A patterned abrasion caused by the impact of a cartridge case may simulate an atypical muzzle imprint mark

• Published in: International journal of legal medicine Vol. 130; no. 3; pp. 751 - 757
• Main Authors: Kramer, Lena, Nadjem, Hadi, Glardon, Matthieu, Kneubuehl, Beat P., Pollak, Stefan, Große Perdekamp, Markus, Pircher, Rebecca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.05.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Carbon monoxide; Firearms; Forensic Medicine; Fractures; Head Injuries, Penetrating - pathology; Humans; Injuries; Male; Medical Law; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Skin; Suicide; Wounds, Gunshot - pathology; Gunshot injury; Cartridge case; Failure of cartridge case ejection; Kinetic energy; Muzzle imprint; Ricochet
• ISSN: 0937-9827; 1437-1596
• DOI: 10.1007/s00414-015-1281-4

In contact shots, the muzzle imprint is an informative finding associated with the entrance wound. It typically mirrors the constructional components being in line with the muzzle or just behind. Under special conditions, other patterned skin marks located near a gunshot entrance wound may give the impression to be part of the muzzle imprint. A potential mechanism causing a patterned pressure abrasion in close proximity to the bullet entrance site is demonstrated on the basis of a suicidal shot to the temple. The skin lesion in question appeared as a ring-shaped excoriation with a diameter corresponding to that of the cartridge case. Two hypotheses concerning the causative mechanism were investigated by test shots: - After being ejected, the cartridge case ricocheted inside a confined space (car cabin in the particular case) and secondarily hit the skin near the gunshot entrance wound. - The ejection of the cartridge case failed so that the case became stuck in the ejection port and its mouth contacted the skin when the body collapsed after being hit.