1. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera1

2. FIRE ARM INJURIES Dr. M. Junaid khan Forensic Medicine, NMC, Nowshera. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 2

3. LEARNING OBJECTIVES AT THE END OF THIS SESSION, ALL STUDENTS MUST KNOW ABOUT FOLLOWING TOPICS: Define firearm, forensic ballistics, terminology, and understand ballistic basics. ABC of firearm, general makeup and definitions. firearm types, components, ammunition etc Effect / mechanism of firearm on target/body Wound produced by firearms, its types, properties, identification. Medico legal aspect of firearm wounds Autopsy of a fire armed victim. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 3

4. 1. FORENSIC FIREARM INTRODUCTION For a doctor, elementary knowledge of structure of a firearm, composition of ammunitions and mechanism of discharge of a firearm is necessary for proper understanding and interpretation of the injuries produced by them. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 4

5. A. DEFINITION  A firearm: is any instrument or device designed to propel a projectile/missile/bullet by means of expansive force of gases generated by combustion of an explosive substance.  Forensic ballistics: the science dealing with investigations of firearms, ammunition and the problems attending their use.  Injury caused by fire arm or missile in fire arm injury  Action: The part of firearm that loads, fires and ejects a cartridge  Range: Distance that traveled by missile from muzzle to target  Recoil: Back word reaction (kick) of gun when fired  Trajectory: Path of the shot or bullet in air. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 5

6. ABC OF FIREARM, GENERAL MAKEUP AND PARTS DEFINITIONS. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 6

7. THREE PARTS,.. 1. STOCK OR BUTT =This is the rear part of gun, which is held in hand (in case of short barrelled or hand rest gun) while firing one round of shot. 2. BARREL= It is the hollow cylindrical length of gun, which has the following functioning parts: a.Chamber: It is the posterior part of the barrel that accommodates the cartridge to be fired. b.Taper/leed: The inner diameter of the chamber part of the barrel is wider than the rest. The part of the barrel, anterior to the chamber, tapers anteriorly. This is known as taper or leed. c.Bore of the barrel: The vast length of the hollow barrel anterior to the chamber cone or the taper is called the bore. d.Muzzle: The anterior end of the bore is the muzzle end of the barrel. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 7

8. CONT,… 3. BREACH MECHANISM a.Hammer: Behind the chamber, with a pointed pin (percussion pin) at the centre of the anterior surface of the hammer. b.Trigger: Below the chamber there is the trigger that, when pulled, cause the hammer to advance and the percussion pin of the hammer to pass through the central hole of the breach plate of the chamber to strike the centre of the posterior surface of the cartridge (percussion cap). c.Trigger guard: The trigger is surrounded by a metallic trigger guard, so that the trigger will not be pulled accidentally. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 8

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10. B. CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE ARM. According to the condition of barrel:: Non-Rifled/Smooth Bore 1. Shot Gun2. Air Gun 3. Muzzle loader Pistol 4. Stud gun Riffled Fire Arm: 1. Revolvers 2. Pistol 3. Riffles of different bores 4. Klashankoff 5. Semi/Automatic weapons According to the muzzle velocity:: Low velocity—1200ft/s Medium velocity--- 1200-2500ft/s High velocity---- >3000ft/s Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 10

11. NON-RIFLED/SMOOTH BORE FIREARM Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 11

12. RIFFLED FIRE ARM Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 12

13. NON-RIFLED: ONLY LONG RIFLED: SHORT AND LONG Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 13

14. Non-Rifled/Smooth Shotguns - barrel has a smooth internal surface— (Only Long Barrel) Rifled weapons – barrel is a spiral groove called rifling----(Long & ShoRt Barrel) Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 14

15. RIFLING OR GUN BARREL/MARKINGS The manufacture of a barrel also requires impressing its inner surface with spiral grooves, a step known as rifling. The surfaces of the original bore that remain between the grooves are called lands OR ridges The grooves serve to guide a fired bullet through the barrel, imparting a rapid spin/twisting. This leaves a pattern on the bullet that is unique of each firearm. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 15

