Forensic Ballistics and Firearms Identification (PDF)

DAÑOCUP FIRST TERM BACHELOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE – 3B FORENSIC BALLISTICS and FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION FORENSIC B...

DAÑOCUP FIRST TERM BACHELOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE – 3B FORENSIC BALLISTICS and FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION FORENSIC BALLISTICS ETYMOLOGY CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO BALLISTICS Ballistics was derived from the Greek word “ballo” or “ballein” means “to throw”. BALLISTICS o Root word “ballista” from early Roman war machine. - Science dealing with the MOTION of PROJECTILES o Ballista – gigantic bow or catapult--- - Motion refers to movement of mobility which was used to hurl missiles or large objects such as stones for self-defense FORENSIC from the enemy. - Originated from the Latin word “forum”, meaning EARLY RECORDED FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION “marketplace, where people gather for public disputation or public discussion.” - Earliest recorded identification of firearms was recorded in the criminal investigation by Hans FORENSIC BALLISTICS Gross, the great Austrian Criminologist and the Father of Criminalistics. - science of firearms identification of firearms and Charles Waite ammunition used in crimes He was an employee of the New York State who conducted an investigation - it is a refined tool mark identification where the involving firearms firearm is made of a material harder than the To trace the gun from which the bullet was ammunition components fired, consequently identify the THREE TYPES OF MOTION manufacturer of the gun. 1. Direct Motion IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES IN FORENSIC BALLISTICS Forward movement of the bullet out of the shell by the action of expansive force of Dr. Hans Gross gases from burning gun powder. Father of Criminalistics 2. Gyroscopic Motion Action of the bullet passing through a Austrian Criminologist rifled bore barrel firearm which is either twisted to the left or right. Observed and found out that the traces 3. Translational Motion of gunpowder on the bullet which lodges Once it hits the target and subsequently behind the eye of his grandfather and this ricocheted. would prove probative value. a. Ricochet Bouncing of the bullet from its → Evidence that can original trajectory. stand on its own. b. Yaw A French bullet fired by the soldier of Unstable rotating motion of the Napoleon Bonaparte’s Army, which projectile. lodges behind the eye of his grandfather c. Tailwag in 1799. The end of the projectile wobbles before it picks up a smooth flight The bullet was recovered in 1845. path. ❖ Projectile means the metallic and non-metallic Hans Gross believed that the gunpowder objects propelled by means of force. would prove evidentiary value. o The study of natural laws relating to the Alexander Lacassagne (1844-1921) (77 years old) performance of gunpowder and such performance. Significance of the striations etched found on a bullet The beginning of science of ballistics Legend: PEOPLE TOPIC SUBTOPIC CHAPTER DAÑOCUP FIRST TERM BACHELOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE – 3B FORENSIC BALLISTICS and FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION Edmond Locard (1877-1966) Horace Smith & Daniel B. Wesson Established the first forensic laboratory in Double-action revolver France Formed a partnership in 1852 Father of Poroscopy (study of sweat pores) Managed by producing what is probably the best double-action revolver in the Links a suspect in a commission of the world crime Daniel Wesson left the company to set Ex. Fingerprint- associative evidence up his own firearm business His principles “objects or surfaces which Ex. Caliber 45 don’t have safety trigger came into contact always exchange trace evidence”. Dr. Albert Llewellyn Hall SMALLEST AND LARGEST GUNS An expert in identifying firearms from the ❖ The Gustav Gun fired bullets Largest gun Pioneer in the field in forensic ballistics 38 ft. gun barrel Samuel Colt 7.1 meters per bullet Making the revolver a practical type of 5 tons of explosives pistol ❖ Kolibri Henry Derringer Smallest gun Worked at Philadelphia where he manufactured pocket pistol. 