Irrtümer in der Wundballistik

In ballistics, especially wound ballistics, a large number of misconceptions and false conclusions concerning findings and their causes exist. On the other hand these misconceptions can be easily corrected by using objective scientific methods and tools. For performing experiments in wound ballistics glycerine soap and gelatine should be used when human soft tissue has to be simulated. Gunshots into the air can be dangerous to life as the falling bullets have enough energy to penetrate skin and bones; exceptions are air gun and shotgun pellets which do not have enough energy to penetrate skin when descending. When a bullet hits bone the bone fragments will not receive enough energy to act as secondary projectiles themselves. Shots from handguns are not able to produce enough power to stop a person or throw a person backwards. Blank shots from alarm pistols are dangerous to life when fired at point blank range: the gas jet exiting the muzzle has such a high velocity that a high energy density will result which gives the jet the character of a solid projectile. The effect of a gunshot is an individual event which depends on a number of factors (e.g. localization of the entrance wound and wound canal, psychological state, intoxication and pathological state of organs). Effectiveness means the wounding potential and is dependent on the energy of the bullet and its ability to transfer the energy along the wound canal.     

Ballistics and anatomical modelling – A review

Ballistics is the study of a projectiles motion and can be broken down into four stages: internal, intermediate, external and terminal ballistics. The study of the effects a projectile has on a living tissue is referred to as wound ballistics and falls within terminal ballistics. To understand the effects a projectile has on living tissues the mechanisms of wounding need to be understood. These include the permanent and temporary cavities, energy, yawing, tumbling and fragmenting. Much ballistics research has been conducted including using cadavers, animal models and simulants such as ballistics ordnance gelatine. Further research is being conducted into developing anatomical, 3D, experimental and computational models. However, these models need to accurately represent the human body and its heterogeneous nature which involves understanding the biomechanical properties of the different tissues and organs. Further research is needed to accurately represent the human tissues with simulants and is slowly being conducted.     

Air gun--a deadly toy?: A case report

Air guns (air rifles) are used throughout the world as instruments of amusement such as toys in funfairs, for bird hunting and firearms training. In India and in many other countries, this instrument neither comes under the purview of the Arms Act, nor is there is any restriction on the user's age. This enables a person to gain access to this instrument quite easily. Sometimes serious and fatal injuries result when it is used by an ignorant person or by a criminal. There are reports which suggest that these 'toys' can cause painful injuries but only a few cases of death have been reported. There is no literature about the features of injuries that help to establish the range of fire by an air gun. Here we report a case where a boy was accidentally shot to death while watching bird shooting. We attempt to correlate the injury with the range of fire.     

Creation of an optic nerve sheath diameter ultrasound model for NeuroICU education

Background:Using ultrasound to measure optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)is an emerging bedside technique to noninvasively assess intracranial pressure(ICP)in patients with brain injury.This technique is unique among bedside ultrasonography and is often performed by providers who have no formal ultrasound training.We sought to create a low-cost,3D,reusable ONSD model to train neurology,neurosurgery,and critical care providers in measuring ICP.Results:We identified 253 articles,of which 15 were associated with models and 2 with simulation.One gelatin model was reported,upon which we based our initial design.We could not validate the visual findings of this model;however,after constructing multiple beta models,the design most representative of human eye anatomy was a globe made of ballistics gel and either a 3 mm,5 mm,or 7 mmx50 mm 3D-printed optic nerve inserted into a platform composed of ballistics gel,all of which sat inside a 3D-printed skull.This model was used to teach ONSD measurements with ultrasound at a continuing medical education event prior to training on a live human model.Conclusions:A simple 3D ballistic ONSD model allows learners to practice proper hand placement and pressure,basic landmarks,and ONSD measurement prior to operating on a human eye.This model is replicable and sustainable given that the globe and platform are composed of ballistics gel.     

Forensic archaeology and anthropology

Forensic archaeology is an extremely powerful investigative discipline and, in combination with forensic anthropology, can provide a wealth of evidentiary information to police investigators and the forensic community. The re-emergence of forensic archaeology and anthropology within Australia relies on its diversification and cooperation with established forensic medical organizations, law enforcement forensic service divisions, and national forensic boards. This presents a unique opportunity to develop a new multidisciplinary approach to forensic archaeology/anthropology within Australia as we hold a unique set of environmental, social, and cultural conditions that diverge from overseas models and require different methodological approaches. In the current world political climate, more forensic techniques are being applied at scenes of mass disasters, genocide, and terrorism. This provides Australian forensic archaeology/anthropology with a unique opportunity to develop multidisciplinary models with contributions from psychological profiling, ballistics, sociopolitics, cultural anthropology, mortuary technicians, post-blast analysis, fire analysis, and other disciplines from the world of forensic science.     

