Journal Published Online: 01 November 2001
Volume 46, Issue 6

Mobile Autopsy Teams in the Investigation of War Crimes in Kosovo 1999

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

On request of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the Danish-Swedish forensic teams worked in Kosovo during the summer and the fall of 1999. The teams worked mainly as “mobile teams” at sites with few graves. Only two larger sites were examined. Most of the bodies were buried separately. A few “multiple burial” graves were examined, but no mass graves were encountered. The main purpose of the autopsies was to establish the cause and manner of death. Identification was of less importance, but a majority of the bodies had been identified prior to the autopsy. A total of 308 bodies, mainly males, were examined. The age varied greatly with a mean age of 47 years. The most common cause of death was gun shot wounds and the most common manner of death was homicide.

Author Information

Sprogøe-Jakobsen, S
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
Eriksson, A
Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office, Pontiac, MI
Hougen, HP
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Knudsen, PJT
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
Leth, P
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus, Aarhus C, Denmark
Lynnerup, N
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Pages: 5
Price: $25.00
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Stock #: JFS15161J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15161J