Firearm injuries with all wounds in detail with proper methods
- 2. Science dealing with the investigation of firearms, ammunition and the problem arising from their use. Firearm : Any instrument which discharges a missile by the expansive force of the gases produced by an explosive function. Smooth –bore firearm : A firearm in which the barrel has no internal grooving. Examples : Pump action shotgun, sawed-off shotgun. FORENSIC BALLISTICS :
- 3. • Small, descrete, black specks which can`t be wiped off. • Caused due to grains of gunpowder driven into skin. • Blackening/Smudging ; • Caronaceous deposition on skin which can be easily wiped off. • Caused by deposition of smoke on skin. Tattooing (peppering/stippling)
- 4. Entity Flame Un burnt gunpowder grains Partially burnt gunpowder grains Smoke Projectile Injuries/Features exhibited on wound Scorching, singeing (burning) Tattooing Tattooing Blackening/Smudging Abrasion collar, contusion collar, grease collar Firearm injury-General Aspects
- 6. Point blank shot. Cruciate/stellate/ star shaped when over a dense area like cranial vault (explosive effects of gases). Circular when over thin bone/abdomen with abrasion or contusion collar. Burning, blackening and tattooing are slight or absent (driven into the wound). Surrounding hair are singed. Imprint of muzzle end may be found stamped on skin. Entry wound-contact shot
- 7. Circular or oval. Singeing of hair and scorching absent. Smudging not seen beyond 30 cm Grease collar and abrasion collar present.
- 8. Vary greatly in size, shape and configuration. Usually larger then the corresponding wound of entry. Scorching, blackening and tattooing absent. Abrasion collar and grease collar also absent. Edges invariably everted. Outward beveling in case of skull. Exit wound
- 9. SMOOTH BONE FIREARM INJURY IT’S DIFFERENT FROM BULLETS - IT’S PALLETS
- 10. Large irregular hole (Explosive blast effect). Scorching, tattooing and blackening present. Imprint abrasion may be present. Shot enters as a solid mass. Entry wound- contact shot
- 11. Circular defect with irregular inverted borders Edges show scorching and blackening. Fairly wide zone of tattooing. Entry wound- close shot
- 12. Significant dispersion of pellets beyond 2m and increases progressively. Beyond 6m central defect diminishes to nothing and lethality is very less. Entry wound-Distant shot
- 13. 1. Nature of firearm. 2. Range of fire. 3. Direction of fire. 4. Place from where firing took place. 5. Cause of death. 6. Manner of death-Accidental, suicidal or homicidal. MLA Firearm injuries
- 14. Dust shot : Consists of extremely fine particles. Bird shot : Consists of lead pellets of average diameter 3.5mm, used for small game hunting. Buck shot : consists of large pellets of average diameter 6-8mm, use for big game hunting. Types of lead shot
- 15. Billiard ball effect Tandem bullet Shored exit wound Yawing bullet Tumbling bullet Souvenir bullet : A bullet remaining from a long time in the body without invoking any certain discomfort or visible damage. Kennedy phenomenon : Alteration of firearm wound due to surgical intervention. Unusual Ballistic effects
- 16. ( A) Dermal nitrate test : (a) Cloth dipped in molten paraffin is wrapped on the hands of the accused. (b) Then cloth is removed and is treated with diphenylamine reagent on its internal surface. (c) Appearance of blue color indicated positive test. ( B) More specific and sensitive tests : Harrison and Gilroy`s test, Neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy. He fired a GUN, I`m sure