Output details

How sharp is sharp? Towards quantification of the sharpness and penetration ability of kitchen knives used in stabbings

Stabbing is a complex event in which the relative movement of the knife and victim, the victim's clothing, the sharpness of the weapon, the speed and angle of attack and the properties of the victim's skin (orientation, age, hydration level) all contribute. For the legal system, the courts need to establish the level of force required to create a particular injury which gives an indication of the intent of the attack. This paper is the only systematic approach to confronting the problem of stabbing in a field which traditionally lacks rigour. The work has contributed to over 30 cases.