0.2 millimeter John Garand Pin fire – sa gilid Developed the hang-ranked machine gun. Center fire – sa primer A development of Duver Gatling type of machine gun. 7.65 long machine gun BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS Luger George 1. Interior (Internal) Ballistics Did lasting designed work in connection Properties and attributes of the projectile with 9mm Parabellum Cartridge while still inside the gun Used by Russians and Germans Rifling (barrel) John Browning motion of projectiles while it is inside the firearms Started the production of single shot rifle that adopted ____ 2 main parts of rifling No rifling for shotgun a. land/lands Paul and William Mauser the press portion of the gun barrel Produced parts of the rifle which had been adopted by the German government evidence fired bullet – will in 1871 become elevated portion “The Mauser” b. grooves/groovy Legend: PEOPLE TOPIC SUBTOPIC CHAPTER DAÑOCUP FIRST TERM BACHELOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE – 3B FORENSIC BALLISTICS and FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION evidence fired bullet – will Every action is equal and opposite become depressed portion reaction ATTRIBUTES OF INTERIOR BALLISTICS ❖ Affected by several things such as a. Firing pin hitting the primer o Tight hold of the firearm Primer shall explode upon hitting by the o Height of the bore firing pin o Shape and design of the butt plate Due to the theory of friction wherein there is a resistance to motion created by the o Weight of the firearm firing pin o Physical and mental condition of the b. Ignition of the priming mixture shooter Commonly located in the center portion h. Velocity of the bullet in the gun of the cartridge case Speed of the bullet Active gun powder The bullet will travel the bore of the barrel Must be live and potent and must be depending on the gun powder load of the devoid of any moisture. cartridges c. Combustion of the gunpowder i. Rotation of the bullet in the barrel Expansion of the heated gas Smooth bore weapon (no rifling) Self-sustained chemical chain reaction If there’s no rifling inside the barrel, the bullet will move forward without rotating d. Expansion of the heated gas j. Engraving of the cylindrical surface of the bullet Equal expansion of the heated gas inside the cartridge, after the combustion of the Starting from the breech end up to the gunpowder. muzzle end of the barrel Expanded in different direction to the Depending on the number of lands and extent the bullet and shell separates from grooves each other in the cartridge k. Muzzle flash e. Pressure developed Visible light of a muzzle blast Heated gas created by burning of powder The combustion products of the change gunpowder cause the blast and flash, and Tremendous pressure is produced in the any remaining unburned powder, mixing chamber of the firearm with the ambient air. f. Energy generated 2. Exterior (External) Ballistics or Transition Ballistics Fatal equivalent of the bullet compared to a pound that is dropped from a certain Science dealing with the motion of height. projectiles g. Recoil of the gun flight of the bullet from the muzzle The forward movement of the bullet after ATTRIBUTUES OF EXTERIOR BALLISTICS the explosion results in the backward a. Muzzle Blast movement of the cartridge case. Sound created at the muzzle point due to Law of interaction (Newton’s 3rd Law of sudden escape of the expanding gas Motion) ❖ Sir Hiram Maxim (1909) Legend: PEOPLE TOPIC SUBTOPIC CHAPTER DAÑOCUP FIRST TERM BACHELOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE – 3B FORENSIC BALLISTICS and FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION Another term of silencer is “suppressor” Zero-range—the farthest distance at which the line of sight and the invented the silencer bullet’s path intersect. investor of the first automatic machine 2. Effective Range gun Distance within which when the o Silencer bullet was fired still capable of inflicting fatal injury - 20-30 times larger than the regular gun (esp. pistol) 357 mangum- revolver that is 10 - works for pistols times much stronger than caliber 38 - Delta P. design and created the silencer suitable for If you were shot near or far, it can military still cause a fatal injury - 60 PSI Caliber 45 can cause a fatal injury b. Muzzle Energy 3. Maximum Range Energy