Forensic medical characteristics and assessment of gunshot injuries: a lecture. Determining the range of a shot distance A shot at close range is characterized by

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SIGNS OF A CLOSE SHOT FROM A SHOT FROM A SMOOTH BORE

Unlike bullet damage from a rifled
weapons, the nature of shot wounds allows you to set the distance of the shot with greater accuracy and within wider limits.

A shot fired from a distance of up to 3-5 m is considered close (rifled weapons - 1 m)

The distance from which the scattering of the fraction begins is different for different authors, which can confuse the understanding of the issue.

Allocate
1. Compact (solid) action of a fraction. When the shot does not have time to dissipate and acts as a whole, forming one wound (up to 50-100 cm).
2. Relatively continuous shot action (over 50-100 cm).
3. The action of scree shots (buckshot). Sometimes used: "Shot outside the continuous action of the shot."

A close shot from a shotgun is determined not only by the action of powder residues and flame, but also by the presence of the so-called compact (solid) action of the shot.

Compact action occurs in all cases when firing from a distance of up to 20 cm and never occurs when firing from a distance of more than 2 m.

The formation of one hole when shooting with small shots is observed at a distance of up to 20-100 cm, and when using medium and large shots - up to 50-100 cm and very rarely up to 200 cm.

Point blank
The action of gases in the form of additional tears in the skin and clothing; the presence of powder residues in the initial part of the wound channel, and in some cases on clothing adjacent to the outlet; imprint of the muzzle of the second barrel near the inlet; bright pink coloration of the muscles in the area of ​​the entrance wound and the presence of wads in
wound channel

5-10 cm
The additional effect of the gases is still preserved, but to a lesser degree. The dimensions of the inlet are equal to the diameter of the bore. Around the entrance wound there is an abundant deposition of powder soot and parchment of the skin. Impregnation of skin and clothes with powders reaches 4-15 cm in diameter

20-30 cm
The inlet is 1.5 to 3.5 cm in diameter, round in shape with finely scalloped edges. Isolated damage by individual pellets is possible at a distance of up to 1 cm from the edges of a large hole. Parchmentation of the skin, abundant powder soot, intensive impregnation with powders and lead particles up to 15-25 cm in diameter, sedimentation of the wound edges with cardboard wads.

50 cm
Shot dispersion diameter from 2 to 4.5 cm. Large inlet with scalloped edges. Isolated damage by separated grains is possible at a distance of no more than 2 cm from the edges of a large hole. The soot of smokeless and black powder is expressed moderately. Powder impregnation reaches 25-30 cm in diameter. Abrasions and bruises from cardboard wads

100 cm
Shot scattering diameter is from 3 to 7 cm. A large wound hole has jagged edges and is most often surrounded by small isolated lesions, the greatest distance of which from the edges of the central wound does not exceed 3 cm. Gunpowder soot is weakly expressed. The dispersion diameter of powders and lead particles is from 15 to 40 cm. Sedimentation and bruising from wads are possible.

200 cm
Soot is absent or very weakly expressed. A few lead particles are still embedded in clothing. The central hole is surrounded by a ring of small isolated lesions, separated from its edges by a maximum of 8 cm. Abrasions, bruises and wounds from wads.

300-500 cm
Large central holes are formed, surrounded by multiple small lesions, but the depth of the central wounded channels is usually small (1 - 3 cm). Sometimes there may be damage in the form of scree, single powders and lead particles getting stuck in clothes. There are bruises, abrasions and wounds from felt wads

Possibilities of a comprehensive expert study of gunshot injuries / Grinchenko S.V. — 2017.

Forensic ballistics / Chervakov V.F. — 1937.

Some shortcomings in the examination of gunshot injuries in the departments of medical forensics / Nazarov G.N. // Mater. IV All-Russian. congress of forensic doctors: abstracts. - Vladimir, 1996. - No. 1. - S. 66-67.

Signs of shot damage from a gas barrel weapon / Kuznetsov Yu.D., Babakhanyan R.V., Isakov V.D. // Mater. IV All-Russian. congress of forensic doctors: abstracts. - Vladimir, 1996. - No. 1. - S. 70-71.

Peculiarities of a shot wound to the chest by a shot from a Shpagin flare pistol, converted to fire hunting cartridges / Gusarov A.A., Makarov I.Yu., Fetisov V.A., Suvorov A.S. // Bulletin of forensic medicine. - Novosibirsk, 2017. - No. 4. - S. 59-63.

Possibilities of expert assessment of the impact of design features of the barrel of a hunting weapon on the signs of damage caused by shots of a multi-element projectile in a cylindrical container / Makarov I.Yu., Suvorov A.S., Lorents A.S. // Forensic-medical examination. - M., 2016. - No. 6. - S. 22-26.

