Page 6 - Clinical Connections - Autumn 2022

RVC RESEARCH STUDY VETERINARY SERVICES RVC.AC.UK
Pathology
DEVELOPMENTS IN FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

even years ago the RVC appointed Following the mutilation of more than 400 where several cats had gone missing or
Henny Martineau as Head of cats across various locations in London were found dead or wounded. Dr Martineau
S Forensic Pathology, to lead the over the four-year period, media speculation was able to differentiate cases that had been
discipline at the College. The team has grew – and it began to appear as though the subject to deliberate injuries and those that
worked on a number of prominent cases ‘killer’ could be at large within the M25 and, had been scavenged. The cats that were
in recent years. The so-called ‘Croydon cat later, across the whole of England. deliberately injured appeared to have been
killer’ was one such case. The speculation led the Metropolitan stabbed. A security guard subsequently
The RVC Veterinary Forensic Pathology Police to launch an investigation, named received a five-year sentence for killing and
Service receives most suspected non- ‘Operation Takahe’. A team of researchers harming several cats.
accidental death and injury cases from the led by Dr Martineau, alongside the
RSPCA (which are often initiated by vets) Metropolitan Police and the Hertfordshire
and around 10% from the police. Cases Police, examined the bodies of 32 mutilated
can culminate in the veterinary forensic cats.
pathologist delivering evidence in court Dr Martineau and her team took swabs
as a professional witness. The team has to analyse carcasses for the presence of
received court room skills training to ensure fox, dog and badger DNA, and performed
written reports are suitable for use in court, full post mortem examinations. The results
and to provide them with the necessary found that the mutilations had occurred
skills to present evidence in court and be after death. There was a clear link between
prepared for cross-questioning. cat carcass mutilation and the presence of Evidence of postmortem scavenging of cats
In addition to investigating such cases as fox DNA, and puncture wounds found on by foxes. There is scoring of the proximal
diagnosticians, the team is actively involved deceased cats were consistent with what diaphysis
in research and teaching. There are five would be expected from scavenging by
residents involved in forensic pathology carnivores. Through a close examination of Undergraduate Education
training and seven faculty members. Some the carcasses, the team established that the A key thing in forensic pathology
of the team’s recent research has focused mutilation pattern of the cats examined was contributions to veterinary education is
on diagnosing drowning with post mortem similar to the scavenging pattern of foxes on raising awareness of non-accidental injuries
findings (see image). lambs. There was no evidence supporting as a differential to consider. Third year RVC
human involvement in the feline mutilation. veterinary students have a day where the
Croydon ‘cat killer’ and Brighton For carcasses not associated with RSPCA and Dog’s Trust talk about non-
investigations predation, other probable causes of death accidental injuries and Dr Martineau talks
Following a spate of mutilated cats found were also identified, ranging from road traffic to them about forensics pathology work.
dead in London between 2014 and 2018, accidents to liver failure, to the ingestion Similar events also take place at each of
the story of the ‘Croydon cat killer’ caught of antifreeze. Eight of the cats were found the UK veterinary schools, with pathologists
the media’s attention and the public’s to have suffered from cardiorespiratory from each school discussing forensic
imagination. Articles using the term disease. pathology.
‘Croydon cat killer’ appeared repeatedly After the experience of working on and Dr Martineau is module leader for the
in the press, with each new dead cat helping to debunk the ‘Croydon cat killer’ Applications of Pathology module on the
discovered reinforcing the narrative of an case, the RVC veterinary forensic pathology BSc course, which veterinary students can
individual mutilating and beheading them. expertise was applied to cases in Brighton, take if they intercalate. The forensics unit
within this includes a court room scene
drama where students get to present their
evidence and cross-question each other to
simulate a court environment.
The Links Group raises awareness of the
relationship between the abuse of humans
and animals, through support, training and
inter-agency working.
Images used first appeared in 'Fox
(Vulpes vulpes) involvement identified
in a series of cat carcass mutilations', in
Veterinary Pathology (2022).

Postmortem scavenging CT image. The cat's head and neck are missing at the level of the For the Diagnostic Pathology Service,
seventh cervical vertebra and the tail is absent distal to the fourth caudal vertebra please call:01707 666 208
Email:
diagnosticlabs@rvc.ac.uk
6 Autumn 2022