16. DIFFERENCE B/T RIFLE & NON-RIFLE GUN A A B B Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 16

17. FUNCTIONS OF RIFLING ? A- The Rifling giving the bullet its spiraling, spinning motion, increasing  range of firing,  power of penetration and decreasing Resistance ( air or gravity). B- It gives the bullet stability increasing  Range of firing and  power of penetration Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 17

18. C. AMMUNITION ANATOMY Ammunition of rifled firearm Ammunition of non-rifled firearm Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 18

19. CARTRIDGES, BULLET, GUN- POWDER, CALIBERS AND PRIMER 1.Cartridge—a case that holds a bullet, primer powder, and gunpowder 2.Bullet--- usually of metal, is out front with the cartridge, holding the primer and propellant powders, behind. 3.Gun-Powder---Propellant/combutable charge 4.Caliber: The diameter of the gun barrel, measured in inches 50 caliber = 0.5 in diameter Or in millimeters 9 mil = 9 mm diameter 5. Primer: see in a next slide Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 19

20. HOW A FIREARM WORKS 2. The primer powder sparks through the flash hole to the main propellant supply 1. The firing pin hits the base of the cartridge, igniting the primer powder Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 20

21. HOW A FIREARM WORKS 4. The bullet follows the lands and grooves spiraling out of the barrel 3. The pressure of the explosion pushes the bullet from the casing into the barrel Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 21

22. AMMUNITION OF RIFLED WEAPON It is the nature of propellant charge ( gun powder ) and the projectile. 1.Cartridge 2.Projectiles (missiles) 1.Bullets. 3.Gun powder (Propellant charge). 1.Black powder. 2.Smokeless powder. 3.Semi smokeless powder 4.Primer Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 22

23. A. CARTRIDGE The basic unite of ammunition, also called round, made up of : cartridge case, primer, powder and a projectile. It is a closed metal cylinder carrying the primer in its base and propellant charge, a single projectile is clamped into its distal end. It is usually made of brass. The caliber and the name of manufacture are stamped on its base. Hand guns cartridge are short and have straight design, while rifle cartridge are long and bottle-necked. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 23

24. B. PROJECTILES/MISSILES Called bullet. It may be jacketed or non-jacketed. Handgun bullet is short with round tip while rifle is long with pointed end. Bullets may be: 1-Explosive bullets: dumdumised or devastator/expending bullets 2- Rubber or plastic bullets. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 24

25.  Lead shots: Present in cartridges are of different size no: 1 to 12 then 4A, 4B, SSG, SG, LG etc.  Hardened Lead Bullets: Used in pistols and revolvers.  Incendiary Bullets: Contain phosphorus and they burn the tissue.  Tracer Bullets: Contain Barium peroxide and Magnesium enclosed in the base. These bullets give light as they pass.  Tandem Bullets: Sometimes when an old, unused, rusty weapon is fired, the bullet may not be ejected out of the barrel, but when a second bullet is fired, it also forcibly brings out the lodged bullet with it. Thus two bullets together enter through a single entrance wound. Such a bullet is tandem bullet.  Dum Dum Bullets: Expanding grooved Dum Dum Bullets are so designed as to expand on striking. They are very destructive in character and produce extensive wounds with ragged margins. 1890, Britsh in Calcata.  Jacket Conical Bullets: Either fully or partly with copper, cupronickel or other harder casing. Used in rifles. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 25

26. MARKS ON THE BULLET When the bullet is fired down the barrel, the rifling imparts 2 types of markings to the bullet. Class characteristics: these are rifling marks and can identify the make and model of the weapon. Individual chacteristics: these are marks made by imperfection in the barrel. No two firearms share in these characteristics even if they were from the same factory ( Confirmatory marks). These marks should be compared by comparison microscope with a test bullet from the suspected weapon. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 26