Examining the wound and suspecting self-mutilation, the doctor will first of all face the question of the distance from which the shot was fired. It is impossible to answer this essential question without special knowledge, without having an idea about the methods for determining the distance. Knowing how helpless doctors, non-forensic doctors and even surgeons are in this respect, observing gunshot wounds almost daily, it is necessary to point out the main elementary signs that characterize a shot from various distances from handguns.

In forensic practice, the following distances are distinguished from which a shot can be fired: 1) Point-blank shot. 2) Shot at close range. 3) Shot from a short or long distance.

All three distances can take place in self-mutilation.

1. When fired at close range, the weapon is attached directly to the body (or clothing). With this position of the weapon, in addition to the bullet, gases, soot and powders also act on the tissues. The action of these components of the shot (the so-called "secondary factors of the shot") can be detected by examining the wound, as well as clothing, and is therefore evidence of a point-blank shot.

Gases break out of the bore under very high pressure and, penetrating after the bullet into the bullet channel, stretch, exfoliate and tear the body tissues in the area of ​​the inlet (skin and deeper tissues). The strength of the gases depends on the amount of gunpowder in the cartridge, and therefore on the weapon system. When fired point-blank from a revolver of the Nagant system or a TT pistol, the effect of powder gases will be more pronounced than when fired from a Korovin pistol. When fired at point-blank range from a rifle, carbine, light machine gun, the explosive action of gases will give a much greater effect than when fired from revolvers and pistols. In the same way, the depth of action of gases on tissues depends on the size of the powder charge. The greater the charge of gunpowder in the cartridge, the more widespread and deeper the gases will act. So, when fired from a rifle at point-blank range in the chest, the explosive effect of gases can even affect the skin at the exit hole on the back, while when fired from a revolver or pistol, it can be limited to tissue damage only in the area of ​​​​the inlet.

The effect of gases on soft tissues is especially strong when shots are fired at such parts of the body where the bone is close under the skin (head, lower leg). In these cases, gases penetrating into the bullet channel behind the bullet, encountering an obstacle in the form of a dense tissue (bone), spread to its surface, exfoliate soft tissues, lift them up and break them. When shot at close range, after the bullet, along with gases, soot and powders penetrate into the bullet drip, which can be detected when examining the wound at the edges and in its depths on the bones, muscles and tendons. If the weapon at the time of the shot was firmly attached to the surface of the body, then there may not be soot in the circumference of the inlet, but in depth, the wound, along the bullet channel, the tissues will be abundantly stained with soot, which is better detected after bleeding stops. If the weapon is not attached close, but at an angle or only touches the skin, then in the circumference of the wound along its edges there is a rather intense blackening of the skin from the layering of soot that breaks through between the end of the barrel and the skin.

By the shape of the soot belt around the inlet, one can determine the position of the weapon and the angle at which it was attached to the surface of the body at the time of the shot.

The explosive effect of gases on tissues and the introduction of soot and powders into the bullet channel can be observed not only when shot at close range, but also when shot at a distance of several centimeters (5-9), mainly when shot from a rifle.

When fired from a weapon placed close to the surface of the body, gases breaking through into the bullet channel lift the skin from the inside and press it against the barrel, due to which the muzzle imprint sometimes remains on the skin, the so-called “stamp mark”. Thus, the signs of a point-blank shot are:

a) breaks in the edges of the inlet; b) the presence of soot and powders on the tissues in the depths of the zero channel; c) the imprint of a weapon on the skin at the inlet (relatively rare). Breaks in the skin and stamp marks do not always occur when shot at point-blank range. Soot and powders in the depths of the wound are found necessarily.

2. Shot at close range. Such a shot is spoken of in those cases when, in addition to the bullet, the action of the so-called additional factors of the shot also affects: gases, flames, soot and powders. When fired, powder gases escape from the barrel, carrying soot and partially burned or completely unburned powders along with them for some distance. The distance at which the action of additional factors of the shot may affect practically does not exceed 1 meter (100 cm). The range of action of individual factors is not the same. Gases cease to act first, then flames, soot, and finally powders. The weapon system is also significant. Pistols of the Korovin system have shorter close shot limits than a revolver of the Nagant system, a TT pistol or a rifle.

Let us analyze the effect of individual additional factors of the shot.

Gases. The action of powder gases was described in the analysis of a point-blank shot.

Flame. The action of the flame when fired from handguns can only take place if the cartridges are supplied with black powder. And since the cartridges of modern weapons in service with the army are supplied with smokeless or low-smoke gunpowder, the action of the flame when fired from this type of weapon at close range does not take place. This can be seen if a number of shots are fired at close range from various weapon systems into flammable objects (cotton wool, tow, fabrics). The main mistake of both doctors and military investigators is that they turn all their attention to searching for traces of a burn, find a "burn" where it cannot be, and fix such a "burn" in the examination protocols and in medical certificates. It must be firmly established that shots at close range from modern hand-held combat weapons do not burn or ignite tissue.

