title: Gunshot residue patterns on skin in angled contact and near contact gunshot wounds.
abstract: The goal of this study was the reproduction of shape and pattern of gunshot residues in near contact and contact gunshot wounds by a series of experimental gunshots on a skin and soft tissue model. The aim was to investigate the shape and direction of soot deposits with regard to the muzzle according to different muzzle-target angles, firing distances, type of ammunition and weapon and barrel length. Based on a review of the literature and on the results of the experiments the authors could make the following statements of gunshot residues in angled contact and close contact gunshot: (1) gunshot residues on the target surface can be differentiated in a "inner" and "outer powder soot zone"; (2) the outer powder soot zone is much less visible than the inner powder soot zone and may lack on human skin; (3) with increasing muzzle target distance both inner and outer powder soot halo increase in size and decrease in density; (4) in angled shots the inner powder soot halo shows an eccentric, elliptic shape which points towards the muzzle, regardless of ammunition, calibre and barrel length; (5) the outer powder soot points away from the muzzle in angled contact and close contact shots.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Berne, Bühlstrasse 20, 3012 Berne, Switzerland. plattner@irm.unibe.ch
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Plattner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kneubuehl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thali
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zollinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon; D002417:Cattle; D044709:Forensic Ballistics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon