Systematic review: The reliability of indicators that may differentiate between suicidal, homicidal, and accidental sharp force wounds [peer reviewed]]

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Abstract
This protocol aims to address two metaresearch questions: what do we know about the science underlying impactful legal decisions and how can we assess this evidence efficiently and accurately, such that it is usable for courts? To do so, this protocol describes our plan for a systematic review of the literature underlying whether there are reliable indicators of the manner of death in stab wound cases. Evidence of nature was recently found admissible at the High Court of Australia in Lang v The Queen. However, despite the High Court uncritically accepting this evidence, there has never been a systematic review that critically appraises the relevant literature. Beyond the review itself, we will fully document our process and all of the time-saving tools we rely on to provide knowledge about whether systematic reviews of this nature can be efficiently deployed in legal proceedings.