27. THE RIFLING MARKS DIFFERS FROM A WEAPON TO ANOTHER ACCORDING TO: Number of lands and grooves Width of the lands and grooves Direction of twist Depth of the grooves As the bullet passes through the barrel  rifling bites on the bullet giving it the same class characteristic so it can identify the weapon and they are called Primary rifle mark Rifling is considered as a family characteristic (class) for each weapon 12 3 Left Right Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 27

28. TRIGER MARKS AND STRIATION SIMILAR CARTRIDGE CASES MARKS Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 28 UNIQUE STRIATIONS—GOOD EVIDENCE

29. DO THESE MATCH? Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 29

30. C. GUN POWDER Composition of powder: a)Black powder: Charcoal = 15% Sulphur = 10%, Potassium Nitrate= 75% When Black powder (one gram) ignited produces = 270-300ml of gas (44% conversion) b)Smoke less powder: Nitro cellulose or Nitro glycerine in addition to Nitro cellulose One gm of Nitrocellulose powder produce = 900-1000ml of gas (100 conversion) c)Semi smokeless powder: 85% black & 15% smokeless powder. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 30

31. D. PRIMER It is small tube located either in the rim (rim fire) or in the center of the base (centre fire) of the cartridge. The primer composition is formed of 3 substances: 1. MERCURY FULMINATE, 2. K CHLORATE 3. POWDERED GLASS. MLI: 1- Start the process of firing. 2-Primer tell whether the cartridge was fired or non- fired. 3-Identification of the weapons. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 31

32. AMMUNITION OF NON-RIFLED FIREARM Cartridge: consists of a metal base containing a central percussion cap, supporting a cardboard or plastic cylinder. Inside the lower part of this cylinder is the gun powder covered by internal wad, which separates the gun powder from the lead shots. The open end of the cartridge may be closed by external wad or crimped to keep the shots in place. Missiles: are wads and shots. Gun powder: either black or smokeless. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 32

33. D. GUNSHOT PRODUCTS/EFFECTS ARE THEY IMPORTANT FOR M.L. EXAMINATION? Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 33

34. WHENEVER A GUN IS FIRED, THE FOLLOWING EMERGES FROM THE MUZZLE OF THE BARREL IN A CONICAL CLOUD Missiles: bullet or wads and shots. A jet of flame: 1-2 inch in length, 1400 F. A cloud of gas. A residue: A Powder residue: Unburned particles of gun powder. Partially unburned particles of gun powder. Carbon or soot from burnet gun powder. Nitrates and nitrites from burnet gun powder. B- vaporized metal from the primer, cartridge case and bullet or its jacket. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 34

35. EFFECT OF FIREARM ON BODY MECHANISM OF BULLET WOUND PRODUCTION all mechanical trauma is caused by transference of energy from an externally moving object to the tissues. Bullet wound production mechanism: mainly by two factors 1. FROM MISSILE ITSELF—Speed/kinetic energy, size, shape, and character of its motion in flight at the time of hitting the target. 2. NATURE OF THE TARGET—the density, cohesion and character of tissues struck and the rate of energy transmission from the missile to the tissues. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 35

36. SHAPE, SIZE AND VELOCITY OF THE MISSILE Large bullets cause greater damage than the small ones. Round bullets produce larger wounds than conical ones. DUM DUM Velocity of the missile is a significantly important factor as the wounding power of the missile is directly related to its kinetic energy (KE), i.e. E = mv2/2gm. Velocities are usually classified as Slow velocity (<340 m/s) speed of sound in air or less High velocity (1500 m/s) faster! Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 36

