Shootings rank third in murder methods

Shootings rank third in murder methods

JAKARTA (JP): Shootings ranked third in the commonest methods
of murder in the city during 1995, says a noted forensic doctor.

Most victims were killed by sharp weapons, such as knives,
while the second most common murder method was by blunt objects,
such as wood or steel bars, Abdul Mun'im Idris said.

The number of fatal shootings last year is believed to be
slightly less than that of 1994. "But still gun shot incidents
need serious attention from all of us," Mun'im told The Jakarta
Post yesterday.

Mun'im, who is also an official at the police forensic unit,
said the number of gun shot victims was slightly lower than in
1994 when it ranked second after killings with sharp weapons.

"The number of gun shot victims ranked second in 1994," said
the forensic scientist.

In 1994, murder victims totaled about 500 people, he
explained.

Data

According to data released by the Forensic Science Department
of the University of Indonesia's Medical Faculty here yesterday,
the number of fatal shootings last year was 67 people, including
a woman.

The number was 15 percent of the 446 people killed who were
examined by the forensic unit in 1995.

Out of 446 people sent for autopsy at the department last
year, 180 people or 40 percent were found to be killed by sharp
instruments and 140 or 31 percent were murdered by blunt objects.

The remaining 59 were killed by strangulation.

Out of the 2,778 victims examined at the forensic department
last year, 1,347 people, almost half of the figure, died in
traffic and railway accidents.

Some 118 people, including 48 women, committed suicide.

During the year, 413 people died by other causes, such as
being struck by lightning, drowning and electrocution.

According to Mun'im, most causes of death can easily be
identified by the forensic experts thanks to increasing
cooperation with city police.

"It was hard to work with them in the past but now things have
changed. We receive priority in entering scenes of crimes," he
said.

Thus, the forensic people can usually identify causes of death
quickly which helps detectives solve cases quickly. (bsr)