National Institute of Forensic Sciences of Guatemala -INACIF-.

Technical Scientific Department

Crime Laboratories
Laboratory of BALLISTICS
14 Calle 5-49 zona 1 Telephone: 2327-3100 FAX: 2251-4140

BAL - 15-6726
-INACIF- INACIF-15-30964

Sheet 1 of
3

EXPERT OPINION

Guatemala September 6, 2016

Mr. ByronGerardo Cruz Muñoz
Fiscal Assistant
Municipal Prosecutor's Office
Public Prosecutor's Office
Esquipulas, Chiquimula.

Mr. Fiscal Assistant:

I am kindly addressing you in relation to a document of delivery of evidence and

request for analysis, received at the National Institute of Forensic Sciences of Guatemala -
INACIF- on 05/22/2015, through which requires BALLISTIC EXPERTISE in case handled by
that Prosecutor's Office with reference MP420-2015-680. Given that I was appointed to
attend the expertise, I respectfully state:

1. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE EVIDENCE

1.1. One revolver type firearm, together with three firearm cartridges, inside a package
labeled: "Indicia No.: 1; MP420-2015-680". Indications that are identified for analytical
purposes, such as BAL-15-6726-1 (e! firearm) and BAL-15-6726-1.1 (cartridges).

The evidence described in sub-numeral 1.1, was received at this Laboratory on

03/06/2015, attached to document of delivery of evidence in whose main sections it
consigns the following: "Report No (URE): ECA420-2015-680; Reference: MP420-2G15-
680; Date: 06/05/2015; Address: Interior Ministerio Publico, municipality of Esquipulas,
department of Chiquimula".

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE EXPERTISE

2.1. Determine the identification of! firearm under study and whether it is capable of firing.
2.2. Determine the caliber of the cartridges and whether they can be used in the firearm
under study.

3. PROCEDURES PERFORMED

3.1. The expert analysis was carried out at the Ballistics Laboratory of the National Institute
of Forensic Sciences of Guatemala, INACIF on 23/09/2015.
3.2. We proceeded to carry out an ocular inspection, length and diameter measurements,
identification, marking of the evidence submitted, character recovery test, gunshot test
and ballistic fingerprinting.

Eng. Nelson Geovani Alvarez Tobar

Mechanical Engineer
Ballistics Expert
National Institute of Forensic Sciences
From Guatemala
-INACIF-
 National Institute of Forensic Sciences of Guatemala -INACIF-.
Technical Scientific Department
Crime Laboratories
Laboratory of BALLISTICS
14 Calle 5-49 zona 1 Telephone: 2327-3100 FAX: 2251-4140

BAL - 15-6726
-INACIF- INACIF-15-30964

Sheet 2 of
3

4. METHOD AND INSTRUMENTS USED

 METHOD
Methods for ballistic analysis, included in previously established work,
were used.

• INSTRUMENTS USED
o Vernier caliper
o Electric vibration marker
o Projectile recovery tank

5. RESULTS

Table No. 1. Of the firearm.

Indication No"
Type Revolver
Brand Deleted
Model Not Visible
Caliber .38" Special.
Serial or registration number Deleted
Approximate barrel bore diameter 9 millimeters
Approximate length of ! cannon 102 millimeters
Type of bore Striated, oriented to (right), composed of five relief grooves. and five
Is capable of firing Yes.
Shots fired Three, obtaining the ballistic fingerprint consisting of three casings and three
projectiles.
Cartridges used Three .38" Special caliber, provided by this Laboratory.
Capacity of! charging cylinder Six .38" Special caliber cartridges.
Character recovery test  The appropriate chemical reagents were applied to the e! area where
the mark and the registration number were erased, the following
characters were recovered: TAURUS, which correspond to the mark.
We were unable to retrieve any character corresponding to the serial
or registration number.

Table No. 2: Of the cartridges.

Indication No. Quantity Diameter of" projectile Corner length Caliber -

6 BAL-15-6726-1.1 03 9 millimeters 29 millimeters . .38" Special

CONCLUSIONS
6.1 Firearm identified as exhibit BAL-15-6726-1, corresponds to the revolver type, brand
erased, model not visible, caliber .38" Special serial or registration number erased and is
in capacity to fire. The character recovery test was performed and the following characters
were recovered: TAURUS, which correspond to the brand name. NO characters
corresponding to the serial or registration number were retrieved.
6.2 The firearm cartridges identified as exhibits BAL-15-6726-11, belong to the .38'' Special
caliber and are designed to be used in firearms of that caliber, including the firearm
identified as exhibit BAL-15-6726-1, described in conclusion 6.1 of this report.

Eng. Nelson Geovani Alvarez Tobar

Mechanical Engineer
Ballistics Expert
National Institute of Forensic Sciences
From Guatemala
-INACIF-

National Institute of Forensic Sciences of Guatemala -INACIF-.

Technical Scientific Department
Crime Laboratories
Laboratory of BALLISTICS
14 Calle 5-49 zona 1 Telephone: 2327-3100 FAX: 2251-4140
 BAL - 15-6726
INACIF-15-30964

Sheet 3 of
3
7. SCIENTIFIC BASIS
Eye Inspection For identification purposes, both in firearms and their ammunition, the respective legalized manufacturers stamp on their structure characters
that identify them, such as brand, caliber, registration number, model, and other specifications.
Measurement of length and diameter: In the analysis of firearms, the diameter of the barrel bore is established, since the caliber of a rifle or pistol corresponds
to the diameter of the barrel measured between two opposing fields".
Functional Testing and Ballistic Fingerprinting: "The relevant tests are carried out to verify that the ballistic fingerprint is correct. operation of the weapon. We
begin by observing its mechanical operation without cartridges; we continue with several series of shots with live fire". "When the firearms seized or
confiscated from suspected criminals are available, test firing is carried out in a shooting gallery and in a projectile recovery device, to obtain indubitable
(witness) cases and bullets, which are subsequently subjected to a comparative microscopic study with the dubious cases and bullets."
Character recovery test: "Sometimes, the serial numbers of weapons (or other types of inscriptions, such as brand, model, manufacturer...) are erased by
filing, polishing, sanding, milling or punching. In these cases, appropriate chemical reagents will be applied to try to regenerate the affected inscriptions."
Firearm (Definition): "Firearms are instruments of diverse dimensions and shapes, destined to violently launch certain projectiles, taking advantage of the
expansive force of the gases at the moment of the deflagration of the gunpowder. In this respect, it is convenient to point out that the fact that it is fire that
originates the process that ends with the violent expulsion of the projectile into space, has given rise to the fact that these mechanical devices - invented to
improve the use of the expansion force of gunpowder gases - are called FIREARMS".

8. GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY

8.1 The evidence under study and the ballistic fingerprint generated in this Laboratory will
be transferred to the Evidence Reception, Control and Distribution Section of the
Forensic Monitoring Unit, from where they will be sent to the corresponding place.

This opinion is printed on three sheets, written on the front, which bear the seal of!
Laboratory, as well as the signature and seal of the undersigned expert.

Deferentially,

Eng. Nelson Geovani Alvarez Tobar

Mechanical Engineer
Ballistics Expert
National Institute of Forensic Sciences
From Guatemala
-INACIF-

Personal Identification Document No. 1820 63852 1406

Issued by RENAP

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Moreno González, L Rafael. "Forensic Ballistics. 11th Edition. Editorial Purrua, Mexico, 1999, 138p.
2. Nieto Alonso, Julio. 'Apuntes de Criminalística", 3*. Edition, Editorial Tecnos, Spain, 1998, I97p.
C.c- FILE/ UPED FILE