37. SLOW AND HIGH VELOCITY EFFECT ON BODY Slow velocity projectile—produce indentation and rotate around its axis  radiating energy laterally--  makes track of bullet (Tissue damage) High velocity projectile causes a shockwave around it’s track → severe disruption → ↑ tissue pressure and more damage-  produce cavitation (Tissue Loss) It reaches its maximum size within milliseconds and then decreases in size, ultimately leaving a fusiform cavity, (permanent cavity, temporary cavity.) THROUGH THE CHEST: Little cavity formation, because the thorax is fundamentally an air-filled enclosure. THROUGH THE HEAD: Brain is surrounded by bone, i.e. the cavity expansion is confined within the skull with resultant development of markedly increased intracranial pressure, causing brain pulpefaction -  ‘blown apart’. THROUGH THE CHEST: Little cavity formation, because the thorax is fundamentally an air-filled enclosure. THROUGH THE HEAD: Brain is surrounded by bone, i.e. the cavity expansion is confined within the skull with resultant development of markedly increased intracranial pressure, causing brain pulpefaction -  ‘blown apart’. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 37

38. BRAIN INJURY-GUNSHOT Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 38

39. OTHER EFFECTS ON BODY CHARACTER OF MOTION IN THE FLIGHT: The trajectory of the missile also determines how much and how fast its energy is being distributed to the target area. DENSITY OF THE TISSUES: The greater the tissue density, the greater the amount of energy discharged by the bullet while passing through that structure. Soft tissues tend to dissipate the transmitted energy in radial waves, whereas solid bone shatters as the energy radiates from the site of impact. HYDROSTATIC FORCES: Hydrostatic forces are responsible for apparently extensive degrees of damage observed in some visceral injuries due to blunt force including the bullet injuries. the liquid contents within these organs are displaced violently in all directions away from the bullet path, producing extensive lacerations. ENERGY TRANSMISSION RATE: especially designed or modified bullets. Soft-nose bullets get flattened on impact, Dum-Dum bullets are more destructive as they burst into the tissues, Cupronickel or other jacketed bullets may produce mushrooming effect from the exposed lead-core at the tip of the bullet, which expands on striking and thus producing enormous lacerations. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 39

40. E. BALLISTICS Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 40

41. BALLISTICS AND TYPES Ballistics: Science of motion of projectile a)Interior b)Exterior c)Terminal Interior Ballistics: Study of physio chemical phenomenon with in the fire arm from the moment of detonation of primer to the time of the projectile leaves the barrel. Exterior Ballistics: Study of motion of projectile after it leaves the barrel of fire arm Terminal Ballistics (Wound Ballistics): Study of effect of impact of a projectile on the target (resulting in formation of wound) Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 41

42. BALLISTIC WOUND COMPLEX Ballistic Wound complex: always consist of two parts Wounding Effect: which results from the strike of bullet/shots, hot gasses, flame, wad and any other component of ammunition. Non-Wounding Effect: which is caused by smoke, grease and unburnted powder- Harmless but M.L. IMPORTANCE. Overall BALLISTIC WOUND COMPLEX comprises of four parts 1.Entry wound, 2.Track of bullet with its direction 3.Place of resting 4.Exit wound. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 42

43. 1. THE ENTRANCE WOUNDS Central defect– the diameter approximates that of the penetrating projectile. The head of the projectile causes tissue destruction on impact, whilst the periphery suffers irreversible compression. Ring of dirt – due to black powder residue, gun oil or dirt rubbed off the projectile during penetration, comes from the head of the bullet – not the body (which does not contact the wound edges). Abrasion ring – symmetrical, concentric ring around the central defect during a head-on impact of the projectile. Inverted edges- The skin moves away from the projectile, upon impact. It bulges outward and the temporary entrance hole contracts after the projectile passes through. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 43

44. 2. BULLET TRACK What affects patterns of tissue injury? Deformation of the bullet Fragmentation of the bullet Amount of kinetic energy imparted to tissues Secondary targets such as bone. Tissue characteristics affect patterns of tissue injury. (The higher the specific gravity of tissue, the greater the damage. While Elasticity reduces the damage) Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 44

45. CONT,… Lung tissue of low density and high elasticity is damaged less than muscle with higher density but some elasticity. Liver, spleen, brain and adipose tissue have little tensile strength and elasticity and are easily injured. Fluid-filled organs (bladder, heart, great vessels, bowel) can burst because of pressure waves generated. A bullet striking bone may cause fragmentation of bone and/or bullet, with numerous secondary missiles formed, each producing additional wounding. Fragmentation increases the permanent cavity size. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 45