generated at the muzzle point, Farthest distance that a projectile whenever the cartridge explodes from a can be propelled from a firearm. firearm Lie down to a sand bag so that your c. Trajectory barrel won’t move because of its Actual curve path of the bullet during its weight. flight from the gun muzzle to the target Focus on the target Ex. Caliber 45 – load sound e. Velocity THREE STAGES OF TRAJECTORY Rate of speed per unit time. 1. Straight Horizontal Line Rate of Speed of the bullet: 2,700 ft/Sec parallel to the horizon or 3,000 Km/hr 2. Parabola like flight In 1707, Cassini, an astronomer suggested measuring a firearm’s muzzle free fall velocity. 3. Vertical Drop f. Air Resistance/Aerodynamic Drag d. Range Resistance encountered by the bullet during its flight which reduces its speed. Straight distance from the muzzle to the target One of the influential factors in reference to the speed of the bullet THREE CLASSIFICATIONS OF RANGE THREE PARTS OF DRAG BULLET NOTE: Accurate Range – can control your shots and can cause less fatal injury 1. Bow Resistance Effective Range – can cause intense Due to air pressure at the head fatal injury of the projectile. 1. Accurate Range Basic or aero resistance Distance within a shooter that has 2. Skin Friction control of his shots Caused by the friction of air I-align ang front sight and near sight moving along the middle portion of the body. 3. Base Drag Legend: PEOPLE TOPIC SUBTOPIC CHAPTER DAÑOCUP FIRST TERM BACHELOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE – 3B FORENSIC BALLISTICS and FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION Due to the under-pressure and If shotgun ang ginamit, expect bullet disturbance of the air behind groupings/pag kadikit dikit ng tama doon the base. sa target Pressure on the base area of If you mastered using the gun, the the bullet (pointey one) terminal accuracy will be applied. Usok sa bullet is ang base drag Ex. The time you pull the trigger, there will be 2 bullets fired. g. Pull of Gravity Double groupings/double tap Downward reaction of the bullet towards the center of the earth, due to its weight. b. Terminal Energy/Striking Energy Will only apply starting from the parabola, Energy of the projectile when it strikes the then maximum range. target Bullet could withstand the pull of gravity How strong the impact of the bullet the in the effective range. time it was fired to the target. h. Penetration Ex. If 9mm ginamit, even if 4 bullets pa yan, the person can still stand or alive. If Power and velocity of the bullet. caliber 45 ginmamit, dead agad because of how strong the bullet is. Depth entry of the bullet to the target based on the power and velocity of it Referred to the fatal equivalent of a bullet when it struck the victim NOTE: Warning shot is not allowed. 1. Shocking Power o Indiscriminate firing Resulted in the instantaneous o RA 11926 death of the victim. 2. Stopping Power 3. Terminal Ballistics Put the victim out of action Effects of the impact of the projectile on instantly. the target. c. Terminal Velocity Knocking power of a particular powder Speed of the bullet upon striking the load of the cartridges which makes a target. devastating lesion, caused by the bullet. d. Terminal Penetration Damage of the gun or bullet and pagtama ng bala sa target Depth of entry of the bullet in the target. Depends of the bullet or projectile The way the bullet entered the body of the target Mag depende sa ammunition or gun powder na nakalagay sa cartridge case The bullet will be deformed or ang kalakas ng impact sa target disfigurement ATTRIBUTES OF TERMINAL BALLISTICS a. Terminal Accuracy The size of the bullet grouping on the target 4. Forensic Ballistics Refers to the shot gun Refers to the investigation and identification of firearms by means of ammunition fired through them. Legend: PEOPLE TOPIC SUBTOPIC CHAPTER DAÑOCUP FIRST TERM BACHELOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE – 3B FORENSIC BALLISTICS and FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION Branch of science which the police use as 2. Trinidad Etong Case (April 2009) – Suicide their guide in field investigations - Mario Teodoro Failon Etong (Husband), allegedly suspect ATTRIBUTES OF FORENSIC BALLISTICS - Trinidad Etong was found dead in his apartment. The NBI presumed