Wound morphology in contact shots from blank cartridge handguns: a study on composite models
Tóm tắt
It is a well-known fact that blank cartridge guns can cause penetrating and even fatal injuries when discharged in contact or at very close ranges. In these cases, the gas jet perforates the skin leaving an entrance wound similar to that from a conventional gun. In order to investigate the wound morphology in contact shots from blank firearms, test shots were fired at composite models of pig skin and gelatin blocks using three different calibre 9-mm blank cartridge handguns (two pistols and one revolver) and two types of ammunition. It turned out that the penetrating gas jet produced roundish skin defects resembling bullet entrance holes. Small skin particles from the perforation site were dispersed in the underlying simulant where radiating cracks containing greyish gunshot residues indicated the original expansion of the inrushing combustion gases. Apart from the size of the permanent entrance hole in the skin and the final position of the displaced tissue particles, the penetration depth of the gas jet was determined. Under the specified conditions of the test shots, the zone of mechanical destruction within the simulant was 2.2 to 6.1 cm in length, which illustrates the injuring potential of contact shots inflicted with blank cartridge handguns.
Tài liệu tham khảo
Rothschild MA, Dicker L, Prante H, Maschke C (1998) Peak sound pressure levels of gunshots from starter’s pistols. HNO 46:986–992
Rothschild MA (1999) Freiverkäufliche Schreckschusswaffen. Medizinische, rechtliche und kriminaltechnische Bewertung. Schmidt-Römhild, Lübeck, pp 59–96, 103–110, 119–142, 153–172
Anderson PJ, Lau GS, Taylor WR, Critchley JA (1996) Acute effects of the potent lacrimator o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) tear gas. Hum Exp Toxicol 15:461–465
Kneubuehl BP, Coupland RM, Rothschild MA, Thali MJ (2011) Wound ballistics. Basics and applications. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 52–53, 65, 70–71, 208–212, 282–285
Nadjem H, Bohnert M, Schley K, Pollak S (1996) Marks on clothing and skin in absolutely and relatively close distance gunshots with fright weapons. Arch Kriminol 197:175–184
Rothschild MA, Jungk J, Schneider V (1998) Thermal injuries due to the muzzle flash from starter’s pistols. Rechtsmedizin 9:9–13
Herrmann A, Wohlrab J, Marsch WC (2004) Trauma due to blank cartridges and fireworks. Early and correct treatment prevents tattooing and scarring. Unfallchirurg 107:22–26
Rothschild MA, Maxeiner H, Schneider V (1994) Cases of death by gas or warning firearms. Med Law 13:511–518
Rothschild MA, Geserick G, Horn W, Schneider V (1998) Fatalities from modified blank firing guns. Rechtsmedizin 8:77–82
Püschel K, Kulle KJ, Koops E (2001) Once again: risk of injury caused by blank pistols. Arch Kriminol 207:26–32
Giese A, Koops E, Lohmann F, Westphal M, Püschel K (2002) Head injury by gunshots from blank cartridges. Surg Neurol 57:268–277
Große Perdekamp M, Schmidt U, Rupp W, Braunwarth R, Rost T, Pollak S (2005) Contact shot with unusual soot pattern. Forensic Sci Int 149:75–79
Ogunc GI, Ozer MT, Coskun K, Uzar AI (2009) Modified blank ammunition injuries. Forensic Sci Int 193:112–117
Frank M, Peters D, Klemm W, Grossjohann R, Ekkernkamp A, Bockholdt B, Seifert J (2017) Penetrating chest trauma caused by a blank cartridge actuated rubber ball projectile: case presentation and ballistic investigation of an uncommon weapon type. Int J Legal Med (in press)
Pollak S, Missliwetz J, Mortinger H (1989) Pistols and revolvers as striking tools. Arch Kriminol 184:30–37
Geisenberger D, Vogt S, Pircher R, Kramer L, Pollak S, Große Perdekamp M (2015) Pattern injuries from blows with the muzzle end of a handgun. Forensic Sci Int 257:341–346
Schulz G, Schewe G, Schütz H, Westenberger V (1981) Gas pistol shots. Arch Kriminol 168:165–170
Rothschild MA, Liesenfeld O (1996) Is the exploding powder gas of the propellant from blank cartridges sterile? Forensic Sci Int 83:1–13
Rothschild MA, Mülling C (1998) Morphologic detection of Bacillus cereus in blank cartridges. Arch Kriminol 201:172–181
Tausch D, Wagner HJ (1978) Über zwei tödliche Verletzungen mit Gas- und Schreckschusswaffen. Kriminalistik 32:451–452
Jacob B, Huckenbeck W, Daldrup T, Haarhoff K, Bonte W (1990) Suicides by starter’s pistols and air guns. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 11:285–290
Maxeiner H, Schneider V (1989) Injuries and fatalities caused by gas-/warning weapons. Arch Kriminol 184:84–92
Rothschild MA, Maxeiner H (1994) Unusual findings in a case of suicide with a gas weapon. Int J Legal Med 106:274–276
Rothschild MA, Karger B, Strauch H, Joachim H (1998) Fatal wounds to the thorax caused by gunshots from blank cartridges. Int J Legal Med 111:78–81