Soot. The effect of soot on the fabric is at a distance of up to 20-30-35 cm, depending on the weapon system and the quality of the gunpowder. When flying out of the barrel, the soot and powders are dispersed in the form of a cone with its base facing the direction of the bullet's flight. As the distance increases, the base of the cone, and hence the area of ​​blackening of the skin from soot, increases. At the same time, the intensity of tissue staining with soot decreases. When shot at a very close distance (3-5 cm), the soot is located around the inlet in the form of a narrow band of black or dark gray. As the distance increases, the intensity of the blackening belt decreases and a light gray zone appears outside of it. As the distance increases, the staining of fabrics with soot becomes more uniform. Against the background of the soot belt, one can observe the alternation of lighter and darker concentric circles of soot. This is due to the fact that the column of soot, hitting the surface, then spreads over it in waves. Radial streaks of soot are explained by the influence of rifling in the bore. When the distance increases up to 20-35 cm, the soot stops its action and the traces of soot disappear. Therefore, if traces of soot are found around the wound, then it can be concluded that the shot was fired from a distance of no more than 20-35 cm. On light fabrics of clothing, the effect of soot is detected much better than on the skin. On dark fabrics (overcoat cloth, etc.), soot and powders are more difficult to distinguish.

Powders. The combustion of gunpowder in the cartridge when fired is never complete. Some of the powders burn out incompletely, some remain completely unburned. When fired, unburned and burnt powders fly out of the barrel along with the gases and rush forward after the bullet. When fired at close range, the powders, together with soot, penetrate into the wound, where they can be found. With an increase in the distance between the end of the barrel and the surface into which the shot was fired, the powders begin to disperse, like soot, in the form of a cone with its base facing the direction of the bullet's flight. At close range, the powders act like small projectiles. They can embed themselves in the skin or rebound from it, leaving behind small, reddish-colored lesions in the epidermis. At a very close distance (3-5 cm), the powders densely cover the skin in the circumference of the inlet and are clearly visible against the background of soot. With increasing distance, the scattering area of ​​the powders increases, and their number decreases. With an increase in the distance of more than one meter, the action of the powders practically ceases.

Thus, a sign of a shot at close range is the presence of soot and powders in the circumference of the wound.

All of the above also applies to shots through clothing or objects that mask a close shot. In these cases, signs of a point-blank or close-range shot will be expressed on clothing or on the object through which the shot was fired (see above).

3. Shot at a long distance.

If the shot is fired from a distance of more than one meter, then the additional factors of the shot - gases, soot and powders - no longer have their effect, and the expert, therefore, is deprived of the opportunity to accurately determine the distance from which the shot was fired. In his opinion, he can only indicate that there were no signs of a shot at close range and no circumferential inlet.

The effect of additional shot factors for some systems

modern military weapons

The data on the action of additional factors of a shot for some systems of modern military weapons are as follows: 1.

Three-line rifle model 1891/30 Ordinary ammo.

Tears in clothing fabrics, as well as in skin, are possible and observed when shots are fired from a distance of up to 10 cm.

Light gray soot is clearly visible up to a distance of 15 cm and weakly - up to a distance of 25 cm. When shot from a distance of more than 25 cm, soot is no longer visible.

Powders are clearly visible in the circumference of the inlet up to a distance of 50 cm, over 50 cm and up to 100 cm there are only single powders. 2.

Self-loading rifle model 1940

The self-loading rifle is equipped with a muzzle brake, which reduces the effect of recoil on the shooter's shoulder. Through the slots of the muzzle brake, part of the gases, and consequently, soot and powder, goes to the sides, which explains some of the features of the action of additional factors when firing from a self-loading rifle.

Tears in the fabrics of clothing and skin are observed only when shot at point-blank range and to a much lesser extent than when shot from a rifle of the 1891/30 model.

The soot is clearly visible up to a distance of 10 cm, 15 cm and barely noticeable at a distance of 20 cm. When shot from a distance of more than 20 cm, the soot is no longer visible.

Powders are clearly visible up to 25 cm. At a distance of 30 to 50 cm, single powders can be seen around the inlet. From 70 to 100 cm, single powders are difficult to detect. When shot from a distance of more than one meter, there are no powders. 3.

Pistol - machine gun model 1940 (PPD).

Tears in the fabrics of clothing and skin only with point-blank shots.

The soot is clearly visible when shot from a distance of 15 cm, from 15 to 20 cm the soot is hardly noticeable. At a distance of more than 20 cm, there is no soot.