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47. Entrance wounds Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 47

48. The abrasion ring, and a very clear muzzle imprint, are seen in this contact range gunshot wound. Muzzle mark local burning of the skin Imprint and Abrasion Ring Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 48

49. OTHER FEATURES INCUDES: Dirt Ring: It is the smudge collar on the entrance wound as result of the bullet wipe. Collar of abrasion: It is the collar due to abrasion of the bullet at the entrance wound. Blackening: It is the deposition of smoke around the entrance wound at close distance of firing. Chocking: Degree of constriction at the end of the shot gun bore provided for keeping the shot spread more compact way. Richo - Chet: Glancing of the target when bullet usually hits at low angle. Scorching: Heat effect around the entrance wound due to the hot gases or flame, at close distance firing Tattooing: Imbedding of burnt, partially burnt or unburnt gun powder particles on the target or around the entrance wound in close range firing. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 49

50. CHOCKING Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 50

51. COLLAR OF ABRASION Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 51

52. RICHO-CHETTE Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 52

53. BEVELING OF BONE The bullet displaces the fragments of bone in the direction it travels. In the skull; the entrance shows a small rounded hole in the outer table, larger in the inner table i.e. internal beveling. Seen from inside A On exit from the cranium it causes smaller defect in the inner table and larger in the outer table i.e. external beveling. B Beveling occurs also in sternum, iliac crest, scapula and ribs. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 53 AB

54. BEVELING OF SKULL/BONE Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 54

55. EXIT WOUND Exit wounds - are usually larger than the entrance wound and this is because as the round moves through the body of the victim it slows down and explodes within the tissue and surrounding muscle. This slowing down of the projectile means that as it reaches the end of its trajectory it has to force harder to push through. This equates to the exit wound normally looking larger and considerably more destructive the entrance wound. Exit wounds will often bleed profusely as they are larger but entrance wounds can sometimes look only like small holes - unless the weapon is fired at close proximity to the victim. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 55

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57. RIFLED FIREARM WOUNDS Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 57

58. CLASSIFICATION OF RIFLE ENTRANCE WOUNDS The wounds may be categorised on the basis of muzzle– victim distance because this factor is the most critical feature, primarily responsible for the production of their characteristic appearances. A useful and simple classification of entrance wounds is as follows 1.Contact wound. 2.Close range wound (up to 20cm). 3.Intermediate wound(20cm-1m). 4.Distant range wound (over 1m). Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 58

59. 1. CONTACT WOUNDS: When a weapon is fired in contact with the skin. the appearances can vary : according to whether the muzzle was firmly pressed against the surface so as to form a tight seal, appears more like shotgun loose contact, so that the backward jerk of recoil can permit a small gap to appear. Most rifled weapon ammunition is 'clean', compared with many shotgun cartridges, so that soot may be absent altogether. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 59

60. CONTACT WOUND OVER A BONY SUPPORT Usually, the skull. The muzzle gases entering the subcutaneous tissues cannot expand by displacing adjacent soft structures and are reflected from the bone to raise a dome of gas that often splits the entry hole. This results in a linear, cruciate or stellate tear that may well destroy the original puncture. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 60

61. 2. CLOSE-RANGE WOUNDS: When there is a short distance between the muzzle and body surface. The appearances of the wound will vary accordingly to the type of ammunition used. The wound appearance: will almost invariably be circular. No tearing The wound edges may be inverted. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 61

62. 3. MEDIUM-DISTANCE WOUNDS: once the discharge of a rifled weapon is greater than a metre, there is nothing to indicate increasing range. The typical appearance of the entry wound has been likened to that caused by 'driving a dirty pencil through the skin'. Abrasion collar appearance. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 62

63. DISTANT RANGE WOUND (OVER 1M). Distance beyond one meter or more Circular to oval inlet. No blackening, burning or tattooing. Abrasion ring and contusion ring around the inlet edge. Gray ring overlay the abrasion ring. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 63

