A cadaver is brought with a deep incised wound over the anterior neck crossing the midline, with the wound being deepest on the left side, with both walls of the wound vertical and without bridging strands. The most likely hand used by the assailant (who is right-handed and facing the victim) and the nature of the wound is:

• A Right-handed assailant facing the victim — the deeper beginning on the victim's left corresponds to the assailant's right hand starting the stroke ✓
• B Right-handed, self-inflicted suicidal slash — the deeper end on left is typical of right-handed self-infliction
• C Left-handed assailant — the wound runs in the typical direction for a left-handed person
• D Cannot be determined from incised wound morphology alone

Explanation

In an incised wound (cut throat) inflicted by an assailant facing the victim, a right-handed assailant draws the knife from left to right (from the victim's perspective), so the wound begins on the victim's LEFT side (where the blade is deeper — the 'commencement' of the stroke) and becomes shallower to the victim's right. The vertical walls without bridging strands and absence of hesitation marks distinguish a homicidal incised wound from a self-inflicted one. In suicidal cut throat, the wound is typically on the same side as the dominant hand, shallower at start with multiple hesitation cuts, and located higher in the neck.

Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.