Powders are clearly visible up to a distance of 20 cm. At a distance of 30 cm, single powders are found in the circumference of the inlet. When shot from a distance of 50 cm and above, the powders can no longer be detected. four.

The submachine gun of the 1941 model (PPTTT) has a casing ending with a muzzle brake. There is a free gap between the muzzle and the front surface of the muzzle brake, therefore, in fact, when fired at close range, this weapon is attached not by the muzzle, but by the front surface of the muzzle brake. This explains the features of the IIIIITT action. As in a self-loading rifle, through the holes of the muzzle brake, part of the gases, soot and powders go to the sides, which is why the effect of additional factors of the shot is less pronounced than with PPD.

Tears in clothing fabrics when fired at close range are either absent or very weakly expressed. It can therefore be assumed (we are not in a position to verify this experimentally) that skin ruptures when fired at point-blank range will also be absent or very weakly expressed.

The soot is clearly visible when fired from a distance of up to 10 cm, faintly visible at a distance of 15 cm and absent when fired from a distance of 20 cm.

Powders are clearly visible up to a distance of 10 cm, weakly with shots from 10 to 20 cm and from 20 to 30 cm single powders are noticeable. At a distance of more than 30 cm, there are no powders. 5.

Model 1930 pistol (TT)

Tears in clothing and skin only when shot at close range. The gaps, like those of a submachine gun and a self-loading rifle, are much less than with shots from a three-line rifle.

The soot is clearly visible up to a distance of 15 cm, from 15 to 30 cm it is hardly noticeable. When shot from a distance of more than 30 cm, there is no soot.

Powders are clearly visible up to a distance of 20 cm. At a distance of 30 cm, single powders are found. When shot from a distance of 50 cm and above, the powders are not detected. 6.

Model 1895 revolver ("Nagant")

Tears in the fabrics of clothing and skin are observed only with point-blank shots.

The soot is clearly visible at a distance of up to 15 cm, from 15 to 20 cm there are faint traces of horsetail. When shot from a distance of more than 20 cm, there is no soot.

In entrance gunshot wound when fired with a loose focus on the skin, a significant number of additional factors of the shot are detected; with a tight stop, they are found mainly in the wound channel, over a considerable length of it. With both variants of a point-blank shot at areas of the body where the bone is close, bone fragments and scraps of muscle fibers can be seen in the preparations of the entrance wound.

They are appear here due to the fact that the column of compressed air and powder gases, producing significant damage, causes the movement of damaged tissues in the direction of the shot. Scraps of muscle fibers can be observed in the entrance wound not only when fired at point-blank range, but also from various distances due to the special ballistic properties of the high-energy wounding projectile.
This must be kept in mind so as not to to accept an entrance wound for an exit wound, if there are no other signs of an entrance wound.

exit wound. With a long shot distance, as well as with a long wound channel, regardless of the shot distance, the morphology of the edges of the exit bullet wound is not much different from wounds such as lacerations or stab wounds caused from the inside by bone fragments. The edges and surface of the skin around the wound do not have sediment and additional factors of the shot. The edges of the wound are raised, in some places turned outward, the tissue of the skin itself protrudes from the wound above the level of the skin, and sometimes subcutaneous fatty tissue and fragments of muscles.

Change skin along the edges of the wound, simulating a belt of sedimentation, can be observed if the body at the exit site of the bullet was in close contact with some blunt solid object. Morphologically, such "settlement" is similar to the settling around the entrance wound (see above).

At shot at point-blank range or from a very close distance into the area of ​​the body where a short wound channel is formed, in it, near the exit wound, you can find metal particles, soot, single powder grains, graphite particles, and if the body area was covered with clothes, then fibers of clothing fabrics. Metal particles in the area of ​​the exit wound are sometimes found even with a large length of the wound channel, when the bullet was damaged by passing through the bone.
In this case, bone fragments are also found near the exit wound.

It must be emphasized that in definition type of weapons and ammunition used, microscopic examination results are of limited value. They come down to the definition of smokeless or black powder by the type of grains, and in some cases, the grade of smokeless powder. So, viscose powder is determined by its characteristic concentric striation.

The study of the wound channel begins from the edge of its wall. It appears uneven, the tissue here is crushed, torn, split, in some places turned into amorphous areas. In structureless tissue, erythrocytes are well defined. Occasionally, fragments of blood vessels, adipose tissue, and muscle fibers are found among them. Violation of the integrity of the tissue should be determined over several consecutive fields of view of low magnification of the microscope.

In the broad sense of the word, gunshot wounds mean damage from all types of firearms, from explosions of ammunition (cartridges, artillery shells, mines, grenades, explosives) and their parts (primers, fuses, detonators). The frequency of gunshot injuries depends on the number of firearms that certain population groups have in circulation.

The nature of gunshot wounds depends on many reasons, and primarily on the characteristics of weapons and ammunition.

