--دم گھٹنا --تعریف ۔ ----دم گھٹنے کی وجہ سے مرنے والوں کی ظاہری شکل کی وضاحت کی گئی ۔ ----دم گھٹنے کی وجہ سے مرنے والوں کی ظاہری شکل کی وضاحت کی گئی ۔ ----"Strangulation"---تعریف ۔ --

 2020 Y L R 2018

--Asphyxia---Definition.

گونگنتی یا دم گھٹنا ایک ایسی حالت ہے جس میں جسم کو آکسیجن کی شدید قلت ہو جاتی ہے جو غیر معمولی سانس لینے کی وجہ سے پیدا ہوتی ہے۔ گونگنتی ایک ایسی چیز ہے جس کی وجہ سے بہت سے لوگ مر جاتے ہیں، اور یہ کسی شکار کو اس قدر دبانے یا روکنے کا عمل ہے کہ وہ مزید سانس نہیں لے سکتا۔ دم گھٹنا اس حالت کو کہا جاتا ہے جب تنفسی فعل رکاوٹ کی وجہ سے متاثر ہوتا ہے اور ہائپوکسمیا/اناکسیا پیدا ہو جاتی ہے۔

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Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body that arises from abnormal breathing. Asphyxia is something due to which many people die, and it is something the act of suffocation or smothering a victim until he can no longer breathe. Asphyxiation is defined as hypoxia/anoxia that is caused when respiratory function is hampered by interference with the mechanics of breathing.

--Appearances of deceased due to Asphyxia explained.

چہرہ پھولا ہوا اور نیلاہٹ مائل ہوتا ہے، اور اس پر نقطہ نما نشانات ہوتے ہیں۔ آنکھیں نمایاں اور کھلی ہوتی ہیں۔ بعض صورتوں میں یہ بند بھی ہو سکتی ہیں۔ آشوب چشم ہوتا ہے، اور پتلی پھیلی ہوئی ہوتی ہے۔ پلکوں اور آشوب چشم میں نقطہ نما نشانات نظر آتے ہیں۔ ہونٹ نیلے ہوتے ہیں۔ خونی جھاگ منہ اور نتھنوں سے نکلتا ہے، اور بعض اوقات خالص خون منہ، ناک اور کانوں سے جاری ہوتا ہے، خاص طور پر اگر بہت زیادہ تشدد کیا گیا ہو۔ زبان اکثر سوجی ہوئی، نیلی، باہر نکلی ہوئی اور گہرے رنگ کی ہوتی ہے، جس میں خون جمع ہونے کے دھبے دکھائی دیتے ہیں اور بعض اوقات دانتوں سے کٹی ہوئی ہوتی ہے۔ گردن کے پچھلے حصے پر خراشیں ہو سکتی ہیں۔ ہاتھ عموماً بھنچے ہوئے ہوتے ہیں۔ جنسی اعضاء سوجے ہوئے ہو سکتے ہیں اور پیشاب، پاخانہ اور منی خارج ہو سکتی ہے۔

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The face is puffy and cyanosed, and marked with petechiae. The eyes are prominent and open. In some cases they may be closed. The conjunctivae are congested, and the pupils are dilated. Petechiae are seen in the eyelids and the conjunctivae. The lips are blue. Bloody foam, escapes from the mouth and nostrils, and sometimes pure blood issues from the mouth, nose and ears, especially if great violence has been used. The tongue is often swollen, bruised, protruding violence has been used. The tongue is often swollen, bruised, protruding and dark in colour, showing patches of extravasation and occasionally bitten by the teeth. There may be bruising at the back of the neck. The hands are usually clenched. The genital organs may be congested and there may be discharge of urine, feces and seminal fluid.

-"Strangulation"---Definition.

گلا گھونٹنا موت کی ایک پرتشدد شکل ہے، جو جسم کو لٹکائے بغیر کسی بندھن یا کسی اور ذریعے سے گردن کو دباؤ میں لانے کے نتیجے میں ہوتی ہے۔ اسے گلا دبانا کہا جاتا ہے، جب انگلیوں اور ہتھیلیوں کے ذریعے گلے پر دباؤ ڈال کر اس کو بھیینچا جائے۔ گلا گھونٹنا پاؤں، گھٹنے، کہنی کے موڑ یا کسی اور ٹھوس چیز سے گلے کو دبا کر بھی کیا جا سکتا ہے۔ گلا گھونٹنے کی تعریف دم گھٹنے (آکسیجن کی کمی) کی ایک شکل کے طور پر کی جاتی ہے جس کی خصوصیت گردن پر بیرونی دباؤ کے نتیجے میں خون کی نالیوں اور/یا گردن کے ہوا کے راستوں کی بندش ہے۔ دستی گلا گھونٹنا (گلا دبانا) عام طور پر ہاتھوں سے کیا جاتا ہے۔

