CUSTODY DEATHS : An Overview.
Arun Bhoi (Forensic Expert)
Custody Death : Definition :
Custody deaths include deaths occurring during apprehension by police while recording, gathering and preserving the evidence/information.
Custody deaths can occur by hanging, strangulation, poison consumption, use of weapon, violence, terror, disaster, hazardous exposures to chemical, biological and radioactive materials. It may, also, be because of physical acts, hemorrhage, social or psychiatric effects, physical or communicable diseases, illness, mental or chemical impairment. Custody deaths may, also, be because of alcoholics, alcohol intoxication, drug addiction, poisoning or by plant-poisons.
Custody deaths have concern with police, medical investigator and forensic expert. These officers should possess requisite skills and experience of crime scene investigation. They should collect and preserve the evidence and should produce accurate reports of activities and observations. They should secure and protect integrity of scene, decide the periphery of the crime scene. Experts should cooperate with each other. Photography or video shooting of the spot should be done.
Experts should have thorough knowledge of human body, death syndrome, principles of patterns, signs and symptoms of abuse. Disposition of body and post mortem should be understood by them. Records should also be checked.
Hanging :
It is an important mode in custody deaths. In hanging discoloration of arms , limbs, accumulation of blood near ligature mark and on face is noted because of enlargement of vessels. In case of hanging one should look for the presence of fibers of rope or cloth near ligature mark. Blood stains should also be checked, on it.
If body is suspended after death there will be less effect on /at ligature mark and on face.
Usually hanging is seen in suicidal cases. However, strangulation is in homicides.
It is necessary to take proper search, record observations and disturbances at crime scene.
If rope / cloth found used in act note its appearance, hue, nature, thickness, twists, strands, warps and wefts. In addition, fibers needs to be got examined microscopically.
Consumption :
In deaths by consumption of liquor / poison / drug / narcotic drugs look for container, bottle, wrapper, drug strip, prescriptions, stained cloths, smear and stained soil. Take search at corners or odd places. Try to find its source. Note smell if any?
Mouth smells differently if, liquor or cannabis material is consumed. Try to know whether deceased was addict or what ?
Ethyl alcohol, constituent of liquor is analysed by micro-chemical tests like morpholine-nitroprusside tests, density measurement. Instruments like DME and Head space GC are useful for this.
Look for Blood Alcohol Concentration of the deceased.
Poisons/drugs are detected and determined by micro-tests, TLC and instruments such as UV, GC, GC-MS.
Deaths as Murder :
Try to recover weapon/instrument (knife, firearm, rod, wooden log etc). Look for blood stains, hair, cigarette buts, cartridge, foot/shoe prints.
Blood is detected by benzidine test and its origin by COE. Ask for blood grouping, saliva, semen, botanical examination if required. In most important cases DNA finger printing can be preferred after discussion.
Custody deaths are day by day increasing. The metropolitan cities rank above in the list, surprisingly. Ethyl alcohol is detected in few cases. In some of the foreign countries custody deaths are more than RTA and shooting.
Post Mortem reports are also, of utmost importance in case of custody deaths.
In US Medical Investigator/Coroner investigates custody deaths. In India police have to do this.
In Palm Island police officer was charged for the death of Doomadgee, whose liver was cleaved in two pieces. Deceased was swearing in public place after drinks hence, arrested.
People’s Union for Democratic Rights and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is very active such cases.
10th December is the World National Human Rights Day.
