NCJ Number
136038
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1992) Pages: 657-662
Date Published
1992
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a case in which a hunting accident was resolved by using instrumental neutron activation analysis for direct comparison of the trace element content in lead shot.
Abstract
A 47-year-old white male was found dead in a wood, crouched behind a bush; a small basket of mushrooms was beside the body. The autopsy revealed two fatal wounds caused by two lead shot pellets. The investigating magistrate ordered testing of all the shotguns in the district. After the testing, a small number of shotguns remained under consideration, based on close similarity between the percussion pin and extractor marks on the cartridge cases found at the homicide scene, presumably because all the shotguns were of the same type and model. A few days later, in the house of one of the owners of a suspected shotgun, some shot of the same type and caliber as that extracted from the victim were found. The gun owner, however, refused to admit that the gun was used by anyone on the day of the homicide. The investigators learned that only one factory in the country in which the homicide occurred (Italy) produces nickel-jacketed shot for hunting uses. Two representative samples shot of the same brand and type as the ones under investigation, but belonging to different production batches, were obtained from the factory. This article describes the comparative analysis of the shot from the victim, the shot found in the gun owner's house, and the shot from the manufacture. The results indicate a high probability that the suspect's shot and the shot that killed the victim came from the same production batch. The suspect was found guilty of manslaughter. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 11 references