Killing tools in mechanical asphyxia.

In homicidal deaths, many countries, including Jordan, used to differentiate between an intention to kill some person and whether or not this intention is preceded by premeditation or planning in advance. A retrospective review of 42 homicidal mechanical asphyxial deaths was carried out with special regard to the types of tools used and their impact on the intention and premeditation to kill. Two major causes of homicidal asphyxia-hand and ligature-accounted for 95% of the deaths (35.7% and 59.3%, respectively). Many of the victims of homicidal asphyxia were women (40.5%) and infants under the age of one year (26%). Most of the women were killed by their in-laws (24%). A sexual motive or unlawful sexual relationship outside the bonds of marriage was proven in 14 out of 17 adult female victims. This suggests how difficult it can be to support a criminal charge in cases of mechanical asphyxial deaths.