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Strangulation is a violent form of death, which results from constricting the neck by means of a ligature or by any other means without suspending the body. It is called throttling, when constriction is produced by the pressure of the fingers and palms upon the throat. Strangulation may also be brought about by compressing the throat with a foot, knee, bend of elbow, or some other solid substance. Strangulation is defined as form of asphyxia (lack of oxygen) characterized by closure of blood vessels/or air passages of neck as a result of external pressure on the neck. Manual Strangulation (throttling) is usually done with the hands.

--Neck anatomy, explained.

گلا گھونٹنے والے شکار کی طبی خصوصیات کو مناسب طریقے سے سمجھنے کے لیے گردن کی اناٹومی کا ابتدائی علم بہت ضروری ہے ۔
ہائڈ ہڈی ، گردن میں گھڑسواری کی شکل کی ایک چھوٹی ہڈی ، زبان کو سہارا دینے میں مدد کرتی ہے ۔
لارینکس ، جو ہڈی سے نہیں بلکہ کارٹلیج سے بنا ہوتا ہے ، دو حصوں پر مشتمل ہوتا ہے: تائیرائڈ کارٹلیج اور ٹریچیل بجتی ہے ۔
کیروٹائڈز وہ بڑی شریانیں ہیں جو آکسیجن والے خون کو دل اور پھیپھڑوں سے دماغ تک پہنچاتی ہیں ۔ یہ گردن کے کنارے کی شریانیں ہیں جو سی پی آر (کارڈیو پلمونری ریسوسیٹیشن) کا انتظام کرنے والے افراد دالوں کی جانچ کرتے ہیں ۔
جوگولر رگ وہ بڑی شریانیں ہیں جو ڈی آکسیجنیٹڈ خون کو دماغ سے دل تک واپس لے جاتی ہیں ۔
گلا گھونٹنے والے شکار کی عمومی طبی ترتیب شدید درد کی ہوتی ہے جس کے بعد بے ہوشی ہوتی ہے ، اس کے بعد دماغی موت ہوتی ہے ۔ متاثرہ شخص مندرجہ ذیل میں سے کسی ایک یا تمام کی وجہ سے ہوش سے محروم ہو جائے گا:-(i) کیروٹڈ شریانوں کو بلاک کرنا (دماغ کو آکسیجن سے محروم کرنا) (ii) رگولر رگوں کو بلاک کرنا (دماغ سے باہر نکلنے سے ڈی آکسیجنیٹڈ خون کو روکنا ؛) اور (iii) سانس کی نالی کو بند کرنا ، جس کی وجہ سے شکار سانس لینے سے قاصر ہے ۔
ممکنہ طور پر گلا گھونٹنے کے دوران ایک یا زیادہ وجوہات کام کر سکتی ہیں ۔ پیلا چہرہ اضطراری دل کی گرفت سے تیزی سے موت کی نشاندہی کرتا ہے ، جبکہ پیچیا کے ساتھ سائانوزڈ چہرہ تاخیر سے موت کی نشاندہی کرتا ہے ۔
محمد زاید بمقابلہ ریاست اور دیگر-فوجداری اپیل نمبر ۔ 267-جے اور قتل حوالہ نمبر ۔ 38 2016/بی ڈبلیو پی
غیر مشاہدہ شدہ واقعہ---غیر فطری موت ثابت کرنے میں ناکامی---اثر-- - ملزم پر الزام لگایا گیا تھا کہ اس نے ملزم کی طرف سے مانگی گئی رقم ادا نہ کرنے پر اپنی ماں کا گلا گھونٹ دیا تھا-- موت کا مشاہدہ نہیں کیا گیا تھا کیونکہ متوفی کی گردن کو دبانے کے دوران کسی نے ملزم کو نہیں دیکھا تھا-- میڈیکل آفیسر کی طرف سے متوفی کے جسم کے کسی بھی حصے پر تشدد کے کوئی نشانات نہیں دیکھے گئے تھے-- بڑی تعداد میں علامات جو عام طور پر دم گھٹنے سے دم گھٹنے کی طرف اشارہ کرتی تھیں جیسے کہ متاثرہ کی زبان سوج رہی تھی ، دانت کاٹنے سے ، اس کا نکلنا اور ٹمپینم کی خون کی نالیوں کے پھٹنے کی وجہ سے کانوں سے خون بہنا-- متوفی کی ہائیوڈ ہڈی پر پوسٹ مارٹم سے قبل کوئی چوٹ نہیں دیکھی گئی-- - استغاثہ متوفی کی غیر فطری موت کو ثابت کرنے میں ناکام رہا تھا-- - S.342 ، Cr.P.C کے تحت درج ملزم کا بیان ۔ اسے ایک اعتراف کے طور پر سمجھا جا سکتا تھا اور صرف اعتراف کی بنیاد پر ہی ملزم کو سزائے موت نہیں دی جا سکتی تھی کیونکہ اعتراف صرف ایک متعلقہ حقیقت تھی اور خود ثبوت نہیں تھا---رضاکارانہ اور حقیقی اعتراف جرم ہی بنانے والے کے خلاف ثبوت تھا---استغاثہ ملزم کے خلاف مقدمے کو شک کے سائے سے بالاتر ثابت کرنے کے قابل نہیں تھا-- سزا کے خلاف اپیل کو حالات میں قبول کر لیا گیا تھا ۔

