Suicide Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Suicide, including details on depression, causes, prevention, treatment, help.

Unusual self-electrocution simulating judicial electrocution by an adolescent.

Murty OP

Forensic Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. dropmurty@yahoo.co.in

Electrocution is one of the rarest modes of suicide. In this case, one school going adolescent committed suicide by electrocution using bare electric wire. This is a rare case of suicidal death by applying live wires around the wrists, simulating the act of judicial electrocution. He positioned himself on armed chair and placed the nude wire loops from a cable around both wrists and switched on the current by plugging in to nearest socket by foot. There were linear electric contact wounds completely encircling around the both wrists. In addition to these linear electric burns all around wrists, there were electrical burns over both hands. This death highlights the need of supervision and close watch on children for self-destructing activities and behavior. This case also highlights unusual method adopted by adolescent to end his life.

Published 3 June 2008 in Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 29(2): 167-9.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Suicide Research Today. All Rights Reserved.