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Abstract
A retrospective review of homicide cases was undertaken from the mortuary records at the National Hospital in Apia, Samoa, over a five-year period from June 2011 to May 2016. Thirty-three cases were found consisting of 27 males and six females (one with gender not specified; M:F = 4.5:1) with an age range of 19 to 61 years, average 34.1 years (males – 19–57 years, average 33.8 years; females 23–61 years, average 35.0 years). This gave an approximate rate of 3.5 homicides/100,000 people/year. The cases consisted of deaths due to blunt force head trauma: N = 21 (63.6%; two with drowning); sharp force trauma: N = 8 (24.2%; four stab wounds, four chop/machete wounds); gunshot wounds: N = 2 (6.1%); and neck compression: N = 2 (6.1%). This study has demonstrated a particularly high number of deaths due to blunt force trauma and a relatively low number of firearm-related deaths in Samoa in recent years.