Impression traces from firearms on cadaver skin

Guns may occasionally leave traces on human skin, for example by compression/impression of the tissue (esp. in the area of livores), by contact-transfer of dirt, oil, and rust, or by forming the pattern of blood-smears. The case of a 31-year-old drug-addict is presented in detail: The man committed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inArchiv fur Kriminologie Vol. 197; no. 3-4; p. 97
Main Authors Püschel, K, Koops, E, Kulle, K J
Format Journal Article
LanguageGerman
Published Germany 01.03.1996
Subjects
Adult
Firearms - legislation & jurisprudence
Humans
Male
Postmortem Changes
Skin - pathology
Suicide - legislation & jurisprudence
Theft - legislation & jurisprudence
Wounds, Gunshot - pathology
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Summary:Guns may occasionally leave traces on human skin, for example by compression/impression of the tissue (esp. in the area of livores), by contact-transfer of dirt, oil, and rust, or by forming the pattern of blood-smears. The case of a 31-year-old drug-addict is presented in detail: The man committed suicide by shooting himself (entrance hole under the chin). When the dead body was found there was no weapon at the scene. By careful securing of evidence and analyzing the pattern of metallisations (identified as rust from the old pistol) it was reconstructed that the suicident held the pistol (identified as Russian Tokarew TT33-7.62 mm) in his hand for many hours postmortem until it was removed by an unknown thief.
ISSN:0003-9225