Blood Spatter

Position of victim & perpetrator Use laws of physics Blood – high viscosity (= liquid’s resistance to flow) Blood – high surface tension – allows blood to retain its shape when contacts other object

Velocity blood travels as it leaves body combines with gravity producing a certain path Low-velocity spatter - if person moves after losing blood from stab wound, blood falls down  large droplets

Medium-velocity spatter - from blunt force trauma - blood spurts out from body

High - velocity spatter - from gunshot wounds - tiny droplets, like a fine spray

Arterial spray - based on heartbeat pattern

Useful in determining: - position of victim - type of weapon or tool used - # of times victim was hit, shot, or stabbed - if victim moved after assault

After evaluation, may determine: Events of crime Sequence of events Who was or was not present