Firearms and ammunition.

Firearms are divided into artillery and small arms. Small arms are divided into group (machine guns, mortars) and hand (individual). The vast majority of gunshot wounds encountered in forensic practice in peacetime are inflicted from hand weapons. Hand firearms are subdivided into combat (combat rifles, carbines, submachine guns, pistols and revolvers), sporting (small-caliber rifles, pistols and revolvers), hunting (single-barreled, double-barreled), special (flare pistols, starting pistols), defective (trimmings), homemade (self-propelled guns).

Combat firearms are rifled.

Cartridges consist of a bullet, a cartridge case containing gunpowder, and an explosive primer. Bullets are lead (currently in hunting and sporting weapons), shell (shells made of copper, cupronickel, lead core), special-purpose bullets (tracer, armor-piercing, explosive, incendiary), home-made. Distinguish gunpowder smokeless and smoky. When ignited, black powder produces a lot of smoke, soot, and flames.

At the time of the shot, under the action of powder gases formed from the ignition of gunpowder, a projectile (bullet or shot) is ejected from the bore of the weapon. In this case, the bullet, which receives translational and rotational motion around its axis, sets in motion a column of air located in the bore in front of the bullet. The resulting compressed air, when fired from a very close distance, acts on the barrier first and can cause patchy tears in clothing, skin, into which the bullet and gases that follow the bullet penetrate.

When fired, in addition to the bullet, the following fly out of the barrel bore:

1) a flame that is formed from the contact of hot gases with oxygen in the air;

2) gases;

3) soot;

4) unburned or partially burnt powders;

5) metal particles that are erased from the bore, from a bullet, from a cartridge case, and also formed from the decomposition of primer products;

6) droplets of gun grease, if the weapon was greased.

In the case of a shot at close range, these additional factors of the shot act on the obstacle and are detected during the study.

Upon contact with the human body, the enormous pressure of the bullet in the form of a shock wave is instantly transferred to the surrounding tissues, causing them to vibrate. Following the bullet moving in the tissues, a pulsating area, which is much larger in volume than the bullet, is formed, which transmits oscillatory movements to neighboring organs and tissues. For example, when a bullet passes through the soft tissues of the thigh near the femur, its fractures are often observed. Hence, the action of a bullet on the human body is composed of direct action (impact) and the impact of energy transmitted from the side (side action).

When a projectile hits organs containing a liquid or semi-liquid medium, the hydrodynamic effect of the bullet is observed. The latter lies in the fact that these organs (filled bladder, heart in diastole, head) are often torn during gunshot wounds. The hydrodynamic action of the projectile is due to the fact that the liquid and semi-liquid (brain) medium is practically incompressible, transmits the energy of the bullet in all directions with the same force, contributing to multiple ruptures.

During the forensic medical examination of gunshot injuries, a number of questions arise. The main ones include the following:

1. Is this damage gunshot?

2. What wound is the input and what is the output?

3. From what distance was the shot fired?

4. What is the direction of the bullet channel in relation to the body of a standing person?

5. What weapon was fired from?

Other questions that often arise, arising from the essence of a particular criminal case. For example, the medical examiner is sometimes asked to determine:

1. The number of gunshot injuries and their sequence.

2. The position of the deceased and the shooter at the time of the shot.

3. Whether the victim moved after the injury.

Diagnosis of a gunshot wound

inlet and outlet.

Gunshot wounds can be through and blind. With a penetrating wound, the bullet passes through the human body and leaves it, while with a blind wound, the bullet lingers in the body due to its insufficient penetrating ability. Sometimes there are tangential wounds, when the bullet only touches the body, causing superficial wounds to soft tissues or forming only an abrasion.

Forensic medical diagnosis of each of the described types of gunshot injuries has its own characteristics. At the same time, the vast majority of gunshot wounds (through, blind) are characterized by certain diagnostic features that make it possible to distinguish a gunshot wound from other wounds, and primarily from stab wounds. During an external examination of a corpse, the diagnosis of gunshot wounds is based primarily on sectional signs of the inlet.

A bullet with sufficient kinetic energy has a penetrating effect, first pulling the skin in the form of a cone, and then knocking out part of it and taking it with it into the wound channel. Thus, the bullet acts as a piercer, punching out the skin in the entry area. This phenomenon was subsequently called tissue defect or "minus tissue".

A practically described sign is determined when the edges of the wound approach each other. If the edges of the wound do not come together, do not close the wound channel, then we can talk about a tissue defect. If the edges come together due to skin tension, then folds form in the corners of the wound, which also indicates a tissue defect.

The shape of the inlet depends on a number of conditions. If the bullet hit the body at a right angle, then the entrance hole will usually be round. If the bullet enters the body at a different angle, then the inlet becomes oval.

