Sharp force violence is a common way of committing assault in
numerous countries and regions (e.g. United Kingdom, Scandinavia
and Australasia) because the weapons used are readily available
and are generally not controlled by specific legislation [1]. When a
stabbing event takes place, there is normally damage to the
clothing of the victim [2]. Characteristics of various penetrating
instruments (e.g. kitchen, steak and hunting knives, screwdrivers,
broken bottles, and scissors) can leave distinct features in/and on
fabrics and skin [3]. These features contribute to identifying the
type of weapon used in the stabbing event. However, once a
stabbing has happened, the perpetrator or victim may launder the
clothing involved in order to destroy evidence of the assault.
Laundering the clothing after the event can change the morphology
and visual characterisations of the severance and thus in