Doppler radar velocity measurements for wound ballistics experiments

Bullet velocity is a basic parameter in wound ballistics studies. It is usually measured electronically by means of a variety of solid or photoelectric barriers connected to equipment measuring the time elapsing between impulses, enabling the velocity to be calculated. With the advent of Doppler radar velocity measurement of large calibre artillery shells, the use of this equipment for wound ballistics experiments was investigated. Anaesthetized pigs were shot at a range of 9–10 metres and the velocities measured by Doppler radar and photocells were compared. A very good correspondence between the measured entry and exit velocities in low and medium velocity bullets was found, i.e. an average deviation of less than 1% (range 0–2%) between the two types of equipment. In high velocity bullets measurement of entry velocities was just as good, but in both methods measurement of the exit velocity was complicated by the cluttering of signals by fragments of tissue released from the exit wound and the deflection of the bullet, Doppler radar offers important benefits — simple set up, minimal risk of damage of equipment by stray bullets and very good accuracy — and may replace photocells and similar equipment in studies involving low and medium velocity bullets. Measurement of the exit velocity of high velocity bullets is unsatisfactory in both methods, and it is necessary to improve the Doppler radar method in order to measure that as well.     

Lethal head ballistic trauma with a « nonlethal » projectile: A case report and review of the literature

Forensic investigations of cranioencephalic ballistic trauma involve several aspects, including the study of terminal ballistics. This includes the analysis of projectiles and the damage they cause. Although some projectiles are considered “non-lethal”, serious injuries and deaths secondary to the use of this type of ammunition have been reported. We report the case of a 37-year-old man who died from ballistic head trauma after the use of “Gomm Cogne” ammunition. A post-mortem computed tomography (CT) showed a right temporal bone defect and seven foreign bodies. Three of these were located in the encephalic parenchyma, which showed diffuse hemorrhagic changes. External examination indicated that this was a contact entry wound and confirmed encephalic involvement. This case illustrates the potential lethality of this type of ammunition with CT and autopsy with similar features to single projectile firearm injuries.     

An unusual case of suicide by handcrafted shotgun and slug

Injuries by handcrafted firearms are uncommon, and those by handcrafted shotguns are very rare. We present an unusual case of suicide using a handcrafted shotgun and slug. A 73-year-old male, who was a glass-grinding artisan, was found dead at a workshop on the premises of his residence. Autopsy showed a contact shotgun wound to the forehead, which perforated the cranium and caused extensive damage to the brain. The handcrafted shotgun was found in the proximity of the body. The shotgun consisted of metal pipes fixed to the vise and did not take the form of a conventional gun. The recovered slug was also found to be manufactured manually. It appeared that the handcrafted shotgun was only intended for committing suicide using his ballistics knowledge, skills, and resources.     

A case of suicide by double gunshot wounds to the head: the ability to act after the first shot

A single gunshot (or multiple) does (do) not necessarily lead to immediate loss of consciousness or rapid neurological deficits, so the victim may be able to repeatedly pull the trigger before achieving the lethal effect. Despite multiple gunshot wounds can lead to the suspicious participation of other person to the death of the victim, in the medico-legal literature suicides with multiple gunshot wounds are reported, demonstrating the ability of the victim to act after two or more gunshots. In this case, a 47-years-old man was found dead in a pool of blood in the kitchen of his house. According to findings and analysis, the victim modified a single-shot, pneumatic toy gun branded “Condor” Cal. 7 mm (a gun that is made mainly with “ZAMAK” zinc-based alloy, designed to shoot one soft-polymer bullet at a time, with an initial kinetic energy lower than 1 Joule) into an improvised firearm weapon. With this gun, the victim achieved shooting of two bullets into his head, both entering from the right temporal region of his head, with one stopped in the left occipital lobe and the other one in the left temporal lobe. His death was caused by cranium-meningo-encephalic gunshot wounds. The conditions supporting the hypothesis that the victim was able to fire two shots to his head before the onset of incapacitation (the type of bullets used, the location of injuries and their consequences) and the characteristics that typically allow to distinguish the manner of death (suicide vs homicide) were evaluated. Based on all the collected elements, it was possible to confirm that suicide was the manner of death. This case underlines the importance of evaluating all available elements (post-mortem imaging, autopsy and toxicological findings, ballistics and neuropathological evaluations) to distinguish suicide from homicide and to prevent incorrect conclusions.