When penetrating the body, the bullet wipes the particles that are on it along the edges of the inlet (traces of grease, soot, powder deposits, rust), forming a so-called wiping belt or pollution belt in the inlet circumference. The latter is a grayish ring, under which a second belt is found - the sedimentation belt. Due to the extensibility of the skin, its defect in the region of the inlet is usually 1-2 mm smaller than the diameter of the bullet.

Immediately after the injury, the belt of sedimentation is a ring of pinkish-red color, which dries up and becomes dark brown. The width of the belt is equal to 1-2 mm, its shape depends on the angle of entry of the bullet. When wounded at a right angle, the belt of precipitation will be uniform around the entire circumference; when a bullet enters at an acute angle, the belt becomes in the form of a semi-oval.

When a bullet passes through clothing, the belts of contamination and metallization on the skin may be absent. In such cases, these belts can be found when examining clothing.

In contrast to the inlet, a tissue defect is usually not observed in the outlet, since the wedge-shaped action of the bullet is manifested here. The bullet in the area of ​​the exit hole pulls the skin in front of itself in the form of a cone and breaks through it at its top. Therefore, the edges of even a large exit wound approach each other when approached.

As for the wiping belt (contamination) and traces of gun grease, they can only be detected in the region of the inlet and are not observed in the circumference of the outlet.

The outlet hole is larger than the inlet hole. The edges of the inlet are screwed inward, and the edges of the outlet appear to be somewhat turned outward. However, the latter signs are inconsistent. Therefore, in some cases it is very difficult to distinguish the inlet from the outlet by the size, shape and nature of the edges. Occasionally, multiple exits will be found with one inlet, which may depend on the deformation of the bullet and its separation into separate fragments, which will act as independent projectiles, giving separate exits. This sign is constant when hiding the traces of the crime, when the criminal makes notches on the tip of the bullet.

Determination of shot distance.

In forensic medicine and criminology, three shot distances are distinguished:

1. Point-blank shot.

2. Shot at close range

3. Shot from a long (not close) distance.

SHOT POINT SHOT.

When fired at close range, the muzzle of the weapon rests against the body. In this case, the weapon can be tightly pressed against the body (full hermetic stop), not tightly touch the body only with the edge of the muzzle when the weapon is attached to the body at an angle (side stop).

With full support, the wound channel is, as it were, a continuation of the bore, therefore, all additional factors of the shot will be detected only when examining the wound channel (“everything is inside, nothing is outside”). Powders, traces of soot, gun grease, traces of metal will be found along the wound channel.

If there is a dense tissue under the skin, such as bone, then gases, breaking through into the wound channel, spread over the surface of the bone, exfoliating the muscles and periosteum from it. At the same time, the skin is lifted by gases and pressed down to a piece cut, forming an imprint of the latter (stamps, stamp-imprints).

The most consistent signs of a point-blank shot are skin tears at the entry hole. These gaps are formed mainly due to pre-bullet gases flying out of the bore.

In cases where the muzzle of the weapon is not pressed, but only touches the body with its surface, the described signs of a point-blank shot will be less pronounced. In this case, part of the powder gases breaks through between the skin and the muzzle, giving a small coating of soot around the inlet. If at the time of the shot the weapon was pressed at an angle, then the powder gases and soot partially break out at the open corner, forming a triangular or oval area of ​​sooting. Therefore, by the location of the soot in the area of ​​the inlet, one can judge the position of the weapon at the time of the shot.

CLOSE SHOT.

A close distance is understood as such a distance when not only a bullet, but also additional factors of a shot act on the body: flame, gases, soot, powders, grease. As you move away from the weapon, additional factors dissipate in the form of a cone, expanding in the direction of the bullet's flight. The nature and magnitude of the muzzle flame depend primarily on the type of gunpowder. Black (smoky) powder gives a significant flame and a lot of red-hot unburned powders, which have a significant thermal effect. They can cause singed hair, skin burns, and even clothes on fire. There is a known case of suicide from a revolver loaded with black powder, when clothes and a sofa, on which the corpse of the deceased was located, caught fire from the shot.

The thermal effect of smokeless powder is much less pronounced. Hot powder gases, flying out of the barrel bore, have a bruising effect, causing the formation of parchment stains. The soot resulting from the combustion of gunpowder extends 20-30 cm from the muzzle of the weapon.

The shape of the soot spot can be round or oval, depending on the angle at which the shot occurred in relation to the obstacle.

When fired, the powder does not completely burn out, and therefore unburned and partially burnt powders fly out of the bore and, at close firing distances, are found on the barrier. They can penetrate into the fabric of clothing and even pierce it. Powders can damage the epidermis, causing it to settle. Sometimes they are embedded in the skin, where they are easily detected, the so-called gunpowder tattoo. Powders are found when shot from a distance of 60-70 cm (for short-barreled rifled weapons - revolvers, pistols) and up to 100 cm (for long-barreled - rifles, carbines).

