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Faller-Marquardt M, Ropohl D, Pollak S. Excoriations and contusions of the skin as artefacts in fictitious sexual offences. J Clin Forensic Med. 1995;2(3):129-35doi: 10.1016/1353-1131(95)90080-2.
Faller-Marquardt, M., Ropohl, D., & Pollak, S. (1995). Excoriations and contusions of the skin as artefacts in fictitious sexual offences. Journal of clinical forensic medicine, 2(3), 129-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/1353-1131(95)90080-2
Faller-Marquardt, M, et al. "Excoriations and contusions of the skin as artefacts in fictitious sexual offences." Journal of clinical forensic medicine vol. 2,3 (1995): 129-35. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/1353-1131(95)90080-2
Faller-Marquardt M, Ropohl D, Pollak S. Excoriations and contusions of the skin as artefacts in fictitious sexual offences. J Clin Forensic Med. 1995 Sep;2(3):129-35. doi: 10.1016/1353-1131(95)90080-2. PMID: 15335642.
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J Clin Forensic Med. 1995 Sep;2(3):129-35. doi: 10.1016/1353-1131(95)90080-2.

Excoriations and contusions of the skin as artefacts in fictitious sexual offences.

Journal of clinical forensic medicine

M Faller-Marquardt, D Ropohl, S Pollak

Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Freiburg/Br., Germany.

PMID: 15335642 DOI: 10.1016/1353-1131(95)90080-2

Abstract

Some women reporting a sexual offence to the police inflict injuries on themselves, usually with the help of pointed and/or cutting tools, in order to make fictitious assaults more credible. If there is a classical pattern of the findings, such fictitious assaults are easier to identify. However, it is more difficult to distinguish genuine from fictitious injuries, if blunt force is used. This paper reports on 4 such cases, and the characteristics of self-inflicted excoriations and skin contusions are discussed. In the cases described, the excoriations were produced by scratching with the person's own fingernails or by rubbing the skin against a rough surface; contusion bleeding was caused by pinching (lifting and compressing skin folds with the fingers). The pattern of the injuries showed striking parallels to classical patterns: multiple lesions in grouped, parallel and symmetrical arrangement and of evenly minor intensity; preference of body regions within easy reach; no damage of the clothing, or if any, damage inconsistent with the injuries as described.

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