W. Keil

Identification of the skeletal remains of Martin Bormann by mtDNA analysis.

Abstract Contrary to statements of an eye-witness who reported that Martin Bormann, the second most powerful man in the Third Reich, died on 2 May 1945 in Berlin, rumours persisted over the years that he had escaped from Germany after World War II. In 1972, skeletal remains were found during construction work, and by investigating the teeth and the bones experts concluded that they were from Bormann. Nevertheless, new rumours arose and in order to end this speculation we were commissioned to identify the skeletal remains by mitochondrial DNA analysis. The comparison of the sequence of HV1 and HV2 from the skeletal remains and a living maternal relative of Martin Bormann revealed no differences and this sequence was not found in 1500 Caucasoid reference sequences. Based on this investigation, we support the hypothesis that the skeletal remains are those of Martin Bormann.

The German Stain Commission: recommendations for the interpretation of mixed stains

In the course of forensic DNA analysis, the interpretation of DNA profiles of mixed stains, i.e. cell material from more than a single donor, has become increasingly more important. The German Stain Commission, a joint commission of Institutes of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine, has therefore developed guidelines aiming to harmonize the evaluation of mixed stains in German criminal cases.

Deaths due to physical restraint.

BACKGROUND Physical restraint is used primarily for patients at risk of falling, those with motor unrest and agitated behavior, and those who manifest an intention of doing harm to themselves or are at risk of suicide. The use of freedom-restraining measures (FRM), and, in particular, the use of physical restraints against the patients will, can be a serious intrusion of basic human rights and, as such, an act of violence against the patient. The improper use of physical restraints can cause injuries of varying severity, which can sometimes be fatal. METHODS We analyzed all cases of death under physical restraint that were recorded in the autopsy reports of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Munich from 1997 to 2010. RESULTS Among the 27 353 autopsies conducted over the period of the study, there were 26 cases of death while the individual was physically restrained. Three of these cases involved patients who died of natural causes while restrained, and one was a suicide. The remaining 22 deaths were caused solely by physical restraint; all of them occurred in patients under nursing care who were not continuously observed. The immediate cause of death was strangulation (11 cases), chest compression (8 cases), or dangling in the head-down position (3 cases). In 19 of these 22 patients, the restraints were incorrectly fastened, including two cases in which improvised non-standard restraints were used. One nursing-home patient died because of an abdominal restraint even though it had been correctly applied: She was mobile enough to slip through the restraint till it compressed her neck, and then unable to extricate herself from it, so that she died of strangulation. CONCLUSION To prevent such deaths, we recommend from a forensic medical standpoint that all possible alternatives to FRM should be used instead. If direct-contact restraints are truly necessary, they must be applied as recommended and the restrained person must be closely observed.

Evaluation of MHS-5 in detecting seminal fluid in vaginal swabs

Vaginal swabs taken in 211 cases of alleged sexual assault were examined for seminal vesicle-specific antigen (SVSA) using an MHS-5-ELISA (SEMA kit). The results were compared with those obtained by sperm detection by means of light microscopy and the acid phosphatase reaction (ACP), using Phosphatesmo-KM papers. Especially in fresher samples (duration of storage between 10 days and 2 1/2 months), a high degree of correlation was observed between the results of light microscopic and MHS-5 methods. Several cases with positive MHS-5 showed concurrent positive ACP reactions, even though no spermatozoa had been seen microscopically. The results are displayed in the light of time elapsed between the alleged assault and examination of the swabs. The longest time span after the alleged assault in which MHS-5 yielded a positive result was 47 h; in this case spermatozoa were also seen microscopically. SVSA is not totally stable in vaginal swabs stored over long (9 months to 5 1/2 years) periods of time. Furthermore, results in eight penile swabs are reported. MHS-5 is a useful tool for medico-forensic semen detection in vaginal swabs, probably even in cases of azoospermia or aspermia.

Evaluation and application of the AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus PCR amplification kit in a Bavarian population sample

Abstract Allele frequencies for the nine tetrameric STR loci D3S1358, VWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317 and D7S820 were determined in a population sample of 155 unrelated Bavarians using the AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus PCR amplification kit. No deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed. The influence of the PCR cycle number as well as the template DNA concentration on the performance of the kit was studied. DNA concentrations lower than 75 pg DNA per 25 μl reaction volume resulted in allelic drop-out.

Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in a population sample from Bavaria.

Abstract The seven Y-chromosomal STRs DYS19, DYS385 I/II, DYS389 I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393 were amplified using two multiplex PCRs. The optimization of the PCR conditions led to reliable and sensitive systems. Co-amplification of the amelogenin locus was possible in both multiplex systems. In a population sample of 151 Bavarian males, a gene diversity of 0.99 was observed. Sensitivity studies revealed a detection limit of 50 pg DNA per 25 μl reaction volume. PCR experiments with combinations of male/male and male/female DNA showed that in male/male mixtures, the minor component could be detected up to a ratio of 1:15, whereas in male/female mixtures the male component could be found in a higher ratio up to 1: 60.

