As already mentioned in part 1 of this study, headbutting seems to be a relatively popular method of close range fighting, as is borne out by various internet sites, sports reports and not least by data collected during criminal court cases. Therefore in their role as advisers to the court, forensic experts are regularly faced with the problem of giving an opinion in accordance with A 224 of the Penal code (StGB). In part 1 the biomechanical data which can be used were presented and in part 2 existing case histories are used to look at the effects of headbutting on the human body and ways of resolving the following critical questions are suggested: can the biomechanical data be backed up by experience in concrete cases? Can it be adequately proven using biomechanical models that a headbutt of a certain intensity can directly lead to such serious injury that death can ensue, ignoring for the time being any other potentially fatal consequences caused by falls or infections? The results of this study could make it easier in future for forensic experts to give an opinion on headbutting incidents and provide new reference data for reconstruction by material witnesses in order to allow more precise assessments to be made.

Das Schädel-Hirn-Trauma ist die häufigste Ursache gewaltsamer Todesfälle im Kindesalter. Insbesondere die Differenzierung zwischen akzidentellen und nichtakzidentellen Ursachen ist von forensischer Bedeutung. Eine fundierte forensisch-neuropathologische Begutachtung kann nur unter Berücksichtigung der entwicklungsbedingten Besonderheiten vorgenommen werden. Anhand ausgewählter Befunde und Verletzungsbilder wird das Spektrum neurotraumatischer Veränderungen im Kindesalter beschrieben.

In both diagnostic fields a two-stage strategy is recommended: to first use “field” methods that are quick and easy but more imprecise and then “laboratory” methods that are time consuming but more precise. In preparing skeletal work, individuality of a skeleton should be checked, traces of diseases sought and time since death assessed. For sexing non-adults, the field methods are tooth mineralisation, long bone length and a few morphological skull and pelvis characteristics, for adults it is the morphology of pelvis and skull, and for both age groups the advanced laboratory method is molecular biology. For ageing non-adults the methods are mineralisation of teeth, long bone length and epiphysis development. For ageing adults the advanced laboratory method is aspartic acid racemisation. Less accurate laboratory methods are cement ring counts and histology of bones and teeth. Quick morphological methods using the pubic symphysis and other traits in combinations follow. Finally, cranial sutures and tooth number give a quick and rough impression. For the selection of a method and the assessment of its value the stochastic error produced for the reference sample is the decisive criterion; it should also be used to assess the reliability of a single diagnosis. Prerequisites for all work with skeletons are not only a complete knowledge of the relevant biology as well as specific techniques but also initial detailed instructions and with forensic applications, personal experience.

F. W. Rösing1 · M. Graw2 · B. Marré3 · S. Ritz-Timme4 · M. A. Rothschild5 K. Rötzscher6 · A. Schmeling7· I. Schröder8· G. Geserick7 1 Institut für Humangenetik und Anthropologie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm · 2 Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität München · 3 Poliklinik für zahnärztliche Prothetik, Zentrum für ZahnMundund Kieferheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum, Technische Universität Dresden · 4 Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Kiel · 5 Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Köln · 6 Speyer · 7 Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Charité, Humboldt-Universität Berlin · 8 Institut für Anthropologie, Universität Kiel