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A rudimentary knowledge of neck anatomy is critical in order to understand adequately the clinical features of strangled victim.

The hyoid bone, a small horseshoe shaped bone in the neck, helps to support the tongue.

The larynx, made up of cartilage, not bone, consists of two parts: the thyroid cartilage and the tracheal rings.

Carotids are the major vessels that transport oxygenated blood from the heart and lungs to the brain. These are the arteries at the side of the neck that persons administering CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) check for pulses.

Jugular veins are the major vessels that transport deoxygenated blood from the brain back to the heart.

The general clinical sequence of a victim who is being strangled is one of severe pain followed by unconsciousness, followed by brain death. The victim will lose consciousness by any one or all of the followings:-

(i) Blocking of the carotid arteries (depriving the brain of oxygen);

(ii) Blocking of the jugular veins (preventing deoxygenated blood from exiting the brain;) and

(iii) Closing off the airway, causing the victim to be unable to breathe.

Probably one or more causes may operate during strangulation. A pale face would indicate a rapid death from reflex cardiae arrest, while a cyanosed face with petchiae would suggest a delayed death.

MUHAMMAD ZAHID Versus The STATE and others-

Criminal Appeal No. 267-J and Murder Reference No. 38 of 2016/BWP

Un-witnessed incident---Failure to prove un-natural death---Effect---Accused was alleged to have strangulated his mother for her failure to pay the amount demanded by accused---Occurrence was un-witnessed as nobody had seen the accused while pressing the neck of the deceased---No marks of violence were noted by the medical officer on any part of the body of the deceased---Large number of symptoms which ordinarily pointed to asphyxia by throttling were missing such as tongue of victim being swollen, bitten by teeth, its protrusion and bleeding from ears due to rupture of blood vessels of tympanum---No ante-mortem injury was seen on hyoid bone of the deceased---Prosecution had failed to prove un-natural death of the deceased---Statement of accused recorded under S.342, Cr.P.C. could be treated as an admission and on the basis of admission, alone, accused person could not be awarded capital punishment because admission was only a relevant fact and not a proof by itself---Voluntary and true confession alone was a proof against the maker---Prosecution had not been able to prove the case against the accused beyond shadow of doubt---Appeal against conviction was accepted, in circumstances.

JUDGMENT

SARDAR MUHAMMAD SARFRAZ DOGAR, J.---Mst. Manzooran Bibi aged about 50 years, hereinafter referred to as the deceased, was strangulated to death during the intervening night of 21/22.1.2015, in the area of Basti Hakeeman Mouza Jamal Pur falling within the territorial jurisdiction of Police Station Qaimpur Tehsil Hasilpur District Bahawalpur, Muhammad Zahid appellant who was son of the deceased was blamed for homicide in the backdrop of a motive according to which the appellant had demanded money from her deceased mother but she apprised that there was nothing with her to pay which incited the appellant for commission of the offence.

