Attached
INTRODUCTION
The term “complex suicide” irefers to suicides in which more than one method is applied. It is
further classified as planned and unplanned complex suicides. In planned complex suicides, two
or more methods are employed simultaneously in order to make sure that death will occur even if
one method fails. In unplanned complex suicides, several other methods of suicide are tried after
the first method chosen fails. Following case discussion is on a death with two methods of suicide.
CASE REPORT
Body of a 20 year Old drug addict was recovered from a river. A blood stained table knife was
found in his room. There were no features of struggle at scenes. He had no previous attempts of
suicide. Autopsy examination revealed four (4) superficial and parallel cut throat injuries, There
were no evidence of haemorrhagic shock, blood aspiration or air embolism. Fine continuous froth
with kissing hyper inflated lungs were found. The cause of death was given as drowning.
CONCLUSIONS
Since there were two methods of suicide, namely cut throat and jumping to river, this is a complex
suicide. Cut throat injuries should have been inflicted before entering to water. Therefore, the
initial cut throat injuries had been failed and subsequently succeeded by jumping to river.
Therefore, this should be an unplanned complex suicide.
