A case of smothering

This case occurred in the year 1985-86 period. A dead body was brought for Pm examination by 1500hrs on an holiday from Anchal police station limit. The deceased was a hunchback of short stature with multiple crescentic abrasions around the external orifices. He was edentulous. The stomach contents had a smell of ethyl alcohol.Dr. Sivasuthan,now professor at MC,Kottayam was also there with me. We had no doubt about the cause of death. But to confirm once again , myself sought the help of one Asst.professor living in the MC premises through telephone. For that I got a good dose of scolding from him for having disturbed his afternoon sleep / peace & tranquility. Moreover he reported the matter to then HOD. Next day The HOD tried to strip me completely in front of others by bombarding me with questions, but I withstood the above & gave my statement to the police that the person died of SMOTHERING. Later investigations revealed that my deduction was correct. A gist of what had happened is as
follows. The deceased & his friend took country liquor & after that both had a quarrel & scuffle & in that the denture worn by the deceased came out & (the same was recovered later by the police) the hunch back was smothered.
In cases of smothering if you are able to make out crescentic marks it is invariably followed by laceration & contusion of mucous membrane of mouth. If it is an infant or adult person the injuries may not be there.
The case was tried in pathanamthitta sessions court . At least for 4-5 times I appeared before the bench. The interesting fact is that there occurred mutual exchange of accused & witness due to political influence & I am not having any idea of what happened with the judgement till now

A simulated case of railway accident

This case also underwent autopsy at Medical college,Trichur. during 1989-90 period. A case under kodakara crime was brought for pm examination with an H/O railway accident. The injuries that I noticed donot match with the pattern of injury in railway accident,viz bilateral testicular contusions, cane marks spread over different parts of the body, abrasion caused by thorn, bilateral rib # at various levels, Contusion lips with laceration of mucosal aspects of lips,old healing subdural hematoma. More over the stomach was empty & the mucosa pale with a garlicky odour simulating zincphosphide. Chemical analysis turned out to be +ve for zincphosphide. Final opinion was given as the deceased died of zincphosphide poisoning & the injuries fond on the body except abraions & cane mark are independantly sufficient to cause death.
Investigation revealed the person belonging to Vadakara & he left the place telling that he is going to sabarimala. Prior to the day when the body was found near the railway track, he was seen wandering near the Aloor railway gate & he himself bought one fish from a vendor selling fish & was seen sqeezing the fish over the injuries on his mouth. He recived the injuries on the day prior to his presence at railway gate. Because of the old subdural hremorrhage he waas not oriented in space & time & he went to a house where preprations for a marriage was going on. Youngsters there manhandled him by his bizaare behaviour & sent him out.During the same night after he visited the raiway gate ,once again he went to the same house , the very same boys caught him & tied his hands over his back & made to walk along the railway tract& gave him good kicks over the gentials. The police were able to proove the manner of production of injuries except the manner in which he was poisoned. The persons involved were concerned with horticulture.The investigating officer even made a request that I should ommit the role of poisoning & include the fact that the deceased died of injuries sustained. I told him a very big NO.

When the case was heard in the court, the prosecution as well as defence didnot have anything to ask & the case was acquitted.