Medan police ex-wife's death: Doctor explains gunshot wound and bruises

The death of a former wife of a Medan police officer, found deceased with a gunshot wound to the head in her home, is under scrutiny in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The family has raised suspicions of foul play, citing bruises found on the victim's body, suggesting she may have been assaulted rather than having died by suicide.

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Based on our knowledge and the direct examination of the victim, we found characteristics of a contact gunshot wound. This means the firearm was placed directly on the victim's head or skin when fired.

Dr. Mistar Ritonga, a forensic doctor at RS Bhayangkara Medan, explained that the examination revealed a "contact gunshot wound," indicating the firearm was pressed directly against the victim's head when fired. He addressed the family's doubts about the bullet not penetrating the skull, stating that medical and forensic science allows for such outcomes. Factors like the bullet's trajectory, friction against hard surfaces like the skull, or passing through dense tissue can reduce its velocity, causing it to stop beneath the skin.

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The speed of the bullet is influenced by many factors. If it moves, if there are deviations or friction with other objects, its speed will slow down. In this case, it appears to have passed through several hard structures, like bone.

Ritonga stated that during his examination, he found no signs of external violence on the victim's body. He did note old, brownish scar marks on the inner left forearm, which he described as old wounds. He also refuted the family's claims of strangulation marks on the neck, explaining that any discoloration, such as bruising, could be post-mortem lividity due to decomposition.

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During my examination from the beginning, I did not see or find any signs of violence on the body at that time. The only things I found were some cuts on the hand, old brown scars, on the inner left hand, the front part.

Regarding the bruising observed around the victim's left eye, Dr. Ritonga clarified that it was not caused by an external blow. He suggested that such discoloration could also be a result of decomposition processes. The investigation continues as authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the death.

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There were no signs of strangulation when we conducted the examination. Any changes that might appear are usually due to decomposition, for example, post-mortem lividity. It turns blue.