer in Finger Print Bureau , Delhi Police at New Delhi since 2001 . He is the senior most Finger Print Expert , attending / visited several scene of crime and solved many crime cases .He has passed M.Sc (Chemistry) and he is the Member of International Association of Identification . He is the Member of Delhi Police welfare association . He is supervising the Forensic , New Delhi District , Mobile Crime Team . He is one of the Expert in the Special Investigation Team held for investigation of important cases . He has been giving fingerprint proficient training to Delhi Police personnel's . He has been Presented / giving lectures on topics related to forensic science . He is also making examination paper of Finger Print proficient course . He is awarded with Police Medal by MHA and Delhi Police.