Forensic medicine in Dubai police played a significant role in changing the course and outcomes of an investigation into a murder or incidents that resulted in fatalities. Among these was a Gulf citizen who collapsed and died while standing next to another person on the sidewalk. The incident initially appeared to lack any criminal suspicion; however, forensic medicine discovered that the Gulf citizen fell victim to an accidental killing involving an unfortunate Arab resident who had pushed him in a manner closer to a touch, leading to his death.
In detail, Dr. Ahmed Al-Hashemi, Director of the Forensic Medicine Department at Dubai Police, told "Emirates Today" that the country, and Dubai in particular, is strict about determining the cause of death and does not tolerate any possibility of criminal suspicion. Therefore, all fatalities are meticulously examined, except those cases that occur in hospitals for reasons that are 100% clear, such as the death of a person due to a chronic illness.
He mentioned that among the cases the department handled and played a role in altering the investigation's trajectory and results, was the death of a Gulf citizen who was socializing at a location. When he stepped outside, he stood on the sidewalk next to another person and suddenly collapsed and died. Initial examinations suggested natural causes for his death, especially since he was not in a normal state prior to his fall, making it conceivable that he might have died from an overdose, poisoning, or a brain hemorrhage.
He explained that "forensic medicine in Dubai Police operates on a fixed methodology that relies on studying all possibilities and examining all scenarios. Therefore, we requested an autopsy in the absence of any visible signs. It was revealed through examination that he had suffered a fracture in one of the cervical vertebrae that impacted his spinal cord, indicating he had been subjected to some form of assault. Upon reviewing the camera footage, he was seen standing next to another person, and there may have been an argument, leading the latter to push him slightly, closer to a touch. Unfortunately, this resulted in the victim falling and striking his neck against the sidewalk, transforming the matter from a natural death into a case of accidental murder or assault leading to death."
