Hanging and its types

It is the form of asphyxia in which the body issuspended wholly or partially with a ligature round the neck which causesconstriction of the air passage preventing exchange of air between theatmosphere and the alveoli of the lungs, the constriction force being theweight of the body.

Hanging

Types of hanging:

• Atypical hanging and
• Typical hanging

Difference suicidal and homicidal hanging are givenbellow-

Traits	Suicidal hanging	Homicidal hanging
1.      Age	More common adolescent and adults. Children bellow the age of ten or adults above 50 rarely commit suicide by hanging.	No age limitation
2.      Ligature mark	Oblique, non-continuous, circular, and high up in the neck.	Usually transversely continuous and low down in the neck.
3.      Knot	Usually one slip knot is found.	Usually more than one (farm knot).
4.      Design	History of previous unsuccessful attempts to commit suicide.	No previous history to commit suicide.
5.      Injuries	In the body contraindicate suicide	Presence of injuries is in favour of it.
6.      Poison	No evidence of poison	Might be evidence of poison associated with marks of violence or signs of struggle.
7.      State of hands or legs	If found tied contraindicates suicide	If found tied, it is always in favour of homicide.
8.      Access-liability	The point of hanging must be accessible to the victim or there must be means to reach the point.	The point of hanging is quite inaccessible of the means reaching the point would be missing or absent.
9.      Place of occurrence	The room is found closed from inside – indicate suicide.	If the room is open or locked from outside- indicate homicide.
10.  Sign of struggle	Absent.	Present, except when the victim was asleep, unconscious or mere a child.