ABSTRACT
The scene where a body is discovered is often referred to as the “crime scene” and to give the location such a designation is appropriate, but it should be understood that where a body is found may not be where death occurred or where the incident or crime occurred which led to death. Physical activity after a stabbing which proves to be fatal, including injury to the heart or great vessels, is common and there are many examples of walking or running away following an assault, or even to carry on engaging with the assailant for some time before collapsing and dying. A scene in which the deceased is discovered and has sustained sharp force wounds is usually associated with significant blood on and around the body and requiring careful assessment of the quantity and the distribution of the blood together with other scene findings to assist in attempting to reconstruct the events leading to death.
