NCJ Number
59426
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 610-617
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
TWO CASES ARE PRESENTED IN WHICH THE SEQUENCE OF GUNSHOT FIRE WAS DETERMINED WHEN SEQUENTIAL MISSILES COLLIDED WITHIN THE BODY.
Abstract
DURING A FORENSIC AUTOPSY, MANY FACTS CAN BE LEARNED ABOUT A GUNSHOT WOUND, INCLUDING RANGE OF FIRE, BULLET PATH, BULLET CALIBER, AND WHAT GUN FIRED THE SHOT. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF SITUATIONS WHERE THE SEQUENCE OF FIRE CAN BE ESTABLISHED ARE FEW; THEREFORE, THESE TWO CASES SERVE AS ILLUSTRATIONS OF HOW SUCH DETERMINATION WAS POSSIBLE. IN THE FIRST CASE, A MAN WAS FOUND SHOT SIX TIMES WITH A .22-CALIBER PISTOL FOUND IN THE NEXT ROOM. HIS WIFE, CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE, WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER. AUTOPSY EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE FOUR BULLETS THAT ENTERED FROM ABOVE AND FROM THE LEFT PASSED ACROSS THE BACK TO COME TO REST IN THE RIGHT MIDBACK. AT THIS POINT, IT WAS STRUCK BY ONE OF THE TWO BULLETS THAT ENTERED FROM ABOVE THE RIGHT SHOULDER; THE Y-SHAPED MISSLE PATHS CLEARLY INDICATED THAT THE BULLETS COLLIDED. THESE FACTS INDICATE THAT THE FOUR SHOTS FROM THE LEFT AND ABOVE PRECEDED THE TWO SHOTS FROM ABOVE THE RIGHT SIDE. THE FACTS DO NOT SUPPORT THE STATEMENT OF THE DEFENDANT WHO MOST PROBABLY FIRED THE LAST TWO SHOTS FROM ABOVE AT THE ALREADY WOUNDED VICTIM. THE DEFENDANT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CONVICTED OF MURDER. IN THE SECOND CASE, A MAN WAS ALLEGEDLY SHOT BY ANOTHER DURING AN ARGUMENT. THE MAN CHARGED CLAIMED SELF-DEFENSE. HOWEVER, AS IN THE FIRST CASE, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ORDER OF FIRE DISPROVED THE DEFENDANT'S STATEMENT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SHOTGUN BLAST OF THE BACK PRECEDED THE SHOTGUN BLAST TO THE ABDOMEN SINCE THE PELLET FROM THE ABDOMINAL BLAST STRUCK AND BECAME EMBEDDED IN THE BASE OF THE WADDING FROM THE BLAST TO THE BACK. THE DEFENDANT WAS CONVICTED OF MURDER. PHOTOGRAPHS, ILLUSTRATIONS, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)