Profile of autopsied homicidal victims of eastern Nepal: An observational study

Abstract

Abhishek Karn, Birendra Kumar Mandal, Amshu Pradhan, Shivendra Jha, Bishwanath Yadav, Pramod Kumar Shrestha

Objective: This study was performed to create a profile of the victims of intentional homicide in eastern Nepal. Methods: This is an observational study of homicidal victims autopsied from January 01, 2009 to December 31, 2011 at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, a tertiary referral centre in Dharan, Nepal, analyzing: age, sex, educational condition, marital status and occupation of victims, homicidal method employed, motive, season of the year and toxicological study, along with few details on the victims’ personal history (alcohol and drug abuse). Results: The homicidal victim profile attained matched that of a man who was a young adult between 25 to 34 years of age, illiterate, unmarried, unemployed, alcoholic and was killed intentionally by sharp weapons or firearms during the September to October period. The most frequent reason for being killed was an argument that led to assault and eventually death. Conclusion: The study of this occurrence should ultimately result in enhanced prevention from these prospective evaluations of the profile. Preventive interventions at the national, social and medical level would be fundamental in saving the lives of potential victims