C BIGOT

Homicide may be an isolated impulsive act arising from a situation or based on a previous conception, which is premeditation. Despite its nature or motivations, homicide remains a wrongful criminal act at all times and in all places. Several studies conducted in Western countries on this topic have highlighted the overriding concern of the criminal, which includes concealing the criminal offence in most cases.In Africa, apart from cases of infanticide, the discovery of the body of a homicide victim in a public place is a relatively common phenomenon, particularly if it involves mutilation.The body was examined; it was a young adult African female whose corpse was wrapped in a plastic bag. The autopsy established that the section or cutting planes were preferably lodged in the large joints.Death was caused by mechanical asphyxia. The focus of this case lies in the atypical nature of this type of postmortem manipulation in the West African context.The unusual nature of this type of homicide illustrates and underscores some reality in our development context.   Keywords: Homicide, Dismemberment, Mechanical asphyxia, Forensic autopsy.

Introduction: This study aims to describe the clinical and forensic features of the cocaine body packer in Senegal. Materials and Methods: This research work is a retrospective and descriptive study. It was conducted based on 19 suspect cases attended for medical care at the Hospital of tambacounda. Results: Suspects were exclusively male subjects, aged 24 to 33 years and Nigerian citizens. All of them were asymptomatic. Pelvic touch was positive in 42.1% of cases. Abdominal radiography pointed out that all the suspects presented with damage (100%). The average number of drug pellets carried per person was 43+/- 20 units. Conclusion: Body drug packing is a reality in Senegal. Narcotic drug policies should invest in capacity building by financing effective diagnostic tools. Keywords: Body packing, Drug smuggling, clinical forensic medicine, Cocaine, Senegal

The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiological, forensic and judicial aspects of physical abuse in Abomey-Calavi (Republic of Benin). This retrospective study covered the period from 2015 to 2018. It covered all the cases of voluntary assaults tried in Abomey-Calavi court. The study included a total of 450 physical assault cases. The victims were mostly young men (58.7%) with a mean age of 31 years. The offenders had a similar profile. They were mostly young men with a mean age of 32 years. The assailants were mostly alone (86, 2%) and unarmed (56, 1%). Domestic violence frequency was 8.845%. The most frequent lesions were wound (63.1%) and bruise (51.4%). The mean duration of the total impairment was 5.8 days. Physical violence is the consequence of permanent tensions in urban area. It reflects a social imbalance. Violence management policies need to focus on prevention. Keywords: Physical violence, Forensic medicine, Total incapacity to work, Benin republic.

Introduction: Hanging is one of the most common methods of suicide. It can also be used to conceal a crime. Thus, it is important to systematically have a forensic autopsy performed in cases of hanging. Only that examination can determine the actual forensic form of the death. At the national level, there is no epidemiological data on suicide by hanging in Benin. Aims: This study aims to describe the epidemiological and forensic features observed in the cases of suicide by hanging in Benin. Material and Methods: This is a descriptive and retrospective study of all the suicidal deaths by hanging collated in the Forensic & Legal Medicine Unit of the Faculty of Health Sciences (UML_FSS) for a period of 12 years, 2005–2017, in Benin. Result: Suicides by hanging accounted for 8.3% of the cases of suspicious deaths autopsied in the south and center of Benin. Males represented 85.9% of the corpses, and most individuals were under 40 years old (62.0%). Hangings were complete in 65.4% of the cases. The material used most often for hanging (28.7% of cases) was nylon rope. Subcutaneous hemorrhages (46.2%) and ecchymosis in the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscles (61.3%) were the most common finding at the neck dissection. Conclusion: Hanging is a common method of suicide, especially among young men. In Benin, it occurs behind closed doors and by means of tools used in everyday life. Forensic autopsies, however, remain infrequent in cases of suicides. Keywords: Hanging, Suicide, Autopsy, Benin.

Energy drinks have been around for a long time, but they have only just become popular in the markets in the last few years. This is a case report on a fatal toxicity involving suicidal ingestion of a traditional energy drink called “Sukuday”. An autopsy of the corpse was done and revealed multi-organ congestion and the presence of spume in the respiratory tract. The toxicological analyses of a sample of sukuday revealed essentially alcans (C14-C31). C24 H38 O4 probably 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester also called (Diisooctyl phtalate, DIOP) was found at 22.8%, or the C16 H22 O4(1,2 Benzenedicarboxylic acid, mono (2 ethylhexyl)) ester also called (Mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, MEHP). Traces of oxycodone were detected and identified by UPLC DAD / UV and confirmed in GC-MS. A literature of the toxicity of such substances was discussed. This case report is a description of a problem which becomes a public health problem. Keywords: Sukuday, Fatal toxicity, Autopsy, Oxycodone, Alcans.

Introduction: Corpse identification is a major concern in forensic medicine. This study aimed to determine the frequency of cases of unidentified corpse discovery in the city of Cotonou and describe the procedure related to their judicial management. Material and Methods: This research work was a case control study conducted in the largest public funeral home in the city of Cotonou. Data were analyzed using the software Epi-info. Results: During the time period of study, unidentified corpses accounted for 1.27% of the dead bodies admitted to the funeral home. In 70.4% of cases, corpses were those of men. To identify corpses, a judicial inquiry was initiated in 51.5% of cases. Only 8.8% of corpses were officially sealed and only 3.0% of corpses underwent a forensic autopsy. Conclusion: Those results suggest that very little has been done to enable the restitution of mortal remains to families. Keywords: Unknown dead body, Medical identification, Forensic autopsy.

In republic of Benin, rape is a crime for which the law provides harsh penalties. The perpetrators of that form of crime are tried in the courts of appeal by special jurisdictions: the criminal courts. We conducted a case control study on 127 cases of rape investigated and judged by the court of appeal of Cotonou from 2005 to 2015. This research work points out that victims are exclusively women and girls and that 62.2% of them are children under 13 years of age. As regards offenders, all of them are male subjects and young adults in 63.8% of cases. They were acquaintances of the victims in 68.5% of the cases; and they all confessed to the criminal action with which they were charged. The victims were subject to medical examination 7 times out of 10 without police requisition. Those medical consultations confirmed the presence of injuries caused by extra-genital violence in .9 of victims. Defloration signs were noted in 79.7% of the girls less than 13 years old. The populations and health professionals should be sensitized about victims’ identification and sociocultural conditions that may facilitate the commission of those crimes; it is an important action to be carried so as to ensure an efficient fight against sexual violence. Keywords: Sexual assault, Rape, Genital injuries, Forensic-medicine, Benin republic.

The fight against domestic violence is a key public health challenge. We carried out this epidemiological survey on domestic violence among 416 women living together as a couple in the city of Cotonou, and above 15 years of age. The data collected or gathered were sociodemographic and were related to acts of violence as well as medical care and judicial management procedures. In total, 77% of the women interviewed reported that they had been victims of one form of domestic violence over the past 12 months. Psychological violence was the predominant one. The prevalences of physical and sexual domestic violences were respectively 19 % and 17 %. Only 12% of cases of those violences motivated medical consultation. In addition, only one case was reported to the judicial authority. In Cotonou, the prevalence of domestic violence against women is high. However, a hypo-judicialization of its management i.e. low rate of its management by judicial institutions is noted. In order to improve women status and health, actions are required for the prevention and repression of violences exerted against them. Keywords: Domestic violence, Women, Cotonou