[Differentiation of hunting accident and suicide with rifles]

Criterias for the differentiation between hunting accidents and suicides are explained and discussed. A thorough investigation of this kind should always include autopsy, examination of the firearm, determination of the shooting distance and examination of the scene including an effort to reconstruct the events. Typical findings in suicides are contact shots, entrance wounds of the head, chest or upper abdomen, downward trajectories and evidence (gunshot residue, backspatter) suggesting a hand had been used to steady the muzzle. Typical findings in hunting accidents are entrance wounds of the extremities, the lower abdomen or the back, worn out or defective safety devices, upward trajectories and trajectories that are incompatible with possible and intended positions of the firearm. Each case has to be examined individually and the findings should be interpreted as an entity.