that it is a foul play. However, Ted a. Field Investigations (Police Phase) Failon was not convicted such crime because he was just suspected and his daughter testified that Conducted by first responders when they her mother committed suicide. investigate a case wherein firearms have been used. 3. Atty. Segundo Sotto, Jr. y Gonzalo (January 18, 2016) Conducted by police investigators DAMAGED PRODUCED IN 3 WAYS (in applying Forensic Ballistics b. Technical Examinations of Ballistics Exhibits (Laboratory Phase) 1. Laceration and Crushing Conducted by firearms examiners in the a. Laceration ballistics laboratory Destructing of tissue caused by projectile To determine the value of firearms exhibits in the solution of the case Usually caliber 45 Conducted by firearms examiners in b. Crushing ballistics laboratory Creates the way of the bullet that causes Forensic ballisticians are the only permanent wound authorized to provide testimony in court or what we called as expert witness The time the bullet entered the target, it pushes to enter the body like its looking c. Legal Proceeding (Judicial Phase) for a way. Making of ballistics report and 2. Cavitation presentation of the result of the examination conducted before the court. Ability of the body tissue to return to its original shape and position Used for presenting the results to the court Object creates a concentrated spiral of pressure that pushes tissue away from SIGNIFICANT CASES OF VIP ASSASSINATIONS the piercing United States of America Yaw Motion - The unstable rotation of the bullet 1. John F. Kennedy (November 22, 1963) a. Permanent Cavity - Lee Harvey Oswald, US Marine Veterans - Kasabay sa crushing - Because of money - Hole left by the passage 2. Martin Luther King Jr. (April 4, 1968) of projectile - James Earl Ray, American Fugitive b. Temporary Cavity 3. Sen. Robert Kenedy (June 5, 1968) - Made up of 30 times the diameter of the projectile 4. Abraham Lincoln Jamesbooth, advocator of Slavery Shock Wave Philippines Acoustic wave which travel to the tissue preceding the projectiles passage 1. Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino Jr. (August 21, 1983) - Ronaldo Galman Legend: PEOPLE TOPIC SUBTOPIC CHAPTER DAÑOCUP FIRST TERM BACHELOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE – 3B FORENSIC BALLISTICS and FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION 5. Shot Ballistics If nagpaputok ka ng baril, then tumagos sa target, it’s called perforating. Study of shotgun ammunition including its characteristics spread and trailing Caliber 38, 357, 40, 45, 50, and etc. Choke - diameter of a barrel of a shotgun is the same 2. Penetrating Wound throughout the bore. An injury that object does not pass - The bore of the gun is sometimes constricted near the through muzzle end Caliber 22, and 9mm - The amount of spread in the shot is controlled by the choke. THREE BASIC KINDS OF GSW DISTINGUISHED BY THE CATEGORIES OF CHOKE PROXIMITY OF THE WEAPON a. Full Choke A. Direct in Contact – gun muzzle pressed against, or within an inch or 2 inches of the body. Bore constriction is reduced by 1mm. B. Close Discharge – 6 inches to 2 ft. If barrel will put 70% of its shot charge in a 30-inch (76 cm) circle at 40 yards (37m) C. Distance Discharge – over 2 ft. or 3 ft. full choke 12-gauge gun will kill ducks Powder tattooing - Dots on the person’s body about 60-65 yards (55m-59m) away. b. Half Choke GUNSHOT WOUNDS MAY BE SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL, OR Bore constriction reduced by ½ mm. ACCIDENTAL c. Quarter Choke Pieces of evidence that tend to show that the Gunshot(s) wound is suicidal: Bore constriction reduced by ¼ mm. 1. The shot was fired in a closed or locked room d. Improved Choke usually in the office or bedroom Bore constriction reduced by 1/10 mm or 2. The death weapon is almost always found near he 50% of shots. place where the victim was found. e. Modified Choke 3. The strut was fired with the muzzle of the gun in It will deliver about 60%. contact with the part of the body involved or at close Chilled Shot – shotgun pellets made from lead especially range. The wound of entrance may show signs of hardened by the addition of a slight amount of antimony. muzzle impression, burning, smudging and tattooing. 