title: Blood-spatter patterns: hands hold clues for the forensic reconstruction of the sequence of events.
abstract: Biologic and nonbiologic traces on the hands are of particular importance for the forensic reconstruction of shooting incidents; gunpowder residue analysis in particular helps determine whether the gunshot is close range or distant. In crime scene investigation, knowledge about the morphology of bloodstain patterns-including gunshot-related back spatter-has increased since various experimental examinations have been performed in the last years; nowadays, these traces are frequently used for forensic crime scene reconstruction. The goal of this study was to deduce the position and orientation of the hands, and therefore the firearm, according to the bloodstain patterns on the hands of the deceased. For this purpose blood-spatter stains on the hands were examined on site in 5 suicides caused by gunshot. In all cases, forensically relevant conclusions regarding forensic reconstruction were enabled through close examination of the spatter marks. Therefore, in shooting incidents, analysis and documentation of blood-spatter findings on the hands is recommended before hands are tested for gunpowder residue or wrapped for the transport of the body.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland. yen@irm.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thali
authors.forename: Beat P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Kneubuehl
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Peschel
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zollinger
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dirnhofer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001801:Blood Stains; D005389:Firearms; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006225:Hand; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D013405:Suicide; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology*