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Site of entrance wound and direction of bullet path in firearm

fatalities as indicators of homicide versus suicide

Waraporn panngoen 51312321Forensic Science Faculty of Science

Slipakorn University

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Abstract

Retrospective study, 288 firearm deaths suicides (213), homicides (54), accidents (14)

and undetermined cases (7)

Females: 41% homicide, 1.4% suicide

Mean ages: homicide 37 yrs, suicide 50 yrs

Location: suicides occurred vicinity of the residence, Homicides occurred elsewhere

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Abstract

Medical records of previous psychiatric illness or Suicide note : majority in suicide

The most frequent weapon used: Shotguns 57% in homicide, 3% in suicide

Shot at close range: 1/3 of homicide

Alcohol present : one-third of both

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AbstractEntrance wound

38% of homicidal gunshot same as anatomical regions typical of suicide ( rt. Temple), but direction of bullet path often differed from suicides (direction back-to-front)

This study suggests estimation of the direction of the internal bullet

path should be conducted in firearm fatalities, may assist in the determination of the manner of death.

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Introduction

The location of the entrance of a gunshot wound as a marker of suicide has been stressed.

Signs of a close range shot including characteristics of the entrance wound.

A number of circumstantial factors,related to suicides in general.

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This study has focused on the usefulness of the internal bullet path as an indicator of homicide versus suicide.

In Sweden, suicides by firearms outnumber homicides almost by ten to one.

Introduction(cont.)

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Material and methods

The files of all firearm deaths investigated at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Linkoping, Sweden 1981-1990.

All firearm homicides in Stockholm district 1992-1996.

Deaths due to explosives were excluded.A form, cover the most relevant circumstantialFactors and autopsy findings.

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Material and methods (cont.)

Statistical methods - Analyses using Statistics/W 5.0 - Shapiro- Wilks’ W test. was tested Normal distribution. - Tukey honest significant difference (hsd)

test was used for comparisons of means. - Fisher exact test was employed for 2 x 2

tables only.A p-value less than .05 was considered significant.

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Fig.The anatomical sketch used for depiction of the entrance site and the direction of internal bullet path. A separate sketch was used for each wound

Results

Results

Demographics and circumstances.

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Results(cont.)

Fig.2. The preselected ‘typical suicidal areas’ The position and size of these areas were determined visually,as depicted,and thus no strict limits,such as within 7.5 cm from outer auditory meatus,were used.

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Fig.3. The annual number of all firearm death investigated at the Institute of Forensic Medicine,Linkoping, Swedwn1981-1990,distributed on manner of death

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

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er Undertain

Accidents

Homicide

Suicide

Results(cont.)

Females: 41% homicide, 1.4% suicide

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Fig.4. Age distribution all suicides (pale bar) and homicides (dashed bar).

Mean ages: homicide 37 yrs, suicide 50 yrs homicide(3) under the age of 10 were killed by a parent or caretaker

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A

Shotgun

Rifle,other

Pistol

Revolver

Unknown

,other

B

Shotgun

Rifle,other

PistolRevolver

Unknown

Fig.5. (a) Types of weapons used in the suicides.(b) Types of weapons used in the homicides.

Results(cont.)

.

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Autopsy findings

- 57% of the homicide victims sustained more than one gunshot ,3% in suicide

- Alcohol present : one-third of both

Results(cont.)

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Results(cont.)

Table 2 Number of gunshot wound/victim, distributed on manner of death

Number of wound Homicide Suicide Accidents Undertain Total

1 23 207 13 7 250

2 15 5 1 0 21

3 6 1 0 0 7

4 6 0 0 0 6

>4 4 0 0 0 4

Not: Number of gunshot wound/victim, distributed on manner

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Results(cont.)Table 3 Homicide of gunshot wounds, distributed on gender and shooting range( in the remainder of the 112 homicidal wounds, the distance could not be determined by certainty)

Wound type Male Female Total

Close range 14 19 33

Distant wound 37 20 57

Total 51 39 90

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Fig.6. (a) Anatomical distribution of entrance site in the suicides. Each wound is only marked once (on the most appropriate sub-figure).(b) Anatomical distribution of entrance site in the homicides. Each wound is only marked once (on the most appropriate sub-figure)

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Discussion

Firearm suicides in Linkijping 198 l-1990, only 3 of 213 of the victims were female.

Difference between the situation in Sweden and the pattern in the United States.

Shotguns were the most frequent weapon used.

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Discussion

This study was that the internal bullet path for a particular entrance site could differ between homicidal and suicidal bullets.

The gender was the main reason for suspicion along with the confusion about how she got hold of the weapon.

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Conclusions This study suspicion of homicide should be aroused

when the firearm victim is female.

Autopsy findings could also assist in the interpretation of the case.

This study further suggests that the direction of bullet path should be carefully investigated and taken into account.

It is also concluded that more relevant information is related to the entrance site.

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Thank you

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Revolver

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Pistor

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Rifie