Citation

Fragkouli K, Al Hakeem E, Bulut O, Simmons T. J. Forensic Leg. Med. 2017; 53: 1-12.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jflm.2017.10.004

PMID

29091905

Abstract

Pig half-carcasses were shot in scapulae, ribs and mandibles with either 0.243 hunting rifle using high velocity expanding ammunition (N = 30) or AK47 using full metal jacketed (FMJ) ammunition (N = 12) from a range of either 5 or 20 m. Fracture patterns related to distance of fire and ammunition type were compared on de-fleshed, macerated, and reconstructed bones. For expanding ammunition, location of fracture on ribs affected the resulting pattern. Scapulae shot from 5 m presented a comminuted pattern different from those shot from 20 m. Mandibles shot from 20 m showed a characteristic radiating pattern at entrance with the opposite ramus un-fractured; those shot from 5 m exhibited fractures to both rami. Using decision tree analysis provided accuracies of 93.8% for scapulae and 87.5% for mandibles. For FMJ, no distance dependent fracture differences were apparent in any bone. Decision tree analysis facilitated the interpretation of fracture patterns caused by projectile trauma.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

Expanding bullet; Forensic anthropology; Full metal jacketed ammunition; Gunshot trauma; Postcranial flat bones; Shooting distance