2. With the said allegations Muhammad Zahid appellant was booked and tried in case FIR No. 15 dated 22.1.2015 registered at above mentioned Police Station for an offence under section 302, P.P.C. After a regular trial, held by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Hasilpur District Bahawalpur, the appellant was convicted for an offence under section 302(b), P.P.C. for committing 'qatl-i-amd' of his real mother Mst. Manzooran Bibi deceased and was sentenced to death along with direction to pay compensation of Rs. 5,00,000/- to the legal heirs of the deceased as envisaged under section 544-A, Cr.P.C. or in default of payment thereof to further undergo six months S.I.

3. Muhammad Zahid appellant has challenged his above-said conviction and sentence before this Court through Criminal Appeal No. 267-J of 2016/BWP which has been heard by us along with Murder Reference No. 38 of 2016/BWP sent by the learned trial court under section 374, Cr.P.C. seeking confirmation or otherwise of the sentence of death passed by the learned trial court against Muhammad Zahid appellant. As the common questions of facts and law are involved, we propose to decide both these matters together through the present consolidated judgment.

4. The facts of this case as well as the evidence produced before the learned trial Court find an elaborate mention in the judgment passed by the learned trial Court and, therefore, the same may not be reproduced here so as to avoid duplication and unnecessary repetition.

5. Heard. Record perused.

6. According to the prosecution case the death of the deceased had occurred due to strangulation, but undeniably, rather admittedly it was an un-witnessed crime as nobody had seen the accused while pressing the neck of the deceased, as such the entire edifice of the prosecution case has been built around the cause of death of the deceased. Did the victim die as a result of throttling caused by the appellant is the main and crucial question which is to be resolved here in the light of medical evidence as well as the medical jurisprudence?

Asphyxia

Asphyxia or asphyxiation from Ancient Greek a "without" and sphyxis, "squeeze" is a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body that arises from abnormal breathing. Asphyxia is something that many people died of throughout the world and it is something that many people think simply the act of suffocation or smothering a victim until he can no longer breathe. Asphyxiation is defined as hypoxia/anoxia that is caused when respiratory function is hampered by interference with the mechanics of breathing.

Appearances due to Asphyxia.

The face is puffy and cyanosed, and marked with petechiae. The eyes are prominent and open. In some cases they may be closed. The conjunctivae are congested, and the pupils are dilated. Petechiae are seen in the eyelids and the conjunctivae. The lips are blue. Bloody foam, escapes from the mouth and nostrils, and sometimes pure blood issues from the mouth nose and ears, especially if great violence has been used. The tongue is often swollen, bruised, protruding violence has been used. The tongue is often swollen, bruised, protruding and dark in colour, showing patches of extravasation and occasionally bitten by the teeth. There may be bruising at the back of the neck. The hands are usually clenched. The genital organs may be congested and there may be discharges of urine, faces and seminal fluid.

Strangulation

Strangulation is a violent form of death, which results from constricting the neck by means of a ligature or by any other means without suspending the body. It is called throttling, when constriction is produced by the pressure of the fingers and palms upon the throat. Strangulation may also be brought about by compressing the throat with a foot, knee, bend of elbow, or some other solid substance. Strangulation is defined as form of asphyxia (lack of oxygen) characterized by closure of blood vessels/or air passages of neck as a result of external pressure on the neck.

Manual Strangulation (throttling) is usually done with the hands.

Neck anatomy.

A rudimentary knowledge of neck anatomy is critical in order to understand adequately the clinical features of strangled victim.

The hyoid bone a small horseshoe shaped bone in the neck helps to support the tongue.

The larynx, made up of cartilage, not bone, consist of two parts: the thyroid cartilage and the tracheal rings.

Carotids are the major vessels that transport oxygenated blood from the heart and lungs to the brain. These are the arteries at the side of the neck that persons administering CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) check for pulses.

Jugular veins are the major vessels that transport deoxygenated blood from the brain back to the heart.

The general clinical sequence of a victim who is being strangled is one of severe pain followed by unconsciousness, followed by brain death. The victim will lose consciousness by any one or all of the following:-

(i) Blocking of the carotid arteries (depriving the brain of oxygen);

(ii) Blocking of the jugular veins (preventing deoxygenated blood from exiting the brain;) and

(iii) Closing off the airway, causing the victim to be unable to breathe.

Probably one or more causes may operate during strangulation. A pale face would indicate a rapid death from reflex cardiae arrest, while a cyanosed face with petchiae would suggest a delayed death.

7. In this case postmortem examination on the dead body of Mst. Manzoora Bibi deceased was conducted by Dr. Sobia Batool (PW.9) on 23.1.2015 at about 8.00 a.m.

