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FIRE ARM INJURIES

Types of fire arm weapons:

I- Breach - loaders, loaded from the breach. II- Muzzle -loaders, loaded from the muzzle divided into: A- Rifled weapon:

Types of rifled weapons: 1-long weapons :( Service rifle):

The cartridges of the service rifle are two types. # the first type (non automatic) has a rim (caliber 7.92). # the second type (automatic) has a groove at its bases

2 -short weapons
A- Revolver: B- Automatic pistol.

B- Non rifled weapons:

1- Sporting gun:

2- Ghaffir guns:
Powders are of two types: a- Black powder: b- Smokeless powder:

On firing we get a blast of gases accompanied by flam, smoke, unburnt powder, wads and shots or bullets, each of which has a distinct effect on the target, these we call associates of the projectile come out from the muzzle. 1- The flash of light: 2- The gases 3- Flam and smoke. 4- Unburnt powder particles 5- Internal wad: 6- External wad (outer wad): 7. Missile or projectile: a- Shots. b- Bullet:

CHARACTERS OF FIRE ARM INJURIES (WOUND):

1- Loss of substance: 2- Presence of two wounds inlet and exit or may be one wound 3- Possible presence of associated of projectile: 4- Beveling occurs in flat bones (skull, ileum, sternum and scapula). DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INLET AND EXIT:

1. Size 2. Loss of substance 3. Powder marks 4. Edge 5. Beveling .

3 FACTOR AFFECTING THE SHAPE OF THE FIRE ARM WOUND 1- The type of the weapon whether shots or bullets, and short or long weapon. 2- Distance of firing. One central hole (near firing) or dispersed shots (far firing). 3- Direction of firing. A perpendicular injury causing a circular wound, a tangential one causing a tract and if slanting causes an oval wound 4- Site of the wound, A fire arm wound in corrugated area of skin as in axilla, neck, scrotum may appear irregularly lacerated, where in other parts of the body appear circular opening or slit or tract. 5- Type and amount of the powder influence the appearance of the inlet wound e.g. a dense black ring (blackening) in case of black powder, while blackening is faint and grayish in cases of smokeless powder.

Estimation of the distance of firing:

This is depends on the nature of the weapon used and the type of the powder present in the cartridge or bullet used.

1- In cases of short distance (near firing):

The estimation of distance is based on the presence of powder marks and associates of projectile: 1- Effects of gases reach about 15 cm and cause tearing of the entrance. 2- Flam (causing burn) reaches a distance equals to half the length of barrel. 3- Smoke (causing blackening) reaches a distance equal to 1-1.5 the length of the barrel. 4- Unburnt particles (causing tattooing) reach a distance equal to 2-3 times the length of the barrel. 5- The inner wad can penetrate the body up to 3 meters and hits the body up to 10 meters, causing contusion, abrasion and if wad is burnt it leads to burns with no relation to distance. 6- The outer wad (external wad) penetrates the body up to one meter, and hits the body up to 3 meters causing slight abrasion. ]

II- In cases of long distance (far firing):

The estimation of distance is based on the extent of dispersion of shots: 1- Up to 2 meters the whole shots enter the body in one mass producing only one central hole. 2- At 2 meters and more start of dispersion i.e. a central hole and few surrounding separate shots hole. 3- At 3 meters the central hole gets smaller in size with increased dispersion of shots holes. 4- At 4 meters complete dispersion of shots holes having a circular diameter of about 16 cm. 5. At 6 meters the area of dispersion is about 32 cm .6- At 8 meters the area of dispersion is about 50 cm. 7- At 10 meters the area of dispersion is about 60 cm. 8- In longer distance, the spaces between the shots are increased and the power of penetration of shots is decreased. 9- In cases of bullets it is estimated by the amount of penetration, if beyond the range associates of projectile. 10. at point blank firing (0-15). The inlet is cross shaped and everted; burnt (flam).blackening (smoke) and tattooing (unburnt particles). 11- In contact firing, burning take the shape of the muzzle, minimal blackening and tattooing.

MEDICOLEGAL IMPORTANCE OF POWDER MARKS:

1- Diagnosis of fire arm injuries 2- Differentiation between inlet and exit (powder marks found only at inlet). 3- Identification the type of powder used (black or smokeless powder). 4- Estimation the distance of firing (blackening occurs within 1.25 meters). 5- Determination the direction of firing e.g. powder marks denote the proximal end of the tract caused by the bullet passing tangentially along the skin and this will be the end nearer to the assailant.

Identification of the weapon used is based on:

1- The suspected weapon for finger prints, smell of burnt powder, type and bore compared with wad or projectile extracted form the victim. Swab examination from the barrel to determine the powder used and the time since firing. 2- The victims wound as tear in clothes, will help to identify the weapon as in fires bullet or shots. Powder marks will be found on the victim's clothes. 3- The missile extracted from the body (bullet, shots, wads, wads) will help to identify the type of the weapon and its caliber. 4- Experimental examination of the suspected weapon using a special comparison microscope, to compared direction, breadth and depth of rifle marks with the extracted bullet from the dead body. 5- Any empty cartridge at the scene of the crime is also examined and compare with the same caliber of the suspected weapon and experimental cartridge compare with the empty cartridge.

SUICIDE, HOMECIDE OR ACCIDENTAL FIRE ARM INJURY. 1- Circumstantial evidence and scene of the crime. 2- Examination of the victim.
a- Sex of victim, usually females are not commit suicide with fire arm. b- In homicidal injury, he is usually out of the doors. c- Accidental may be out of the doors (wedding) or in doors (cleaning). d- Victims clothes. In suicidal cases no tear of clothes coinciding with the injury in the body as the victim usually bares his skin before committing suicide. e- Cadaveric spasm. The victim may be found grasping the weapon in case of suicide or may be grasping an assailant's hair or piece of clothing in homicidal cases. f- Blackening of the victim's fingers. This may be seen at the tips of the left index and thumb. Fingers when the suicide tries to fix the muzzle to his right temple. g- Signs of resistance. In homicidal cases may be seen in the victim's clothing or body.

3- Examination of the wound:

a) Site of the wound. In suicidal cases are within reach of the person and against vital organs e.g. right temple, roof of the mouth, over the heart. . b- Number of wounds. Multiple wounds points to homicide. Suicide one fatal wound. Accidental usually one. c) Distance of firing: Near firing or contact point plank (0-15 cm) with evident of powder marks and singed of hair around the inlet point to suicide. Homicidal injuries may be from any distance, while accidental injuries may be near (in cleaning) or may be far (in celebrations).

4- Examination of the weapon:

- The presence of the weapon at the scene of the crime beside the body of the victim or clenched in his hand (Cadaveric spasm) point to suicide, while in homicidal injuries, the weapon is usually not present, but in some cases it may be present. - In suicidal cases usually used short weapon, but in soldier may use his service rifle, while in homicidal and accidental cases may use any type of weapons. - The presence of finger print and blood stain on the weapon especially on the trigger can identify the assailant. - In accidental injuries the weapon is examined for the presence of any defect that may cause its accidental discharge

5- Examination of the suspected assailant:

The suspected assailant is examined for signs of struggle which may or may not coincide, with the date of the crime, or blood stains belong to the victim and his blood grouping and finger 11/6/2007prints.