4. The location of the gunshot wound of entrance is in 6. Wound Ballistics an accessible part of the body to the wounding hand. Study of the effects of projectile on a target and the conditions that affect It may be at the temple, roof of the mouth, them. precordial or epigastric region Gun Shot Wound (GSW) A person committing suicide will do the act in his mosy convenient way , unless - An open wound produced by the penetration of he has the intention of deceiving the bullet slug within the tissues of the body. investigator. TWO KINDS OF GUNSHOT WOUNDS (Punctured) 5. The shot is usually solitary. F the shot is made on the head involving the brain, the shocking effect 1. Perforating Wound/Transfixing Wound of the injury will not make him capable of firing An injury in which an object that enters another shot. and exits the body The wound has an entrance and exit Legend: PEOPLE TOPIC SUBTOPIC CHAPTER DAÑOCUP FIRST TERM BACHELOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE – 3B FORENSIC BALLISTICS and FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION 6. The direction of the fire is compatible with the Form of a belt around the wound usual trajectory of the bullet considering the hand used and the part of the body involved. d. Foreign Materials 7. Personal history may reveal social, economic, Their presence not only permits the business or marital problem which the victim cannot identificataion of the firearms injury but solve. they also permit a fairly reliable guess of the firearm. May have history of mental disease, depression, severe frustration or If may nasama na mud, or sand or any previous attempt of self-destruction. bacteria 8. Examination of the hand of the victim may show presence of gunpowder FACTORS INFLUENCING ENTRANCE AND EXIT GUNSHOT PIECES OF EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THE WOUND IS WOUNDS ACCIDENTAL A. Kind of Weapon 1. Usually one shot Higher power the weapon is, the more 2. No special area of the body involved destructive to the tissues of the body. 3. Determination of relative position of victim and B. Caliber of the Weapon assailant and witness testimony The higher the caliber, the greater size of PIECES OF EVIDENCE TO SHOW THE GUNSHOT WOUND IS the wound of entrance HOMICIDAL Greater destruction to the tissues 1. No point of election in the wound entrance C. Shape and Composition of the Missile 2. Fire is made when victim is at some distance More conical shape free end of the bullet 3. Defense wounds (signs of struggle) slug has more penetrating power, but less tissue destruction 4. Disturbance of the surroundings D. Range of Fire 5. Wounding firearm cannot be found at crime scene and witness testimony Injury due to missile and pressure of the heated expanded gases, flame and OTHER GSW CHARACTERISTICS articles of gunpowder a. Pink Coloration CHARACTERISTIC EFFECT OF THE BULLET Caused by absorbed carbon monoxide in 1.1 Muzzle Pattern the skin and flesh. o Contact wound malapitan o Often observed in suicide cases b. Dirt Ring o No burning, blackening, and tattooing are Deposited by some projectile oobserved Indicates the entrance side of a firearm o The edges are found ragged injury and does not indicate the range o Torn in a star shape c. Contusion o The wound is like an exit wound Impact of the projectile 1.2 Scorching Reddish dark to bluish black – varies somewhat with the age of the injury o Caused by hot flame or hot gases Uniform in thickness o Burning or charring Legend: PEOPLE TOPIC SUBTOPIC CHAPTER DAÑOCUP FIRST TERM BACHELOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE – 3B FORENSIC BALLISTICS and FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION 1.3 Blackening o Deposition of smoke particles by all types of powders at close ranges. o They soon lost velocity and get deposited on any material available in the path. 1.4 Tattooing (Peppering) o Embedding of unburnt or semi-burnt powder particles o Slightly heavier than the smoke particles E. Direction of Fire Right angle approach of the bullet to the body will produce a round shaped entrance tendency of a bullet to deflect to another direction upon hitting the target F. Part of the Body Involved When the bullet hits the soft tissues, the bullet penetrates When the bullet hits the bones/hard body structures, the bullet may fracture the bones Legend: PEOPLE TOPIC SUBTOPIC CHAPTER