Recently, a news shocked people in the UK, which was published in Western Telegraph, where a 57-year old man, Barry Griffiths from Powys in Wales was found dead last year in July. Apparently, the man was seen stabbing himself as he attempted to separate two frozen burgers.
This report from the police investigation points out that Griffiths, being an immobile ex-stroke victim, unwittingly stabbed himself in the abdomen while trying to separate the frozen burgers.
According to Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Rees, Griffiths is likely to have been unable to utilize one arm, with the exertion of the effort leading to the fatal wound. His body was only discovered several days later after concerned friends raised the alarm. There were bloodstains all over his home, but this puzzled the investigators until the postmortem report was done.
As per the published news report, no one had seen him for more than a week. However, following an inquiry, police found splatters of blood in the kitchen, hallway, and bathroom. The same report further says that Detective Sergeant Stephen Vaughan and crime scene investigator Elizabeth Nurse claimed that there was no foul play. Vaughan termed the incident as an "unexplained tragedy." Further forensic examination proved that it was indeed an accidental death.
At Pontypridd Coroner's Court, detectives said on the investigation of the scene, a knife, two frozen burgers, and a tea towel were discovered in the kitchen. DCI Jonathan Rees said that Griffiths was trying to force the burgers apart when, tangential to the height of the kitchen work surface, the knife wound ended up piercing his abdomen.
Rees admitted some inspection chances had gone to waste since Griffiths' flat had been tidied and essential items such as the mattress and his clothes had been trashed. Police, however, said there was no evidence of forced entry and that Griffiths' devices had no signs of self-harm or distress. His death has thus been labelled a tragic accident.