     

A case of homicidal intraoral gunshot and review of the literature

Determination of the manner of death in case of intraoral firearm wounds can be a challenge, especially if the circumstances of the incident are unclear and crime scene investigation is inadequate. It is a well-known fact that the mouth is one of the selected sites for suicide with firearms. Homicidal shooting through the mouth is said to be rare, but does occur, and can be mistaken for a suicide. For discrimination between suicide and homicide in cases of intraoral firearm wounds, some useful points are the site of entry wound, the direction of the internal bullet path, the range of fire and the circumstances of death. We demonstrate these points in a case of a homicidal gunshot to the mouth assessed by both classical autopsy and post-mortem CT (PMCT).     

Two death cases originating from supplementary heater in the cabins of parked trucks

A supplementary heater can be mounted in trucks or other transportation vehicles and used to heat the air in the cabin independent of the engine of the vehicle. This apparatus works with diesel fuel or gasoline. Combustion products burning in the pre-combustion chamber heat the fins of the engine. The air passing through the fins is heated and is transferred into the cabin. The malfunction of such an apparatus may be the cause of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning or fire. In this study, we report two cases in which drivers died while asleep in the cabins of parked trucks. In the first case, a 43-year-old man died because of CO poisoning originating from a broken supplementary heater. In the second case, a 48-year-old man died owing to a fire that resulted from the burning of upholstery cloths in the truck cabin, and which was caused by a supplementary heater set at very high temperatures. In both cases, it was determined by a technical expert that the CO poisoning in the first case and the fire in the second case were caused by the supplementary heater in the trucks. It is emphasized in this article that the supplementary heater in the truck might be the cause of mortal CO poisoning as well as be responsible for fires in the cabins of the trucks. It aims to highlight that a detailed investigation of supplementary heaters at the death scene is required for such death cases in the trucks.     

Entomotoxicology in burnt bodies: a case of maternal filicide-suicide by fire

One of the most common methods of maternal filicide is by fire. In this case study, a 40-year-old female and her children were found completely burned in a burnt out car. All bodies showed a degree of destruction by fire consisting to a level 3 of the Crow-Glassman Scale (CGS) and early stage of insect activity. Toxicological analyses were performed on soft tissues and body fluids still available. The results were positive for diazepam and its metabolites only for children with blood concentrations consistent with therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines. Home video surveillance cameras confirmed sedation prior to death recording the mother while administering some drops of sedative drugs in a soft drink to the children just a couple of hours before setting fire to the car. Based on autopsy findings, all victims were still alive at the time of fire. The cause of death was determined as carbon monoxide poisoning and fatal thermal injuries by fire. This case study has a special focus on the entomotoxicology and the potential role of insects in death investigations of burnt bodies, supposed to be an inadequate substratum for insect colonization. It demonstrates that in burnt bodies, arthropod colonization can be quite immediate after fire is extinguished. Toxicological analyses performed on larvae actively feeding on the children’s bodies were positive for diazepam and its metabolites in small amount compared with blood concentrations, whereas the larvae collected from the mother’s body were totally negative. These data, according to the autopsy findings and the toxicological results from the victim’s blood and tissues, supported the suspect of a non-lethal sedation prior to death, which is a common behaviour in maternal filicide.

     

A case of carbon monoxide poisoning before a vehicle fire: Availability of volatile hydrocarbons analysis

Benzene is one of volatile hydrocarbons contained in fire smoke, and the concentrations in the blood are known to be positively correlated with that of carbon monoxide-hemoglobin (CO-Hb) in fire-related deaths. In this report, we present a vehicle fire case in which CO and benzene concentration is atypically un-correlated. The car driven by the vehicle dweller ran into an oncoming lane at high speed, hitting a traffic signal pole. A vehicle fire started when the rescuer opened the car door. A burned body and briquette stove were found when the fire was extinguished. An autopsy revealed a small amount of soot deposit in the airways. The CO-Hb concentration in the heart blood was 63%. Volatile hydrocarbon analysis of the blood was performed; compared with the CO-Hb concentration, the benzene concentration was significantly lower than expected. High CO-Hb concentration without a hydrocarbon component indicated that the deceased inhaled CO that was not related to fire smoke. Thus, we concluded that the cause of death was CO poisoning caused by the briquette stove before the vehicle fire started. Comparing volatile hydrocarbon concentrations with CO-Hb concentrations could provide more information about the circumstances surrounding a vehicle fire-related death.     

The use of gelatine in wound ballistics research

Blocks of gelatine are used in both lethality and survivability studies for broadly the same reason, i.e. comparison of ammunition effects using a material that it is assumed represents (some part of) the human body. The gelatine is used to visualise the temporary and permanent wound profiles; elements of which are recognised as providing a reasonable approximation to wounding in humans. One set of researchers aim to improve the lethality of the projectile, and the other to understand the effects of the projectile on the body to improve survivability. Research areas that use gelatine blocks are diverse and include ammunition designers, the medical and forensics communities and designers of ballistic protective equipment (including body armour). This paper aims to provide an overarching review of the use of gelatine for wound ballistics studies; it is not intended to provide an extensive review of wound ballistics as that already exists, e.g. Legal Med 23:21–29, 2016. Key messages are that test variables, projectile type (bullet, fragmentation), impact site on the body and intermediate layers (e.g. clothing, personal protective equipment (PPE)) can affect the resulting wound profiles.