Characterization of haemorrhages at the origin of the sternocleidomastoid muscles in hanging

Haemorrhages at the periostal-clavicular origin of the sternocleidomastoid muscles were found in 52 out of 54 cases of death by hanging. This cervical haemorrhage is most frequently found in death by hanging, but only seldomly seen in other causes of death and can therefore be regarded as being typical for death by hanging. The frequency of this finding on the side of the highest point of the ligature mark is significantly higher, thereby supporting the hypothesis of extension as the causative mechanism. External cardiac massage and assisted breathing have no influence on the occurrence of haemorrhages. Histology shows the haemorrhages to be mainly directly epiperiostal, however, many cases displayed concurrent sub- and intraperiostal extravasations. Artificial post mortem production of these findings is discussed in the light of the literature.

Allgemeine Empfehlungen der Spurenkommission zur Bewertung von DNA-Mischspuren

ZusammenfassungDie in der forensischen DNA-Analytik auftretenden Mischspuren, also beim Nachweis von Zellmaterial von mehr als einer einzelnen Person, weisen eine zunehmende Bedeutung auf, wohingegen die biostatistische Bewertung bislang durch keine Empfehlungen von Expertenkommissionen geregelt war. Daher hat die Spurenkommission, eine gemeinsame Kommission rechtsmedizinischer und kriminaltechnischer Institute, auf der Basis von veröffentlichten biostatistischen Verfahren eigene Empfehlungen für den deutschsprachigen Raum entwickelt, um die Bewertung im Strafverfahren zu vereinheitlichen.AbstractIn the course of forensic DNA analysis mixed stains, i.e. cell material from more than a single donor, have become increasingly important. The German Stain Commission, a joint commission of Institutes for Forensic Science and Legal Medicine, has therefore developed guidelines aiming to harmonize the evaluation of mixed stains in German criminal cases.

Allgemeine Empfehlungen der Spurenkommission zur statistischen Bewertung von DNA-Datenbank-Treffern

ZusammenfassungRecherchen in der deutschen DNA-Analyse-Datei (DAD) sind ein sehr erfolgreiches Werkzeug zur Ermittlung von Tatverdächtigen in Hinsicht auf die Frage, ob diese als Spurenleger einer bisher nichtzugeordneten Tatortspur in Betracht kommen. Im Zusammenhang mit derartigen Datenbanktreffern wird oftmals ein Treffergutachten angefordert, in dem eine biostatistische Beurteilung des Datenbanktreffers vorgenommen werden soll. Die Frage, ob und in welchem Umfang bei derartigen Gutachtenaufträgen auch die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines „zufälligen“ Datenbanktreffers unter Einbeziehung der Datenbankgröße in die Bewertung einfließen muss, ist Gegenstand der vorliegenden Empfehlungen der Spurenkommission. Es wird dargelegt, dass ein um die Anzahl der Personen in der Datenbank korrigierter Wert und nicht allein die Häufigkeit der Merkmalskombination in der Population der eigentlich relevante Parameter bei der Bewertung eines Datenbanktreffers ist. Anhand von einfachen Fallbeispielen und theoretischen Überlegungen wird ein statistisches Konzept vorgestellt, welches eine Überschätzung des Beweiswertes eines Datenbanktreffers im Einzelfall vermeidet.AbstractSpeculative searches in a National DNA database using DNA profiles from unsolved crime cases are a powerful tool to identify individuals who cannot be excluded from being contributors of these DNA profiles, and thus may be considered suspects in these cases. When a crime scene profile is matching a person’s profile following a database search, a statistical evaluation of the weight of evidence of this database match is often requested by the investigating authorities. The German Stain Commission has developed recommendations how to adequately take into account the probability of an adventitious match on the background of the database size. Following these recommendations, the relevant match probability can be derived from the frequency of the DNA profile corrected by the actual number of persons in the database. Based on theoretical considerations and using simple examples, a statistical concept is described that allows to calculate either a match probability or a likelihood ratio without overestimating the weight of evidence following a database search.

The detection of petechial haemorrhages of the conjunctivae in dependency on the postmortem interval

Petechial haemorrhages of the conjunctivae are not specific for lethal throttling or strangulation, but they belong to the important indicators for such mechanisms. In experimental models it is shown that petechial bleedings of the conjunctivae disappear with the occurrence of advanced signs of putrefaction or in cases of fresh-water logging. Therefore, it must be emphasized that the lack of petechial haemorrhages in putrefied or fresh-water-logged corpses is of very restricted meaning for the examination, whether throttling or strangulation has taken place or not, and the autopsy should always be performed in these cases with special regard to the neck.