64. EXIT WOUNDS FROM RIFLED WEAPONS: The muzzle velocity is important in determining whether a single bullet will completely traverse the body. In general, they are characterized by: Usually larger than entrance wounds. Irregularly shaped Everted skin edges No powder tattooing, soot soiling or stippling etc May have abraded edges. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 64

65. IDENTIFY WOUND TYPE? Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 65

66. IDENTIFY ENTRY/EXIT WOUND Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 66

67. NON-RIFLED WOUND Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 67

68. CONSTITUENTS OF NON-RIFLED PROJECTILE With the discharge of a shotgun, the following constituents emerge and all or a varying combination may contribute to the production of wound depending upon the range of fire: Lead pellets/shots Flame and hot gases under pressure Soot in the form of smoke and debris Unburnt and semi-burnt propellant particles Wads (cardboard, felt or plastic) Constituents of detonator Fragments of cartridge Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 68

69. NON-RILFED WOUNDS - TYPES GUNSHOT WOUNDS ARE EITHER: 1- Perforating wounds: occur when missile passes completely through the objects, causing an inlet and exit. 2- Penetrating wounds: occur when a missile enters an objects and doesn’t exit ( inlet only). 3-Both penetrating and perforating: occur when a missile strikes the head and passes through the skull and brain and rests under the scalp, thus producing a penetrating wound of the head, but perforating wound of the skull and brain. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 69

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72. CONTACT WOUNDS Circular inlet about the size of muzzle with regular edge over soft areas and satellite over bony areas. Blackening and burning of skin around the inlet in loose contact but not in hard contact. A cherry red color of the soft tissue. Muzzle mark/impression. Wads inside the wound. No shot marks. CO gass: more at entry wound. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 72

73. NEAR RANGE(12-INCHES) Up to 12 inches of the body surface, this will be similar contact shot. No muzzle marks but tattooing-due to partly burnt/unburt propellent powder. Marked blackening/smoke soiling/soot deposition and burning of the skin and hair around the inlet. Dense tattooing around the inlet. Different shaped  According to angle of weapon with surface/skin Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 73

74. INTERMEDIATE RANGE(6“6in) Short-to-mid range. Some people say: This range is up to one meter. Diminishing blackening and burning. Less dense tattooing. Spread of shots, this begin at about one meter, first causing an irregular rim to the inlet which is called the rat-hole. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 74

75. LONG RANGE (ABOVE 6 M): No blackening, burning or tattooing beyond 120 cm to 2 meters. The wads fall at distance from meters (external wad) to 7 meters ( internal wad). The shot will spread progressively: at 2-3 meter ---> central inlet surrounded by satellite shot holes, the central inlet diminish in size as the range increase. at 4 meters-- > shot dispersion without central wound. At 20-30 meters--- > there is uniform peppering of shots. No central whole. No burning, no tattooning, and no smoke. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 75

76. HOW TO MEASURE RANGE OF FIRING? Diameter of spread of pellets in inches is app.equall to the range in yard. E.g. pellets are spread over 5 inches of diameter/circle Then, Range of firing is 5 yards Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 76

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79. EXIT WOUNDS FROM SHOTGUNG Usually shotgun pellets do not exit from the body except: a) Contact wounds, b) Tangential wounds where some of the pellets have a very short track through the body, c) Thin part of the body, such as the neck or extremities, d) Wounds caused by large calibre buckshot or rifled slugs. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 79

80. At contact or near range, greater disruption of tissues occur than is seen in entrance wound. The margins are everted as the unsupported skin is struck from within, the tissues tend to burst outward, but there is no singeing, blackening, or tattooing of the margins. There may be small, separate wounds made by individual pellets that have become separated from the mass. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 80

81. SHOTGUN VS RIFLE Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 81

82. ENTRANCE AND EXIT WOUNDS Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 82

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84. MEDICO-LEGAL IMPORTANCE Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 84

