Reading a postmortem (autopsy) report during a criminal trial requires careful examination of each part of the report and then comparing the medical findings with the statements of witnesses, other evidence, and the prosecution story.
1. *Preliminary & Identification Details*
• Check the basic details: Name, age, gender, date and time when the dead body was received, and the date and exact time when the postmortem examination was conducted.
• Check the police requisition: Note who requested the postmortem and the FIR number mentioned in the documents. This helps in checking whether the medical examination relates to the correct criminal case.
• Examine the clothing: Carefully look at the condition of the clothes—whether there are cuts, tears, bloodstains, burns or other marks. These details may support or contradict the prosecution version regarding the manner of assault or weapon used.
2. *External Examination*
• Look for signs of death: Examine the description of rigor mortis and livor mortis. These findings may assist the doctor in estimating the approximate time since death.
• Study every injury carefully: Check the exact size, location, depth, shape and direction of each injury. Pay attention to whether the injury is consistent with a sharp weapon, blunt object, firearm or any other alleged weapon.
• Check whether injuries are ante-mortem or post-mortem: Look for medical findings showing whether an injury was inflicted before death or after death. Evidence of bleeding and other vital reactions may be relevant.
3. *Internal Examination*
• Read the examination of the body cavities: Carefully go through the findings relating to the head, chest and abdomen.
• Look for internal injuries: Check for skull fractures, brain haemorrhage, injuries to the lungs, liver, spleen or other organs, as well as internal bleeding.
• Match internal injuries with external injuries: The internal findings should be examined alongside the external injuries to understand the probable mechanism and severity of the assault.
4. *Stomach Contents & Time of Death*
• Check the stomach contents: Note whether the food is undigested, partially digested or completely digested.
• Compare with the prosecution timeline: The stomach contents may be considered along with the evidence regarding the deceased's last meal, last-seen evidence and other circumstances.
Important: Stomach contents alone should not be treated as a precise method of determining the exact time of death. They are only one circumstance to be considered along with other medical and factual evidence.
5. *Toxicology & Other Medical Reports*
• Check the preserved samples: See whether viscera, blood, urine or other samples were preserved and sent for chemical or toxicological examination.
• Check whether the opinion was kept pending: In suspected poisoning or cases requiring further examination, the doctor may reserve the final opinion until the forensic laboratory or histopathology report is received.
• Compare the final opinion with the laboratory findings: The final medical opinion should be read together with the FSL/chemical examination and other relevant reports.
6. *Cause & Manner of Death*
• Read the final opinion carefully: Find out what the doctor has stated as the cause of death—for example, haemorrhagic shock, head injury, asphyxia or another specific medical cause.
• Check whether the doctor has expressed an opinion on the manner of death: The report may contain an opinion regarding whether the death appears homicidal, suicidal or accidental, depending on the facts and medical findings.
7. *Compare the Postmortem Report with the Trial Evidence*
This is one of the most important parts while studying a postmortem report during trial.
*Ask:*
• Does the injury described in the postmortem report match the eyewitness version?
• Does the number, nature and location of injuries support the prosecution story?
• Is the alleged weapon capable of causing the injuries described by the doctor?
• Does the medical evidence support or contradict the alleged manner of assault?
• Does the estimated time of death broadly fit with the last-seen evidence and other circumstances?
• Are there any injuries or medical findings which have not been explained by the prosecution?
8. *Evidentiary Value of the Postmortem Report*
A postmortem report is generally expert medical opinion evidence. It is important for understanding the cause, nature and possible manner of death, but it does not automatically override reliable ocular evidence.
The medical evidence may corroborate or contradict the testimony of eyewitnesses. Therefore, during cross-examination, the defence should carefully test whether the medical findings are consistent with the prosecution version.
The doctor who conducted the postmortem should ordinarily be examined so that the findings and opinion in the report can be properly proved and tested through cross-examination.
*Final Approach*
While studying a postmortem report in a criminal trial, do not read it in isolation.
*Read it in this order:*
Postmortem Report → Injuries → Internal Findings → Cause of Death → Medical Opinion → FSL/Toxicology → Eyewitness Version → Weapon → Timeline → Other Circumstantial Evidence
The real question is not merely “What does the postmortem report say?” but:
“Does the medical evidence support the prosecution story, contradict it, or leave an unexplained gap?”