     

Wound ballistics is a model of the pathophysiology of all blunt and penetrating trauma

The tissue factors important in wound ballistics provide a useful insight into the pathophysiology of organ injury in all trauma. Wound ballistics includes penetrating and blunt trauma mechanisms. Blunt trauma takes the form of tissue stretch (temporary cavitation). The varied ability of different types of tissue to tolerate the physical displacement of tissue stretch in gunshot wounds, and the inability of any tissue to survive being crushed by a bullet, is a model for the relative abilities of different tissues to tolerate blunt trauma and penetrating trauma of all types. As in gunshot wounds, the extent of tissue injury from any type of trauma is directly related to both the characteristics of the tissue injured and the mechanism of injury. Penetrating trauma can be a feature of blunt trauma (and vice versa), such as when a rib fracture fragment is displaced into the spleen, lacerating it. Although the mechanism of a traumatic event may be pure blunt or penetrating trauma, the mechanism of tissue injury may be mixed.     

An analysis of the factors implicated in fire deaths in children

The aim of this study was to determine: 1) the factors implicated in fire deaths in children, 2) the relevance of blood carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen cyanide (CN) concentrations in child fire victims. 34 child fire victims (17 males: 17 females) were studied. Mean age was 4.5 years. In 12 cases medico-legal autopsies were performed, but no toxicological analyses were done (group A). In 14 cases autopsies were not performed, but blood CO and CN concentrations were measured in the victims (group B). In the remaining 8 cases both toxicological analyses and medicolegal autopsies were done (group C). In 29 cases out of 34, children had been left alone by their parents. In 20 cases out of 34, children had 80% burns of their body surface. In groups A and C autopsies enabled violence or other criminal cause of deaths to be excluded. All victims had smoke inhalation. The mean blood CN concentration in the 22 fire victims (groups B and C) was 70.67 +/- 14.11 micromol/l (0-207). The mean blood CO concentration was 1.89 +/- 0.51 mmol/l (0.11-5.89). There was no significant correlation between CN and the CO blood concentrations. There was no significant correlation between the burn surface area and the blood concentration of either CN or CO. In 11 cases, one or both gases concentrations were in the potential toxic range (CN: 40-<100 micromol/l; CO: 1-<5.8 micromol/l) but below the lethal range. Therefore these deaths were considered to be due to the combined effect of gas toxicity. It is concluded that: 1) In case of fire death, a medico-legal autopsy should be performed to confirm that victims suffered smoke inhalation and to exclude violence or other criminal cause of deaths; 2) Blood CN and CO measurements identify the exact contribution of each to the death; 3) Immediate blood sampling at the scene of death should be done because CN may disappear rapidly from body tissue after death.     

Comparison between computed tomography and silicone-casting methods to determine gunshot cavities in ballistic soap

International Journal of Legal Medicine - Current methods used in terminal ballistics to determine the volume of temporary cavities created by projectiles in soft tissue simulants (such as...     

The deliberate killing of a sheep with a fire extinguisher: a case report and experimental reconstruction study

The morphological findings of a sheep deliberately killed with a powder fire extinguisher in an act of cruelty are described. The animal was orally insufflated with the powder of a 6 kg fire extinguisher having the working pressure of 15 bar. This led to rupture of the esophagus and rumen, followed by rupturing of the abdominal wall. Furthermore, powder was applied rectally into the large intestine and vaginally into the genital tract. For a better understanding of the lesion patterns and of the course of events, fire extinguishers were used in an experimental case reconstruction study on sheep carcasses. Rupture of the rumen and abdominal wall could only be reproduced after intraesophageal insufflation but not after oral insufflation. Therefore, an esophageal application has to be considered in the killed sheep. Esophageal rupture in sheep carcasses could not be reproduced by oral or by esophageal application of the fire extinguisher. Nevertheless, in isolated fresh ovine esophagi, compressed air of less than 1 bar was sufficient to induce tissue separation in the esophageal wall. The described case reveals parallels with findings in rarely reported accidents with or in suicides committed with chemical fire extinguishers.

     

Validation of Roebuck 1518 synthetic chamois as a skin simulant when backed by 10% gelatin

International Journal of Legal Medicine - Synthetic skin simulants are used both in wound ballistics and forensic investigations and should display similar mechanical properties to human tissue and...