Homicide in Brescia County (Northern Italy): A thirty-year review

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2013.12.012

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine

Volume 22, February 2014, Pages 84-89

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2013.12.012 Get rights and content

Abstract

This retrospective study analyses post-mortem examination data of 251 homicide victims recorded by the Brescia Institute of Forensic Medicine between the years 1982 and 2012. The following variables were considered: year, month and day of death; gender, age and nationality of the victim; type of injurious mean; cause of death; homicide-suicides events; multiple murders; scene of death; toxicological data. Victims were usually young (30% was in the 21–30 years class) and males (64%). Although the victims were mostly Italians (73%), from 1990's more and more foreign victims appeared, following the migratory flow that affected Brescia County. The offenders frequently used firearms to kill their victims (41%), in particular for multiple murders. Sharp instruments were used mostly by foreigners. The study also emphasized 20 homicide-suicide events, mostly committed between intimates and family members.

Introduction

Since ancient times homicide represents the prototype of the illegal act addressed to the annihilation of the most precious human gift: the life. The word homicide (from the Latin homo-man and cidium-killing) means a person's death caused by another human being. In most countries homicide is a crime if it comes from an unlawful action.

This study was conducted by the Institute of Forensic Medicine in the County of Brescia, an important industrial district in Northern Italy (Lombard region), with a population of more than 1,250,000 (12.8% of Lombard region population; 2.2% of Italian population).¹

The latest report on the homicide rate in the European countries showed that the number of victims by homicide in Italy is not so high as the media usually emphasized: the risk is much higher in Eastern Europe countries (such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia), but also in some countries of Northern Europe, in particular Finland, Sweden and Denmark.2, 3 All around the world, the homicide rate is frighteningly high in Colombia, South Africa, Brazil and Sri Lanka.4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Section snippets

Materials and methods

This retrospective study analysed the post-mortem examinations reported by the Brescia Institute of Forensic Medicine from June 1, 1982 to June 31, 2012. During the 30-year period, a total of 11,111 post-mortem investigations were performed; among these, 251 were homicide (2% of all exams).

In each case, the following parameters were considered:

1.
Day, month and year of death;
2.
Gender, age and nationality of victims;
3.
Injurious means;
4.
Cause of death;
5.
Crime scene information;
6.
Homicide-suicide events;
7.

Demographic data

Over the period between 1982 and 2012, 251 cases of homicide occurred in the County of Brescia, corresponding to an average homicide rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people per year. Although there is a natural year to year variation, the phenomenon seems to grow a little compared to the first decade (32 victims recorded from 1982 to 1991, 116 from 1992 to 2001 and 104 in the last decade) (Fig. 1). Both males and females were interested (Fig. 2).

Most homicides were observed in summer and in autumn,

Discussion

The County of Brescia is one of the most industrialized Italian urban counties, suffering of economic crisis periods more than other counties. A previous Italian study underlined that homicide rate increases with economic crisis, unemployment rising and financial difficulties.⁹

Another problem in the County of Brescia is social integration: nowadays Brescia is the Italian County with the highest incidence of foreigners (166.1 per 1000 inhabitant).¹ The migratory flow affecting the County from

Conclusions

In the examined period (1982–2012) in the County of Brescia (Northern Italy) there was a persistent low homicide rate, an increase in homicides amongst non-Italians in the region (due to the relevant migratory flow that interested the County, above all from Maghreb countries), with a predominance of gunshot shootings.

The homicide events can reflect the social changes and the different problems (family, economy, employment, contrast among different cultures, stressful living style) that became

Ethical approval

None declared.

Funding

None declared.

Conflict of interest

None.

References (36)

H. Häkkänen
Homicide by ligature strangulation in Finland: offence and offender characteristics
Forensic Sci Int
(2005)
C.C.S. Martin et al.
Assessment of methods of homicides in a Brazilian city: a preliminary study
Forensic Sci Int
(1999)
P.A.S. Edirisinghe et al.
Extreme violence – homicide; an analysis of 265 cases from the offices of JMO Colombo and Ragama – a study from Sri Lanka
Legal Medicine
(2009)
P. Wahlsten et al.
Survey of medico-legal investigation of homicides in the city of Turku, Finland
J Forensic Leg Med
(2007)
I. Nordrum et al.
Medicolegal autopsies of violent deaths in northern Norway 1972–1992
Forensic Sci Int
(1998)
M.M. Soumah et al.
Autopsy following death by homicide in 644 cases
J Forensic Leg Med
(2012)
J.P. Henderson et al.
Patterns of non-firearm homicide
J Clin Forensic Med
(2005)
J. Temlett et al.
Homicide among indigenous south Australians: a forty-year study (1969–2008)
J Forensic Leg Med
(2012)
V. Kumar et al.
A study of homicidal deaths in medico-legal autopsies at UMMC, Kuala Lumpur
J Clinical Forensic Med
(2005)
M.K. Mohanty et al.
Victims of homicidal deaths – an analysis of variables
J Clinical Forensic Med
(2005)

A. Vij et al.

A retrospective review of homicides in Mangalore, South India

J Forensic Leg Med

(2010)

P. Saint-Martin et al.

Homicide in Tours (Indre-et-Loire, France): a four-year review

J Clinical Forensic Med

(2006)

V.N. Ambade et al.

Comparison of wound patterns in homicide by sharp and blunt force

Forensic Sci Int

(2006)

M. Liem et al.

Homicide–suicide and other violent deaths: an international comparison

Forensic Sci Int

(2011)

K. Shiferaw et al.

A half century retrospective study of homicide–suicide in Geneva – Switzerland: 1956–2005

J Forensic Leg Med

(2010)

C.M. Milroy

Homicide followed by suicide: remorse or revenge?