When fired from lubricated weapons, additional factors include particles of gun grease. When shot at close range, they are found around the inlet.

The amount of close shot distance depends on the weapon system, the nature of the ammunition, and the degree of deterioration of the weapon. In practice, traces of additional factors of firing cartridges with smokeless powder from small arms are determined within 100 cm.

In the absence of traces of additional factors of the shot in the conclusion, the expert indicates that no signs of a shot at close range were found. The absence of traces of additional factors does not yet mean that the shot could not have been at close range, since it could have come through some kind of obstacle. For example, when shooting close to the door held by the body of a person on the other hand, additional factors will remain on the door. A similar picture can be observed with crossbows through various gaskets.

SHOT FROM A FAR (not close) DISTANCE.

A shot from a long distance in forensic medicine and forensic science is understood as a shot from such a distance when only a bullet acts on the body, and additional factors of the shot (soot, powders, etc.) are not detected. For hand-held combat weapons, such a distance will begin already beyond 1 m. As for the specific distance of a long-range shot (10 or 100 m), it is not possible to determine it from the autopsy data.

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Depending on the distance between the muzzle of the weapon and the object being struck, a point-blank shot is distinguished (the muzzle of the weapon at the time of the shot is in contact with the surface of clothing or the damaged part of the body) and three conditional zones (the muzzle at the time of the shot is at some distance from the object being struck).

When fired point-blank at a right angle to the surface of the damaged part of the body, the main mass of powder gases emitted from the bore, acting compactly, pierces the skin and, expanding in all directions in the initial part of the wound channel, exfoliates and sharply seals it to the muzzle end of the weapon. When the strength of the skin is exhausted, it breaks. Together with powder gases, shot soot, powders and metal particles rush into the wound channel. Penetrating into the wound channel, powder gases interact with blood-rich tissues and form carboxyhemoglobin and carboxymyoglobin. If the powder gases reach the cavities and hollow organs, then with a sharp expansion they can cause extensive ruptures of the walls of the internal organs.

Thus, the following morphological features testify to a point-blank shot:

• - a large skin defect exceeding the caliber of a firearm, as a result of the penetrating action of powder gases;
• - detachment of the skin along the edges of the entrance gunshot wound and ruptures of the edges of the skin from the penetration of powder gases under the skin and their explosive action;
• - abrasion or bruising in the form of a stamp-imprint of the muzzle end of the weapon due to the impact of the skin on the muzzle of the barrel at the time of its detachment under the action of expanded powder gases that have penetrated the skin;
• - extensive ruptures of internal organs as a result of the explosive action of powder gases trapped in cavities or hollow organs;
• - skin ruptures in the area of ​​the exit wound in case of damage to thin parts of the body (fingers, hands, forearms, lower legs, feet) as a result of the explosive action of powder gases;
• - the presence of soot only along the edges of the entrance wound and in the depth of the wound channel due to the tight stop of the weapon in the target;
• - bright pink coloration of the muscles in the area of ​​the entrance wound due to the chemical action of powder gases.

Due to the design features of the muzzle end of the barrel of some types of weapons (windows-holes for the removal of powder gases, oblique muzzle end, etc.), there may be no individual signs of a point-blank shot.

When fired point-blank at a certain angle to the surface of the damaged part of the body, the bulk of the powder gases, soot, powder still penetrates into the wound channel. Some of these additional factors of the shot damage the skin surface near the wound, which leads to the formation of unilateral skin tears and eccentric deposition of soot and powders in the immediate vicinity of the edges of the entrance gunshot wound.

In some cases, the eccentric, butterfly-shaped, three- or six-petal arrangement of soot near the edges of the gunshot wound is determined by the design of the muzzle end of some weapons (the presence of a muzzle brake, flame arrester, etc.).

When fired at close range, they distinguish three conditional zones.

AT first zone close shot, the entrance gunshot wound is formed due to the explosive, concussive action of powder gases and the penetrating action of the bullet. The edges of the wound may be torn. If they are not present, then the wound is surrounded by a wide annular sedimentation. 32

The action of powder gases is limited to skin damage and does not extend into the depth of the wound channel. Around the wound, intense dark gray, almost black soot and powders are observed. The area occupied by them expands as the distance from the muzzle of the weapon to the target at the time of the shot increases. In addition, there is a fall of vellus hair or clothing fibers due to the thermal action of powder gases. Around the entrance wound, when using ultraviolet radiation, splashes of gun grease (multiple luminescent small spots) are often found. The length of the first zone depends on the power of the weapon used. So, for a Makarov pistol, a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle and a rifle, it is about 1, 3 and 5 cm, respectively.

