Stab Wounds Look at the following images. Make observations about the shape of the wound. Make an assumption about the instrument used.

There is an obvious gap between wounds. The instrument could not have been too sharp, or it would have completely pierced the skin. The size would indicate a hammer.

The point at the bottom left of the wound is where the blade cut. The more rounded area at the upper right is where the top, flat part of the blade entered.

Both sides of this slice wound are rounded (neither was a cutting edge). The wound itself is thicker, indicating a very thick blade or two blades.

The star shaped pattern of this puncture wound indicates a pointed instrument with an x-like pattern on the end.

The rounded shape of the first puncture wound shows the shape of the haft. By holding the edges of the wound together, the shape of the point becomes somewhat more obvious.