J Clin Forensic Med

(1998)

P. Saint-Martin et al.

Homicide-suicide in Tours, France (2000–2005) – description of 10 cases and a review of the literature

J Forensic Leg Med

(2008)

C.Y. Chan et al.

Homicide-suicide in Hong-Kong, 1989–1998

Forensic Sci Int

(2003)

Cited by (11)

Homicide mechanisms, weapon types and causes of death in the autopsy material of the Department of Forensic Medicine Medical University of Gdańsk Poland in the years 2010–2019
2023, Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
Craniocerebral lesions constituted the most frequent direct cause of death in blunt trauma, whereas in homicides caused by a sharp instrument massive internal and/or external haemorrhage apparently prevailed. These results suggest that the head and chest are perceived commonly by assailants as areas which injuries may easily threaten life.4,9,10,29,30 Moreover, these data are consistent with other studies, which revealed that blunt trauma most frequently affects the head and sharp trauma the chest.9,10,31–33
The study objective was the analysis of homicides based on reports of 107 medicolegal autopsies of victims, which were carried out in 2010–2019 at the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland. The study focused on the analysis of homicide mechanisms, on the weapon type, injuries characteristics, and both pathomechanisms and causes of death. Alcohol and illicit drugs abuse, which is a predisposing factor, was also assessed. In the analysed cohort, 70.1% were males and 29.9% females. The most frequently used weapon was a blunt instrument (accounting for 47.7% of homicides), while the least common was a firearm (accounting for 4.7% of homicides). There were significant differences in homicide mechanisms related to victims’ gender. In males, blunt or sharp instruments predominated, while in females violent suffocation and chop injuries were more frequent. Fatal head injuries and their consequences predominated in the pathomechanisms of death (32.7% of cases). It was shown that the highest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was found in homicides due to violent strangulation and sharp instrument use, while the lowest BAC was found in gunshot victims. Toxicological tests were performed in 18 cases and in 7 cases showed positive results for illicit drugs. The analysis of various elements involved in homicide may contribute to a conceptual framework for preventive measures aiming at the reduction of homicides number.
Challenges in the analysis of forensic pathology data relating to homicides in Kosovo from 2006–2015
2020, Forensic Science International
The ability to conduct accurate retrospective homicide comparative research is reliant on the publishing of robust studies that assess the specifics of homicides in a standardised manner. To address these matters at the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM) in Pristina, Kosovo, the IFM homicide data of the years 2006–2015 was retrospectively studied. In general, there was a year on year downward trend in the number of homicide deaths in Kosovo per 100,000 people, however it was noted that a standardisation method to record homicides in Kosovo has not been developed and as such, the data may not be complete. In addition, the analysis of the IFM data demonstrated that firearms were consistently used in 73.76 % of all homicides committed between 2006–2015 but the examination of, and the specific documentation of the types of firearms used was not recorded. This is important to provide evidence to enforce legislation to reduce the availability of these weapons and ultimately the number of homicides. Consequently, this study aimed to compare global homicide trends relative to the retrospective homicide data from Kosovo, to inform and address the need for prevention programmes and to establish standardised recording of homicides in Kosovo.
Survey of medico-legal investigation of homicide in the region of Epirus (Northwest Greece)
2016, Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
These results correspond to the restricted availability of guns and the firm legislation regarding firearm possession. On the contrary, in countries were law appears more tolerant, such as Italy, Holland, USA and Canada, homicides were committed by use of firearms in high percentages (30–60%).6,31–33 Sharp force was the second method of homicide in our cohort (21%) comparable to studies from other countries, such as the Nederlands and Western Norway,7,31 but differs remarkably compared to Russia, Denmark, Finland and India, where the corresponding figures were between 38% and 62%.9,23,30,34
This study analyzed the forensic features of homicides in North-West Greece (Epirus) from 1998 to 2013, a borderland area between Greece and Albania. Although Greece is critically influenced by both the increasing flow of refugees and the current socioeconomic crisis, very little information has been published regarding the patterns of homicide in the country. Fifty-eight autopsied victims (36 males; 22 females) were investigated. The median age was 37 years old. The average annual homicide rate was 0.85 per 100,000 inhabitants and showed remarkable fluctuation, with largest increase during Greek financial downturn. Sixteen victims were not Greek citizens. The most common method of commitment was the use of firearm (40%). The main motives were economical causes (26%) and passion (14%). Four cases were categorized as matricide (7%), 3 as homicide–suicide (5%), 2 as patricide (3%) and 1 as infanticide (2%). Toxicological analysis proved negative for ethanol and other psychotropic substances in the majority of the victims (50%). There is an urgent need for public actions both in Epirus and in Greece, with the application of effective strategies against criminality.
Review of patterns in homicides by sharp force: one institution’s experience
2023, Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
Criminal death by stabbing in the region of Kairouan, Tunisia: A retrospective study, 2008-2018
2021, Tunisie Medicale
Pattern of homicidal burns in Northern Tunisia: An autopsy-based study over 15 years (2005–2019)
2021, Journal of Forensic Sciences

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Case reviewHomicide in Brescia County (Northern Italy): A thirty-year review

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Demographic data

Discussion

Conclusions

Ethical approval

Funding

Conflict of interest

Forensic Sci Int

Forensic Sci Int

Legal Medicine

J Forensic Leg Med

Forensic Sci Int

J Forensic Leg Med

J Clin Forensic Med

J Forensic Leg Med

J Clinical Forensic Med

J Clinical Forensic Med

J Forensic Leg Med

J Clinical Forensic Med

Forensic Sci Int

Forensic Sci Int

J Forensic Leg Med

J Clin Forensic Med

J Forensic Leg Med

Forensic Sci Int

Case review
Homicide in Brescia County (Northern Italy): A thirty-year review