Autopsy Findings Involving Murderous Intent: Comparison between Positive and Negative Murderous Intent Cases in Japan

The presence or absence of murderous intent is an important fact during criminal trials. To verify autopsy findings that were considered as evidence of murderous intent, we compared autopsy findings in homicide cases committed with and without murderous intent (n = 12 and n = 11, respectively). Although the number of wounds may only be limited to one or two, stab wounds on the trunk of the body from a sharp instrument can be a significant evidence of murderous intent. Bruise or petechial haemorrhage at the back or limbs caused by blunt instruments or without any weapons do not indicate the presence of murderous intent. Although results in this study should be carefully interpreted in other jurisdictions, statistical analysis comparing cases with and without murderous intents might be a valuable methodology to understand autopsy findings involving murderous intent in Japan.