Rothschild MA, Vendura K (1999) Fatal neck injuries caused by blank cartridges. Forensic Sci Int 101:151–159
Clarot F, Vaz E, Papin F, Clin B, Vicomte C, Pronst B (2003) Lethal head injury due to tear-gas cartridge gunshots. Forensic Sci Int 137:45–51
Bungardt N, Dettmeyer R, Madea B (2005) Suicidal shot in the mouth with an unmodified blank cartridge pistol. Arch Kriminol 216:1–6
Buyuk Y, Cagdir S, Avsar A, Duman GU, Melez DO, Sahin F (2009) Fatal cranial shot by blank cartridge gun: two suicide cases. J Forensic Legal Med 16:354–356
Demirci S, Dogan KH, Koc S (2011) Fatal injury by an unmodified blank pistol: a case report and review of the literature. J Forensic Legal Med 18:237–241
Tausch D, Sattler W, Wehrfritz K, Wehrfritz G, Wagner HJ (1974) Tödliche Schussverletzungen mit “unbedenklichen” Gas- und Schreckschussfaustfeuerwaffen. Z Rechtsmed 75:71–77
Zink P (1976) Fatal injuries by blank warning firearms. Z Rechtsmed 78:91–96
Voisard MX, Kneubuehl BP (2010) Danger assessment of a spring-gun device (muzzle loader) loaded only with black powder. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 31:95–97
Große Perdekamp M, Vennemann B, Mattern D, Serr A, Pollak S (2005) Tissue defect at the gunshot entrance wound: what happens to the skin? Int J Legal Med 119:217–222
Große Perdekamp M, Kneubuehl BP, Serr A, Vennemann B, Pollak S (2006) Gunshot-related transport of micro-organisms from the skin of the entrance region into the bullet path. Int J Legal Med 120:257–264
Große Perdekamp M, Arnold M, Merkel J, Mierdel K, Braunwarth R, Kneubuehl BP, Pollak S, Thierauf A (2011) GSR deposition along the bullet path in contact shots to composite models. Int J Legal Med 125:67–73
Große Perdekamp M, Pollak S, Thierauf A (2011) Composite models simulating soft tissue targets in experimental ballistics. Fol Soc Med Leg Slov 1(2):58–62
Pollak S, Saukko P (2013) Humane killing tools. In: Siegel JA, Saukko P (eds) Encyclopedia of forensic sciences, vol 4, 2nd edn. Academic Press, London, pp 130–135
Weimann W (1927) Zur Wirkung und gerichtsärztlichen Beurteilung der Scheintodpistolen. Arch Kriminol 80:40–48
Schyma C, Schyma P (1999) The wounding capacity of blank cartridges using a gelatine model. Rechtsmedizin 9:210–214
Schyma P, Schyma C (2000) Dangers of blank firearms—risk of injury and expert assessment. Versicherungsmedizin 52:141–146
Große Perdekamp M, Glardon M, Kneubuehl BP, Bielefeld L, Nadjem H, Pollak S, Pircher R (2015) Fatal contact shot to the chest caused by the gas jet from a muzzle-loading pistol discharging only black powder and no bullet: case study and experimental simulation of the wounding effect. Int J Legal Med 129:125–131
Kneubuehl BP (1998) Physikalisch-ballistische Grundlagen zur Wirksamkeit der Gas- und Schreckschusswaffen. Bericht Nr. 1436. Bundesamt für Waffensysteme und Munition, FA 26, CH-3602 Thun
Rothschild MA, Kneubuehl BP (1996) Physikalische Grundlagen zur Messung von Gasdruck und Energiestrom bei Schreckschusswaffen. Arch Kriminol 198:151–159
Frank M, Franke E, Philipp KP, Bockholdt B, Ekkernkamp A (2009) Ballistic parameters of cal. 9 mm x 17 mm industrial blank cartridges (cattle cartridges). Forensic Sci Int 192:83–87
Schyma C (2012) Wounding capacity of muzzle-gas pressure. Int J Legal Med 126:371–376
Geertinger P, Voigt J (1981) The danger of shots from gas pistols. Arch Kriminol 168:171–175
Rothschild MA, Krause DM (1996) Blank firearms—an underestimated weapon class. Dangerousness, mechanical effect and legal classification. Arch Kriminol 197:65–75
DiMaio VJM (1999) Gunshot wounds. Practical aspects of firearms, ballistics and forensic techniques, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 305–308
Vendura K, Strauch H (1997) Self injury with a blank cartridge pistol. A case report. Arch Kriminol 200:39–44
Große Perdekamp M, Peuten M, Sequenc A, Schmidt U, Pollak S (2001) Mandibular fracture caused by absolute close-range gunshot with a blank cartridge fright weapon. Arch Kriminol 208:88–95
Pircher R, Preiß D, Pollak S, Thierauf-Emberger A, Große Perdekamp M, Geisenberger D (2017) The influence of the bullet shape on the width of abrasion collars and the size of gunshot entrance holes. Int J Legal Med 131:441–445
Schyma C, Lux C, Madea B, Courts C (2015) The ‘triple contrast’ method in experimental wound ballistics and backspatter analysis. Int J Legal Med 129:1027–1033
Lieske K, Janssen W, Kulle K-J (1991) Intensive gunshot residues at the exit wound: an examination using a head model. Int J Legal Med 104:235–238
Pircher R, Geisenberger D, Große Perdekamp M, Neukamm M, Pollak S, Schmidt U, Thierauf-Emberger A (2017) Suicide with two makes of captive-bolt guns (livestock stunners) fired simultaneously to the forehead. Int J Legal Med. doi:10.1007/s00414-017-1539-0