It is significant to point out here that no marks of violence were noted by the doctor on any part of the body of the deceased at the time of her examination. Even otherwise, she was unable to give time between death and postmortem as well as between injury and death. However, during the cross-examination she opined that death might be occurred due to suffocation without any marks of violence on the body or any injury to the hyoid bone of the deceased. Even other-wise, according to medical jurisdiction as opined by various jurists signs and symptoms of strangulation would be the tongue may be swollen, bruised bitten by teeth and protruded. Bleeding from the ears due to rupture of blood vessels of tympanum be seen, but in the case in hand a large number of symptoms were absent which ordinarily point out to the cause of death of asphyxia by throttling, therefore, it is not proved by the prosecution that the deceased met the un-natural death as result of strangulation.

8. Admittedly, postmortem examination of the deceased was conducted; however, it seems that the Medical Officer who conducted the autopsy of the deceased himself was not assured qua the cause of death of the deceased as he had taken different samples of organs of the dead body and sent to Chemical Examiner and Histopathology PSFL, Lahore for detention of any poison or any pathology lesion. However, as per report of Punjab Forensic Science Agency, Lahore (Ex. PN), on sealed parcel containing specimens (stomach, small intestine, brain, heart, spleen, liver, kidney, urinary bladder and uterus) of Manzooran Bibi deceased was received but no test was performed as specimens were unsuitable for toxicological analysis as these were fixed in formalin. Moreover, as per Forensic Histopathology Report (Ex. P:P), no anti-mortem injury was seen on hyoid bone of the deceased.

9. Now, we advert to the confession made by the appellant in his statement under section 342, Cr.P.C. In this perspective, we have found that there is considerable difference between confession and admission. The former is regulated by Articles 42 and 43 in particular, of Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984. As the proper procedure was not adopted, therefore, it was incorrectly construed by the learned trial court as confession of the accused. Under the law, it may be treated as an admission of the appellant, however, on the basis of admission, alone, accused person cannot be awarded a capital punishment because admission, as has been defined by Article 30 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984, is only a relevant fact and not a proof by itself, as has been envisaged in Article 43 of the Order, 1984, where a proved, voluntary and true confession alone is held to be a proof against the maker therefore, the learned trial court has fallen in error by treating this halfway admission to be a confession of guilt on the part of the appellant. Therefore, it is held that admission of the appellant cannot be a substitute for a true and voluntary confession, recorded after adopting a due process of law and it cannot be made the sole basis of conviction on a capital charge. Reliance in this regard is placed on "Muhammad Ismail v. The State" (2017 SCMR 713). Besides above, most importantly, needless to mention here that the law is quite settled by now that if the prosecution fails to prove its case against an accused person then the accused person is to be acquitted even if he had taken a plea and had thereby admitted killing the deceased. Reliance is placed on "Azhar Iqbal v. The State" (2013 SCMR 383), wherein the August Supreme Court of Pakistan while relying upon "Waqar Ahmad v. Shaukat Ali and others" (2006 SCMR 1139) has observed as under:-

" it has straightaway been observed by us that both the learned courts below had rejected the version of the prosecution in its entirety and had been proceeded to convict and sentence the appellant on the sole basis of his statement recorded under section 342, Cr.P.C. wherein he had advanced a plea of grave and sudden provocation. It had not been appreciated by the learned courts below that the law is quite settled by now that if the prosecution fails to prove its case against an accused person then the accused person is to be acquitted even if he had taken a plea and had thereby admitted killing the deceased .."

10. In view of the combined study of the entire evidence and careful appraisal of the same we are led to an inescapable conclusion that there is no corroboratory evidence of any legal worth to give the story set up in the FIR any credence and strength rather the prosecution case is full of improbabilities, legal and factual infirmities of fatal nature and is pregnant with bristling doubts of grave nature. Thus, the prosecution has miserably failed to connect the neck of the appellant with the crime in any manner whatsoever.

11. For what has been discussed above, we have come to an irresistible conclusion that the prosecution has not been able to prove the case against the appellant Muhammad Zahid beyond the shadow of doubt. Hence, Criminal Appeal No. 207-J of 2016/BWP is hereby accepted, the conviction and sentence recorded by the learned trial court against the appellant vide judgment dated 13.05.2016 is set aside and he is acquitted of the charge while extending benefit of doubt to him, who shall be released from jail forthwith, if is not required in any other case.