Pistol bullet deflection through soft tissue simulants. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kerkhoff, W.; Bolck, A.; Alberink, I.; Mattijssen, E.J.A.T.; Hermsen, R.; Riva, F.
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 289(2018)
• Page Start: 270
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Bullet trajectory reconstruction -- Bullet trajectory deflection -- Ballistic gelatine -- Soft-tissue simulant -- Skin simulant; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.05.052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: Pistol bullets fly straight-on when going through less than 10 cm of soft human tissue. Pistol bullets deviate from their path after going through more than 10 cm of tissue. Whether or not pistols bullets enter tissue at an angle might influence deviation. Abstract: Trajectory deflections of pistol bullets from four different firearms, fired through soft tissue simulants under two different incidence and exit angles were studied. The data from this study can be used in reconstructions of shooting incidents where human soft tissues (not bones) were perforated with pistol bullets and assumptions must be made about bullet deflection in order to correctly reconstruct trajectories. The results demonstrate that deflection was influenced by the length of the "wound channel" through the simulants. In short, deflection was small to virtually absent with 5 and 10 cm channel lengths. With channel lengths of 15, 20 and 25 cm, there was a clear increase in deflection and/or a more erratic deflection behaviour with most shots. The data also suggest an influence of the angle of incidence and/or exit on both the direction and the magnitude of the deflection.