In second zone a close shot wound is formed only by a bullet. Soot, powders, metal particles, splashes of gun grease, etc. are deposited around the entrance wound. With an increase in the distance from the muzzle of the weapon barrel to the target, the area of ​​their deposition expands, and the intensity of the soot color decreases. For many samples of modern firearms, the second zone extends up to 25-35 cm. Taking into account that the nature of deposits of soot, powders and metal particles depends on many factors, in order to determine the distance of a shot in each case, experimental shooting is carried out in compliance with the conditions of the incident. and compare its results with the nature of the damage under study.

AT third zone a close shot wound is formed only by a bullet. Powders and metal particles are deposited around it. When fired from a Makarov pistol, these particles can be detected on the target at a great distance - up to 150 cm from the muzzle, from a Kalashnikov assault rifle - up to 200 cm, rifles - up to 250 cm. As the distance increases, the number of powders and metal particles reaching the target, getting smaller and smaller. At extreme distances, as a rule, single particles are detected, up to 4–6 m on a horizontal surface - powder and metal particles flying to the sides and back up to 1–2 m, settling on the arrow, surrounding people and objects.

It must be borne in mind that when shots from 10, 25, 50 m or more into a dense barrier (for example, into the chest of a person wearing protective body armor), metal particles may be deposited on the first layer of clothing around the entrance gunshot wound. They are formed during the interaction of a bullet with a target, they have ultramicroscopic dimensions and very fragile contact with the surface. As a result, a false picture of a shot at close range is created, so the nature of the obstacle (or clothing, or another target) must be taken into account when studying. At present, objective methods have been developed to distinguish such particles from those that are deposited on the target at a close shot distance.

There are through, blind and tangential bullet wounds. A through bullet wound is called a wound that has an input and output gunshot wounds connected by a wound channel. Penetrating wounds arise from the action of a bullet with high kinetic energy, when wounding thin parts of the body or only soft tissues.

A typical entry gunshot wound is small and round. In the center, her skin is missing (these are the so-called minus tissues). The defect is in the form of a cone with its apex inward, the edges are uneven with short radial breaks in the surface layers of the skin. The skin along the edge of the defect is aggravated in the form of a thin ring or oval (ablation belt), the outer diameter of which is approximately equal to the caliber of the firearm. The surface of the belt of deposition is contaminated with the metal of the bullet surface. Hence its other names: pollution belt, metallization belt, rubdown belt.

Exit gunshot wounds are more variable in shape, size and nature of the edges. They usually do not have belts of sedimentation and metallization. The defect in the area of ​​the exit wound is either absent or has the shape of a cone with its apex outward. A skin defect occurs if, having passed through a thin part of the body or only soft tissues, the bullet retained a significant part of the kinetic energy and the ability to exert a penetrating effect. A belt of irritation at the exit wound appears if, at the time of the lesion, the surface of the body area in the area of ​​the exit wound was pressed against a dense barrier, such as, for example, a waist belt.

Differential diagnosis of entry and exit wounds is facilitated by the nature of gunshot bone fractures along the wound channel. The main distinguishing feature of the entrance gunshot injury on the flat bones of the skull is a cleavage of the inner bone plate, forming a funnel-shaped defect, opened in the direction of the bullet's flight. Output gunshot injury is characterized by a chipping of the outer bone plate.

Gunshot fractures of long tubular bones usually represent an extended area of ​​small and large comminuted fractures. If the fragments are given their original position, then from the side of the bullet entry, a round defect with radially extending cracks will be visible, which form large fragments resembling butterfly wings on the lateral surfaces of the bone. On the exit side of the bullet, a large bone defect is found; multiple cracks extend from its edges, mainly along the length of the bone. An indirect sign indicating the localization of the entrance and exit gunshot wounds is a path of bone fragments that runs from the bone in the direction of the exit wound and is clearly visible on radiographs.

The wound channel can be straight, and with an internal rebound from bone or other relatively dense tissues, it can be in the form of a curved or broken line, sometimes stepped due to displacement of organs (for example, intestinal loops).

Blind is called such a bullet wound, in which the firearm remained in the body. Blind wounds, as a rule, are caused by bullets with low kinetic energy due to its low initial speed, unstable flight, design features that lead to its rapid destruction in the tissues, a large distance to the target, preliminary interaction of the bullet with an obstacle, damage to the body of a large array of dense and soft tissues, internal rebound (for example, in the cranial cavity).

The firearm, the localization of which is determined by X-ray, is carefully removed from the wound channel and sent for forensic examination to identify the specific weapon from which the shot was fired.

Tangential bullet wounds occur if the bullet does not penetrate the body and forms an open wound channel in the form of an elongated wound or abrasion.