A cross sectional study of case and injury characteristics in domestic and family violence patients reporting nonfatal strangulation to forensic practitioners in Victoria, Australia

Reena Sarkar; Maaike Moller; Lyndal Bugeja

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112533

A cross sectional study of case and injury characteristics in domestic and family violence patients reporting nonfatal strangulation to forensic practitioners in Victoria, Australia

Forensic Sci Int. 2025 Jun 20:374:112533. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112533. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Reena Sarkar¹, Maaike Moller², Lyndal Bugeja³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Clinical Forensic Medicine, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: reena.sarkar1@monash.edu.
² Clinical Forensic Medicine, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Victoria, Australia.
³ Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 40580914
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112533

Abstract

This Australian study examined the frequency and clinical signs of neck injury among domestic and family violence (DFV) patients reporting strangulation in Victorian police regions and the forensic service response during a physical and/or sexual assault. The study compared the characteristics between patients with/without clinical signs of neck injury and between physical and sexual assault where a forensic practitioner performed a medical examination. Of 522 eligible patients of physical and/or sexual assault, 84 (16 %) self-reported strangulation. Amongst the 84 patients, 63 had complete forensic examination data. Of the 63 examinations, 38 were for physical assaults and 25 for sexual assaults. Observable neck injury was reported in 75 %. About half of the patients undergoing forensic examinations displayed neck injuries specific to non-fatal strangulation. Danger-to-life assessment, substance abuse, comorbidities, and previous domestic violence were comprehensively reported. This study suggests that observable neck injuries are associated with self-reported strangulation. The findings will inform policy, and response services, about the features of nonfatal strangulation in DFV in Victoria.

Keywords: Family violence; Forensic practitioner; Injury; Nonfatal strangulation.