Impact of postmortem decomposition and secondary trauma on the preservation of tool marks in bone and cartilage

Medha K N; Sugith Kumar

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.64319

Impact of postmortem decomposition and secondary trauma on the preservation of tool marks in bone and cartilage

Author(s)	Ms. Medha K N, Mr. Sugith Kumar
Country	India
Abstract	Marks left by tools on bone and cartilage provide essential forensic evidence in cases of homicide, revealing details about the weapons involved and the sequence of the assault. However, changes occurring after death, including natural decay and additional damage from factors such as heat exposure, water submersion, animal activity, autopsy procedures, and improper handling, often alter these marks by blurring fine scratches, changing cut widths, and creating misleading patterns that reduce their reliability for analysis and court decisions. This legal review identifies a significant gap in current scholarship: while forensic studies explain the formation of such marks in detail, few analyses connect patterns of post-death alteration to legal standards for evidence acceptance, particularly in light of India's recent criminal laws such as the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Relying solely on statutes, landmark cases including State of Maharashtra v. Suresh (2001) and Selvi v. State of Karnataka (2010), established guidelines from NIJ and OSAC, and micro-CT imaging mechanism, this study-based examination avoids original data collection. Results show the Indian courts' heavy dependence on expert opinions without specific measures for degraded evidence, in contrast to reliability requirements under Daubert in global jurisprudence. Recommendations include required initial 3D imaging, clear protocols for identifying false marks, adapted reliability tests, training for judges in bone forensics, and updates to BNSS for decay assessments. These steps would improve evidence strength, prevent errors in interpretation, lower risks of unjust verdicts, and bring Indian practices in line with international norms, securing the value of bone evidence in criminal trials.
Keywords	Tool marks, taphonomy, postmortem decomposition, forensic anthropology, evidentiary admissibility
Field	Sociology > Administration / Law / Management
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On	2025-12-28
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.64319

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Impact of postmortem decomposition and secondary trauma on the preservation of tool marks in bone and cartilage

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