Criminal Poisoning (eBook)

Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys

III Trestrail John H. (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2007 | 2nd ed. 2007
XV, 181 Seiten
Humana Press (Verlag)
978-1-59745-256-4 (ISBN)

Infos

In this revised and expanded edition, leading forensic scientist John Trestrail offers a pioneering survey of all that is known about the use of poison as a weapon in murder. Topics range from the use of poisons in history and literature to convicting the poisoner in court, and include a review of the different types of poisons, techniques for crime scene investigation, and the critical essentials of the forensic autopsy. The author updates what is currently known about poisoners in general and their victims. The Appendix has been updated to include the more commonly used poisons, as well as the use of antifreeze as a poison.

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In this revised and expanded edition of his critically acclaimed Criminal Poisoning: Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys, leading forensic scientist John Trestrail offers a pioneering survey of all that is known about the use of poison as a weapon in murder. Topics range from the use of poisons in history and literature to convicting the poisoner in court, and include a review of the different types of poisons, techniques for crime scene investigation, and the critical essentials of the forensic autopsy. The author updates what is currently known about poisoners in general (psychological profile, types, and statistical analyses) and their victims (who gets poisoned, investigative considerations, and classic symptoms of poisoning). The Appendix has been updated to include the more commonly used poisons, as well as the use of antifreeze as a poison, to reflect some cases that have recently come to light.

Inhalt

PREFACE 8
CONTENTS 9
INTRODUCTION 13
1 Poisoners Throughout History 16
1.1. POISONS IN ANCIENT TIMES 16
1.2. POISONERS IN THE MODERN ERA 23
1.3. CONCLUSION 40
1.4. REFERENCES 41
1.5. SUGGESTED READING 42
2 Types of Poisons 43
2.1. DEFINITIONS 43
2.2. CHARACTERISTICS OF “ IDEAL” POISONS 45
2.3. CONTRASTS BETWEEN POISONS AND MORE TRADITIONAL WEAPONS 47
2.4. HOW DO POISONS KILL? 49
2.6. REFERENCES 59
2.7. SUGGESTED READING 60
3 Poisoners 61
3.1. TYPES OF POISONERS 61
3.2. MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT POISONERS 64
3.3. POISONER SCHEMATIC 64
3.4. POISONER’S THOUGHT PROCESS 66
3.5. “ PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE” OF POISONERS 67
3.6. PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF POISONERS 68
3.7. THE TOXICOMANIAC 68
3.8. THE MEDICAL MURDERER 68
3.9. THE JUVENILE TAMPERER As POISONER 69
3.10. THE TERRORIST POISONER 70
3.11. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF HOMICIDAL POISONINGS 70
3.12. REFERENCES 75
3.13. SUGGESTED READING 76
4 Victims 77
4.1. WHO GETS POISONED? 77
4.2. INVESTIGATIVE CONSIDERATIONS 79
4.3. DISTINCTIVE PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS 79
4.4. CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF POISONING 79
4.5. REFERENCES 81
4.6. SUGGESTED READING 81
5 Crime Scene Investigation 82
5.1. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 84
5.2. INVESTIGATIVE CONSIDERATIONS 84
5.3. SEARCH WARRANTS 85
5.4. POISONING DEATHS COMPARED WITH OTHER TYPES OF VIOLENT DEATHS 85
5.5. INVESTIGATING A CRIMINAL POISONING 86
5.6. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 87
5.7. HOW DID THE POISON GET IN THE PATIENT? 92
5.8. REFERENCES 93
5.9. SUGGESTED READING 94
6 The Forensic Autopsy 95
6.1. THE AUTOPSY 95
6.2. POSTMORTEM REDISTRIBUTION —“ NECRO- KINETICS” 95
6.3. ANALYTICAL GUIDELINES 97
6.4. REFERENCES 98
6.5. SUGGESTED READING 98
7 Proving Poisoning 99
7.1. KEY ELEMENTS TO BE PROVEN 100
7.2. STATISTICAL ANALYSES OF POISONINGS IN THE UNITED STATES 101
7.3. REFERENCES 102
7.4. SUGGESTED READING 102
8 Poisoners in Court 103
8.1. BATTERY BY POISON 103
8.2. STANDARD DEFENSE ARGUMENTS 104
8.3. PROBLEMS IN PROVING INTENTIONAL POISONING 106
8.4. REFERENCE 107
8.5. SUGGESTED READING 107
9 Poisoning in Fiction 108
9.1. POISONS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN BOOKS AND FILMS 108
9.2. SUGGESTED READING 111
10 Conclusion 113
Appendix: Some Common Homicidal Poisons 120
ANTIFREEZE ( METHANOL [ CH3- OH], 120
ETHYLENE GLYCOL [ HO- CH2- CH2- OH]) 120
ARSENIC 123
BOTULINUS 125
CYANIDE 127
SODIUM FLUOROACETATE 129
STRYCHNINE 131
THALLIUM 133
REFERENCES 135
SUGGESTED READING 135
Bibliographies 136
ANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY 136
POISONING 138
FICTION 138
FORENSIC POISONING 140
POISONERS THROUGHOUT HISTORY 154
Index 177

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 28.10.2007
• Reihe/Serie: Forensic Science and Medicine
• Reihe/Serie: Forensic Science and Medicine
• Zusatzinfo: XV, 181 p.
• Verlagsort: Totowa
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Medizinische Fachgebiete
• Themenwelt: Studium ► 2. Studienabschnitt (Klinik) ► Rechtsmedizin
• Themenwelt: Recht / Steuern ► Strafrecht ► Kriminologie
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften
• Schlagworte: Autopsy • Crime scene investigation • Ethanol • Forensic toxicology • Murder • Poison
• ISBN-10: 1-59745-256-4 / 1597452564
• ISBN-13: 978-1-59745-256-4 / 9781597452564