Contents and medico-legal aspects of suicide notes: Turkey sample

Abstract

This research is aimed to examine how mental state of suicide victims effect the handwriting and content of suicide notes. To achieve mentioned objective, 32 notes from confirmed suicide cases and 32 control samples were examined by using Olympus X-Tr stereomicroscope and gained data evaluated statistically. While the number of tapered ends does not significantly differ between suicide notes and controls, the frequency of angularity and tremor is significantly increased in suicide notes. A handwriting examination to confirm that the note is written in the victim's own handwriting is essential to determine the manner of death.