Citation

Petricevic S, Elliot D. J. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. 2005; 38(1): 9-19.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Canadian Society of Forensic Science, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00085030.2005.10757581

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In a New Zealand homicide, the victim was hit at least six times in the back of the head with a hammer-like implement. Bloodstain pattern reconstruction was carried out to investigate the amount of blood that could have spattered onto an assailant during such an attack. A blood-soaked plastic model head was hit with a hammer six times and the resultant spatter recorded. Very little spatter transferred to the clothing of the assailant in this reconstruction. These findings indicate that clothing of assailants in such attacks may not be visibly bloodstained. Direct contact with the bloodied victim or with deposited blood may be required for the transfer of large amounts of blood to clothing.