Man Killed with a Hammer

[hermantheshocker]

This elderly male individual was assaulted in the backyard of his house by a person known to him. There was no further info about the attacker. Weapon used was a claw hammer.


Fig.1 Posterior view of the head showing extensive lacerations and bruising.


Fig.2 Extensive lacerations and bruising.

There were in excess of 20 injuries including curvilinear lacerations and bruising to the top and back of the head and neck. Many of these injuries had a circular or semicircular configuration suggesting they have been caused by an implement with circular characteristics to the surface. In addition, there was widespread fragmentation of the underlying vault of the skull and also fractures over the base of the skull in the anterior middle and posterior cranial fossae.


Fig.3 Left and right lateral views of the head showing extensive lacerations and bruising.


Fig.4 Superior–posterior view of the head showing the circular and semicircular configuration of many of the injuries.

There was also fracturing of the distal 3rd of the left ulna, which was associated with hemorrhage in the adjacent muscles and subcutaneous tissue. There was a fracture of the right proximal index finger phalanx associated with local bruising.


Fig.5 Superior–posterior view of the head showing fragmentation of the skull vault.


Fig.6 Detail of the fragmentation of the skull vault.

The bruises and abrasions on the front of the face represent blunt-force injury but showed no discrete patterning. It is possible that the injuries to the front of the face occurred as a result of the face being in contact with a hard surface when the blunt-force injuries were inflicted to the top and back of the head. Because of the loss of the integrity of the scalp tissues (due to the scalp lacerations and skull fractures), the size of the circular marks varied depending on whether the tissue was under its normal tissue stress or had lost its tissue stress because of the injury in the adjacent skin and skull.


Fig.7 Superior view of the base of the cranium showing extensive fragmentation of the occipital bone and fractures of the left and right temporoparietal regions.


Fig.8 Lateral view of the left arm showing fractured distal 3rd of the left ulna (top, white arrow); detail of the fracture (bottom).

Given these changes, it was not possible to accurately determine the size of the face of the weapon from the skin injuries. In such cases, careful reconstruction of the bone fragments may provide information about the size of the weapon. Identification of a specific tool is difficult and discouraged in professional practice in order to avoid providing overreaching conclusions.


Fig.9 The claw hammer found at the scene.


Fig.10 VR images of the six standard views of the skull showing markedly comminuted and depressed fractures of the superior aspect of the occipital bone and predominantly right parietal bone. There were numerous wedge-shaped bone fragments caused by radiating and concentric fractures and associated linear fractures, which radiated anteriorly left and right.

The extensive distribution, nature, and size of the skull fractures indicated that the degree of force involved in the causation of many of the injuries (with reference to a force scale of mild, moderate, and severe) was severe. While much research has been undertaken on the degree of force required to cause skeletal trauma, it remains a controversial subject. It is possible that the hand and forearm injuries were caused in circumstances where the deceased attempted to defend himself from blunt-force injuries targeted at his head area. In a defensive pose the forearm is pronated so the medial aspect of the forearm is vulnerable. For this reason, defensive type injuries typically involve the ulna.

Postmortem CT showed extensively comminuted and depressed fractures of a large area of the superior aspect of the occipital bone and predominantly right parietal bone. There were numerous wedge-shaped bone fragments caused by radiating and concentric fractures (pond fractures). There were associated linear fractures that radiated anteriorly into the left temporal bone and anteriorly into the right frontal bone (superiorly) and temporal bone (inferiorly).

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This post is for educational purposes only and is nonprofit. Under Section 107 of the US Copyright Act of 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. OP is not a medical expert. No copyright infringement intended. This post does not encourage or glorify violence/harassment. Images might have been upscaled and enhanced. Text might have been shortened and simplified/reorganized for online view.

[Vixənn]

holy fuckity.
that's brutal as fuck.



Noice!

[Karma]

Geez. A LOT of hatred there.

[ride]

No "Stop - Hammer time" puns allowed in this thread.

[REVZZYBAN]

Damn, he took a beating.
I’ve heard of a dead blow hammer but that’s not what was meant.

[William May]

Originally Posted by ride

No "Stop - Hammer time" puns allowed in this thread.

So......

How's he doing?

[Cathedral]

old people suck balls, kill em' all