85. THE DOCTOR DUTY IN FIREARM INJURIES AND DEATHS In the living Saving life. Recording the general appearance before any surgical cleaning or operative procedures. Preserving any missiles without damage and any skin removed from the margin of a repaired wound as well as clothing for police to be analyzed. Firearm wounds must be reported to the police even if not fatal. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 85

86. IN THE DEAD Is the injury a gunshot wound? What is the range of fire? What is the direction of fire and the position of assailant in relation to the victim? Is this gunshot wound belonging to a certain type of firearms, and is it one or more? Is death caused by this gunshot wound? What is the manner of death? Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 86

87. 1. IS THE INJURY CAUSED BY DISCHARGE OF FIREARM? Firearm wounds are recognized by the appearance of clothing and body entrance and exit wound, the track of the bullet, and the presence of bullet or pellet and residual matter in the clothing, or around entrance wound and in the tissues. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 87

88. 2) WHAT KIND OF WEAPON FIRED THE SHOT? The kind of firearm can be determined by the size, shape and composition of the bullet, and examination of cartridge, shots and wad left in the body or found at the scene of the crime, and the appearances of wounds. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 88

89. 3) FROM WHAT DISTANCE AND DIRECTION WAS THE SHOT FIRED? The range of fire is determined by the presence or absence of the marks of smoke, flame, tattooing, etc., on or in the body of the victim. When the range is greater, it can be determined only approximately and with difficulty, from the nature of wounds and penetration. Test fire with suspect weapon using the same ammunition is useful for estimating the range. The direction of fire may be determined from the position of entrance and exit wounds and the track. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 89

90. 4) WHEN WAS THE FIREARM DISCHARGED? Tissue reaction to firearm injury is similar as for other types of injury. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 90

91. WHAT IS THIS FOR? Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 91

92. 5) IS IT A CASE OF HOMICIDE, SUICIDE OR ACCIDENT? The position and direction of the wound: For suicide, the sites of election are: temple (about 60%), 2) centre of forehead, 3) roof of mouth, 4) midline behind the chin, 5) left side or front of chest. The opinion about whether death is suicide, homicide, or accidental can be established from: A- Circumstantial evidence. B- Examination of the crime scene. C- Postmortem examination of the victim. D- Examination of suspected person, i.e. the shooter E- Examination of the weapon Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 92

93. SUICIDE OR MURDER? Suicide wound from short distance sites of election: mouth, front of the neck, forehead, frond of the chest almost never: eye, back weapon present Murder multiple firearm wounds Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 93

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95. IN A SUICIDE A suicide using a revolver or pistol, usually shoots himself in the right temple, the bullet passing almost horizontally or upwards and backwards through the head, and making its exit in the left parietal region. Sometimes, the gun is put into the mouth, nose, ear, or on the face or undersurface of the chin, and fired upwards into the brain. On the chest, the gun is fired into the cardiac region in a backward direction with a slight deviation upwards or downwards, either to the right or left. On the abdomen, the gun is fired into the epigastric region. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 95

96. IN A HOMICIDE In homicide a great variety of wounds can occur depending upon the circumstances. If there is a scuffle, some of the wounds may be from close range, and the bullets may strike the body in various places and at different angles. If the victim runs, most of the entrance wounds will be on the back. If the victim rushes at the assailant, the entrance wounds are in front of the body. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 96

97. SUICIDE OR MURDERED? Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 97

98. ACCIDENTAL WOUNDS: They are comparatively rare and usually single. Most of the accidents are caused by carelessness or misuse. Accidents occur when loaded weapons are handled carelessly or carried without safety catch, or when the victim slips while examining, loading or cleaning the weapon. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 98

99. ACCIDENTAL WOUNDS: The wounds are found on the front of the body and frequently directed upwards. Sometimes, the victim is shot unintentionally by a person who is ignorant of firearms or careless in their use. Occasionally, when the police shoot on law breakers, an innocent bystander is struck by bullets. Hunting accidents also occur. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, NMC, Nowshera 99

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