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ABSTRACT
The case of a 07 year-old Indian female found dead at the second floor of a new building construction site, at Mumbai, in an semi-nude state with blood stains at mouth and ears. The scene investigation and autopsy findings suggested a sexual assault with multiple injuries over body with ligature mark around neck. The approach to the post-mortem examination using different laboratory tests was reviewed. The present report suggests the importance of autopsy examination in rape victim associated with multiple injuries and ligature strangulation with special reference to acid phosphatase test.
Keywords: Autopsy, Multiple injuries, Ligature strangulation, Rape victim.
INTRODUCTION
Sexual assault is usually an un-witnessed crime. Therefore, forensic investigation and identification of the spermatozoa and semen on the specimen collected from the vagina of female victims plays an extremely important role in the court testimony to confirm the recent episode of sexual intercourse. In fact, microscopic visualization of the spermatozoa is a gold standard method to prove that the female victims had recently been violated. However, if the male offender is a vasectomized or an azoospermic individual, it is impossible to prove the recent sexual event by identification of the spermatozoa and this may let the offender go free. In the US, the reported frequency of azoospermia is 1% to 9% in seminal stains or swabs-examined sexual assault cases and the frequency of contraceptive vasectomy has been estimated to be 750,000 to 1,000,000 per year. (1,2) The vaginal aspirate should be sent to a forensic laboratory to determine the presence of acid phosphatase. High concentrations of this enzyme are found in prostatic secretions, and the presence of acid phosphatase is a good indicator of recent coitus. Acid phosphatase activity decreases with time and is usually absent after 24 hours. Qualitative testing may reveal activity for a longer period of time. (3/7) Acid phosphatase detection was the most valuable technique, but its use is limited in time.(4) However, according to scientific results, acid phosphatase test is only a presumptive test or a screening test and it is rapidly degraded in normal vaginal environment. Therefore, it can be detected for only a short duration after sexual intercourse.
(9-14) Thyg our study emphases on autopsy examination of rape victim corroborated with different laboratory tests...