DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE - Hillsborough ...

DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE
GUY’S HOSPITAL
(UNIVERSITY OF LONDON)
Dr. I.E. WEST, M-B.. OvB.. FR.C.PaUi.. D.MJ.
Dr. R.T. SHEPHERD B.Sc., MJ8.. B.S.. M.R.C.Pa(h.. D.MJ.
Direct Telephone Lme 071 -107 0378 / 071 -,103 1118)
(fix: 071 -103 7292)
UNITED MEDICAL ANT) DENTAL SCHOOLS
GUYS AND ST. THOMAS S HOSPITAL,
LONDON BRIDGE. SE1 9RT
TELEPHONE: 071-955 5000 Ext: 3118/3119
movement. Without the post mortem photographs I am not clear as to
why Dr. Slater feels that there has been intensive blunt compression
of the right side of his face.
5. Kevin Williams - Was examined by Dr. Slater who describes the
external features of classic traumatic asphyxia with cyanosis of the
face extending onto the chest with numerous petechial and larger
haemorrhages on the face and neck. He found bilateral fractures of
the hyoid bone and of the superior horns of the thyroid cartilage
on both sides of the larynx. These appear related to a number of
linear abrasions over the front of his neck and on the undersurfac®
of the chin. There appears to have been local pressure to his neck.
It was possible that when he was crushed in the crowd, the front of
his neck, vas pushed against some rigid structure. It is also
possible that, for instance, he could have been trodden an during
the panic subsequent to the incident occurring.
P . 0 6
*1 do not believe it is possible to say how long consciousness would
" have been retained but he^ certainly would noc have become
unconscious between 3 and 5 seconds of being crushed. Again I would j
not agree with Dr. Slater in estimating how long the deceased would yj
have survived. Although he-has suffered injuiies to the neck these
are by no means invariably fatal and can be seen in those surviving
strangulation and quite striking signs of classic traumatic asphyxia
can be seen in individuals who survive crush incidents because they j/<
are removed frow danger in tiiae to prevent death- As I have already VIJI
indicated he could veil have survived for a considerable period,/tI
well beyond 3.15 pm.
He suffered convulsions as the result of anoxic brain damage.
Whether Mr. Brooder saw convulsions or twitching is irrelevant.
A dead body neither convulses or twitches. Dr. Gompert’s point that
bodies may twitch after brain stem death has taken place is, of
course, correct and to some degree reflects the dilemma over
precisely defining death. One sees it in individuals who are
maintained on a respirator but whose heart is still functioning.
One also may see it during the process of dying as the heart is
stopping and for a very short period after the heart stops. This
phenomenon only occurs for a very short, period after death unless
muscles are electrically stimulated. Twitching movements, however,
suggest that one is much inore likely to be dealing with a live body
than with a dead one.
The evidence of Special Constable Martin is difficult to refute in
some respects. Whilst it is possible for an individual examining a
dead body to mistakenly feel an apparent pulse it is usually
difficult to be mistaken over whether somebody is making breathing