Demographic characteristics of homicidal cases in the forensic medicine and medicolegal department of Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital from 2014 to 2016

Homicide is a crime as old as the start of human civilization itself and one of the most serious crimes against human rights. Incidences of homicide are increasing worldwide, and homicide patterns are also undergoing changes due to various contributing factors. This paper aims to identify the characteristics and demography of homicide victims in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. This descriptive observational study was conducted using homicide victims' medical records from 2014 to 2016. Exclusion criterion was victim aged below 1 year. Data were collected using total population sampling and analyzed using Statistical Program for Social Sciences program version 17. Numerical data with normal distribution are presented in mean and standard deviation, whereas categorical data are presented in median and range. Data are also presented using charts and tables. Our results showed that there were 153 cases of homicide in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital from 2014 to 2016 that could be analyzed. Median age was 30 years, and the majority of victims were male (81.70% male, 17.65% female, 1 case unknown). Autopsies were performed in 116 cases (75.82%), and the leading cause of death was sharp force injury (60.87%) followed by blunt force injury (36.52%). While victim of homicide cases in all categories overall were male, asphyxia/strangulation homicide victims were more frequently female (9 versus 6 victims). In all of the cases with sharp force injuries on chest, 40.63% were open wound in the pericardial sac, whereas in all of the cases with sharp force injuries on the back, 40.54% were open wound in the left lung. Our analysis concluded that homicide victims in this hospital were mostly males from 26 to 35 years old. The most common cause of death in this study was sharp force injury on the back that penetrated body cavities.