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The method previously used to assess the decomposition of corpses is based on the South African model, the University of Bern announced on Wednesday. The researchers wanted to find out exactly how decomposition occurs under Swiss conditions. The results were published in the “Journal of Forensic Sciences”.
According to the University of Bern, such experiments on human corpses are possible in some places, but not in most countries. Therefore, pig carcasses were used. “Although the decomposition of humans and pigs differs in many ways, important information can still be obtained from such experiments that could improve forensic methods,” said study leader Sandra Lösch, according to the statement.
For their study, they placed six pig carcasses in a forest in Krauchthal BE in June 2021 and observed how the carcasses decomposed until November of the same year.
Therefore the South African model is not suitable for Switzerland. In this country, carcasses are colonized more quickly by fly maggots, which speeds up the process. Frequent rains and scavengers such as foxes also affected the decomposition process in Switzerland, the researchers showed in the study. In their experiments, they were able to describe the decomposition process in detail.
The University of Bern wrote that this ultimately significantly increases accuracy when calculating time of death. Such analyzes in nature are important from a forensic perspective: “Due to the natural conditions in Switzerland, we regularly deal with forensic cases that remain in nature for longer periods of time before being found,” said Lösch.
These include, for example, people falling to their deaths while hiking in the mountains in a remote area, only to be discovered years later.
(SDA)
Source : Blick
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