A Study of the 18 Deaths Due to Multiple Gunshot Wounds with Korean Military Rifles (K-1 and K-2) / 대한법의학회지

Forensic interpretation of whether the manner of death is suicide or homicide is very important in death cases due to multiple gunshot wounds. We analyzed 18 death cases from multiple gunshot wounds with Korean military rifles (K-1 and K-2) in the Republic of Korea Army from 2000 to 2011. In cases of the suicide, distance of gun from the body was all contact or near-contact range, except for 1 case of near range. When the selector was set to single shot, the initial entrance wounds were formed on the typical suicidal areas. The bullet tracks, however, did not involve the anatomical regions that would cause immediate incapacitation. The following entrance wounds also were sustained on the typical suicidal areas while the bullet tracks were made in the immediate incapacitation regions. When the selector was set to precision shot or multiple shot, the initial entrance wounds were located on typical suicidal areas, and the entrance wounds resulting from following bullets were gradually moving away form the initial entrance wound due to pop-up effect of the rifle. In cases of the homicide, distance of gun from the body was all distant range and the location of entrance wounds were not significantly related to typical suicidal areas.

Retrospective Analysis of Cases of Death by a Hand Grenade / 대한법의학회지

The death caused by a hand grenade detonation is extremely uncommon and specialized event in Korea cause that it used in military fields, and these cases are only investigated by CIC (Criminal Investigation Command) of ROK Army. The hand grenade is small, light weighted anti-human explosive, so it uses widely than other explosive objects. The morphological characteristics seeing in victim by hand grenade detonation are very variable according to position, distance of explosion, type of grenade, environmental effects, and so many others. We performed retrospective analysis of 23 cases of death by hand grenade in ROK Army from 1990 to 2008. These cases are classified by direction and position of wounds, injuries of external and internal organs. Most of all are contact or near contact range detonation, and the focus of detonation is suggested anterior chest wall mostly. Amputations or critical wounds are mostly located on hand, arm, anterior chest, but wounds of dorsal portion is relatively rare. Most of all are suggested to detonate grenade in standing or straightened-arm position. Internal organ damages, such as hemothorax, hemoperitoneum, hemopericardium by detonation pressure or penetration by fragments, are seen in 75% cases of all, and the organs are mostly heart, lung and other hollow organs. External examination may fail to show fatal external damage or wound. The data of this analysis would be used as adjunctive and objective examples of investigation of death by hand grenade in Korea.

The Relationship between Suicide by Hanging and Lunar Phase in ROK Army / 대한법의학회지

The authors investigated the death days of 246 people who committed suicide and converted them into their respective days in lunar calendar in order to see if there are any correlations with the cycle of months. The cycle of the months was divided into the first quarter, full moon, last quarter, and the new moon. The death days were investigated by daily statistics each, and they were investigated in relation with the cycle of the months regarding the occurrence of suicide, holidays, and weekends. There were twice as many people committing suicide when the moon is dark than when it is full moon, but there weren't much significance when judging from the big context. There were three times as many people committing suicide in a short period of time when the moon is dark than when it is full moon, but there wasn't much significance when judging from the big context. There wasn't anything special about suicide in daily basis. There wasn't a big inclination in the number of people committing suicide over holidays or weekends despite common belief. If we find the correlation between the psychological factors and the actions of those who commit suicide in the military, we could contribute to adjusting to some extent the actions of those who have the potential of committing a suicide. Out of such expectation was proceeded this research.

The Investigation for Damage Patterns by Experimental Detonations of a Hand Grenade / 대한법의학회지

Deaths caused by grenades hardly occur except for during wartime, and can be seen as a particular incident that can be observed only within the military or by acts of terrorism. However, there has never been any data which tried to analyze the damage patterns through mock grenade explosions. So far, the processes leading to deaths were merely inferred by reconstructing the situation with limited intelligence after the incidents have already occurred. Therefore, the authors believe that having mock grenade explosions in order to compare and study the observances with those of the actual incident will be helpful for a more precise and objective medical jurisprudence, and thus have summarized the damage patterned obtained on 8 butchered pigs, that were 6~8 months old, about 100 cm in length and 70~100 kg in weight by photographing with radioactive rays and running autopsies after detonating grenades on them. In conclusion, if there was extensive loss of body parts, the grenade probably exploded when in contact with the lost body parts. If fractures were found the grenade is likely to have detonated contacting or within 25 cm of distance with the body, and if there were no lacerations or loss of body parts the grenade probably exploded at a distance of at least 50 cm. If soot was prevalent on the deceased's body, the grenade is likely to have exploded within a distance of 25 cm from the body at a free floating state, in which it was not in contact with the ground or the body. Lastly, if no soot was found, the grenade most probably detonated at a distance of 50 cm or more. The posture or the direction of the body cannot give precise clues of the victim's state before theexplosion, and a hasty presupposition could be very dangerous in case of contact explosions especially.