In the postmortem
report of Albert Ojwang, who died under controversial circumstances
while in police custody, the term appears as a key finding.
Government
pathologist Bernard Midia, in his report, stated that Ojwanga was
assaulted and suffered multiple body injuries.
“As a result of my
examination, I formed the opinion that the cause of death was head
injury due to blunt force trauma and neck compression,” the report
states in part.
Midia insisted that Ojwang did not hit himself on the wall
contradicting a police report on Sunday which said he hit his head on
the wall of a cell at Central Police Station.
“When we examined…the pattern of the injury, especially on the
trauma I found on the head…hitting against a blunt substance like a
wall would have a pattern,” he said.
Midia said that in the event of one hitting themselves on a wall,
frontal bleeding on the head would be seen.
What is blunt force
trauma?
Blunt force trauma
refers to injuries caused by impact with a solid, non-penetrating
object.
Unlike cuts or stab
wounds from sharp instruments, blunt force trauma does not break the
skin but can severely injure tissue, bones, and internal organs.
It is common in
accidents like falls and car crashes, but also in cases of assault or
excessive physical force.
The injury results
from the body absorbing a sudden force, such as being hit, kicked, or
slammed against a surface.
This impact
transfers kinetic energy to internal structures, often causing damage
that may not be visible externally.
According to the
National Centre for Biotechnology Information, trauma is the leading
cause of morbidity and mortality in patients under 35-years of age.
It is listed as the
sixth leading cause of death worldwide.
Types of injuries
caused by blunt force trauma
Depending on the
force and part of the body affected, blunt force trauma can lead to a
range of injuries, including contusions or bruises where blood
vessels rupture under the skin, leading to discoloration and
swelling.
It can also lead to
abrasions, a situation where the skin is scraped off through friction
against a rough surface, lacerations which is the tearing of the skin
and tissue from forceful impacts and bone fractures caused by direct
or indirect trauma.
Others are internal
bleeding which caused damage to blood vessels leading to hidden but
life-threatening hemorrhaging, strikes to the abdomen or chest can
rupture organs like the liver or spleen and head trauma which may
result in concussions, skull fractures, or brain swelling and
hemorrhage.
Why it matters in a
postmortem
When blunt force
trauma is listed as a cause of death in a postmortem, it typically
indicates that the victim sustained fatal injuries through repeated
impact or force.
It helps forensic
experts assess the manner of death, whether it was accidental,
self-inflicted, or a result of violence and the nature of the
incident, including whether it aligns with eyewitness or official
accounts.
It also helps in
terms of accountability, especially in cases involving state custody
or possible human rights violations.
In legal and human
rights contexts, findings like these can influence criminal
prosecutions and determine if there was a cover-up or excessive use
of force.
The larger
implication
In forensic
investigations, blunt force trauma can be a key indicator of assault
or foul play.
It helps determine
the cause and manner of death whether it was it accidental, was it
self-inflicted or was it the result of violence by another person?
