NCJ Number
52815
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS VIDEO TAPE PROGRAM FOR FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS DISCUSSES EXAMINATION OF DEATH BY TRAUMA, INTERPRETATION OF AUTOPSY RESULTS, RECORDING FINDINGS, AND MARKING AND HANDLING EVIDENCE.
Abstract
DIFFERENCES ARE APPARENT IN WOUNDS MADE BY BULLETS FROM HANDGUNS AND PISTOLS AND ALSO BY VARIOUS CALIBER BULLETS. THE BULLET'S PATH AFTER BEING FIRED FROM A GUN OR A PISTOL IS TRACED. CHARACTERISTICS OF ENTRANCE AND EXIT WOUND PERFORATIONS IN THE BODY ARE COVERED AS WELL AS THE BULLET'S TRACT WITHIN THE BODY. SKULL WOUNDS ARE DISCUSSED SEPARATELY. SMOKE RESIDUE, SCALLOPED EDGES, SMATTERING, AND DEBRIS IN THE SKIN SURROUNDING A PERFORATION CAN HELP DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF WEAPON WAS USED AND HOW FAR THE VICTIM WAS FROM THE GUN AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING. AUTOPSY TECHNIQUES FOR TRACKING A BULLET'S PATH INSIDE THE BODY AND FOR LOCATING THE BULLET INSIDE THE BODY ARE DEMONSTRATED. THE BULLET SHOULD BE HANDLED BY HAND RATHER THAN WITH INSTRUMENTS TO AVOID SCRATCHING AND MARKED AS EVIDENCE WITH THE INITIALS OF THE FORENSIC EXAMINER AND THE VICTIM. AUTOPSY FINDINGS SHOULD INCLUDE PROPER BULLET DESCRIPTIONS, DESCRIPTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS OF THE WOUNDS AND TRACTS, AND INFORMATION ON RESIDUE OR OTHER EVIDENCE. (DAG)