Attached
Background: Sedative drugs are important in many ways in
medicolegal practice. They are used to subdue or alter the mind of a
victim and also such drugs themselves can cause death. These drugs
are used in robberies as well as in murder cases.
Case Report: Two averagely built healthy parents were found dead
on bed with deep cut injuries to neck, with minimal evidence of
volitional activities and defense injuries. An involvement of a
poison was suspected. The elder daughter had felt a bitter taste of
the dinner and kept it in the refrigerator at that night. The dinner
was sent for toxicological investigations. Causes of deaths were cut
injuries to neck. At the same time, the investigators found out that
the younger daughter had mixed diazepam to dinner and her
boyfriend and 4 others killed the parents. A film they had watched
had influenced them to initiate this incident.
Conclusion: Two well-built conscious adult victims in sober state
should have received at least few defense injuries or leave evidence
of volitional activities. In such circumstances, intoxication with
drugs or incapacitated with other means should be considered by
the forensic pathologist.
