What is the significance of the way the Black Dahlia's face was cut?

Elizabeth Short, better known as the Black Dahlia, was found dead and mutilated in an empty lot in a quiet Los Angeles neighborhood on January 15, 1947. Short's face had been cut in a hideous 'smile', a cut that when from ear to ear.

This method of torture had it's origins in mob type killings and is referred to as a Glasgow Grin, coming from Scotland. It is also called the Cheshire Grin or Cheshire Smile.

This does not mean that Short's killer was mob related but just familiar with the procedure. The corpse was also cut completely in half, severed between the 3rd and 4th cervical vertebrae.