SHAH ALAM, Aug 23 — Skeletal remains of long-buried bodies can still offer vital scientific clues to aid forensic investigations, said medical expert Prof Dr Shahrom Abdul Wahid.
The Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Hospital’s former senior consultant forensic pathologist noted that detailed bone examinations can uncover crucial information, including injuries sustained by a victim prior to death.
"For example, fracture marks can indicate whether a victim was struck, trying to defend themselves, or sustained injuries during an attack.
"Even when soft tissue has decomposed, bones can still preserve valuable evidence," he said during Media Selangor's Bicara Semasa programme.
Forensic experts often rely on advanced techniques like computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and histopathological tests to analyse remaining bone fragments or tissue samples.
"These techniques allow us to determine whether an injury was caused by a strong impact, an accident, or an armed assault," Dr Shahrom said.
He added that while the accuracy of analysis may decline the longer a body has been buried, forensic experts can still provide professional assessments based on scientific observations.
"With the help of existing data records, trained experts can still determine whether injuries were linked to the cause of death," Dr Shahrom said.
