Coronial
VICother

Finding into death of Unknown Remains Human Pelvis

Demographics

female

Coroner

Coroner Kim M. W. Parkinson

Finding date

2011-06-08

Cause of death

unknown

AI-generated summary

This inquest involved unidentified human remains comprising a pelvis with attached femora, handed to police in November 2010 by a physician who had received them as teaching material during his medical training in 1996. Forensic anthropological examination confirmed the bones were human and consistent with anatomical teaching specimens. No identity could be established, and the date, location, and circumstances of death could not be determined. The coroner ordered the remains be released for public burial. This case highlights the need for proper documentation and chain of custody of anatomical teaching materials used in medical education.

AI-generated summary — refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Specialties

forensic medicine

Coroner's recommendations

  1. Remains to be released for public burial at an approved facility and location
Full text

Court Reference 4593/2010

FORM 37 Rule 60(1)

FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008 In the Coroners Court of Victoria at Melbourne I Kim M. W. Parkinson Coroner having investigated the death of: Details of deceased:

Unidentified Human. UNKNOWN REMAINS COMPRISING A HUMAN PELVIS Remains:

AND having held an inquest on 8 June 2011 At Melbourne

Find: that the identity of the deceased was unknown and that the remains comprising a human pelvis

That: the death occurred at an unknown date At: an unknown location

From: an unknown cause.

In the following circumstances: 1, This matter was listed for inquest this day.

  1. On 29 November 2010 Dr James Gome, a physician specialising in endocrinology attended at the Moonee Ponds Police Station to hand over a human pelvis which had been given to

him when he was a medical student in obstetrics in 1996. Police took possession of the

Page 2 of 3 Version 2 as at 25 November 2009

remains and they were conveyed to the Coroners Court of Victoria at Melbourne.

  1. On 3 December 2010 the skull was examined by Dr Soren Blau, Forensic Anthropologist with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. Dr Blau xeported that the remains comprised an adult female pelvis articulated with the sacrum and left and right femora and that the right femur has been sectioned at the proximal mid shaft, whilst the left femur had

been damaged post-mortem and consisted only of the head.

4, Dr Blau reported that without employing scientific dating technology it was not possible to estimate the age of the remains. However she commented that the method of articulation

was typical of human remains used for teaching reference material.

  1. Lam satisfied that no further investigation is required. I find that the bones comprising a pelvis in this case are human and were likely part of a teaching set. On the available evidence it is not possible to make findings as to identity, where, when or in what

circumstances the person died.

  1. Torder that as that no person makes claim to recovery or return of the remains that the bones be released by the Coroner's Court of Victoria for public burial at an approved facility and

location.

Coroner Kim M. W. Parkinson Date: 8 June 2011

Page 3 of 3 Version 2 as at 25 November 2009

Official source Archived copy

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