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Bevelling in exit gunshot wounds in bones
1Department of Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton 33431, USA. gquatreh@hermes.unice.fr
Forensic Science International
|October 27, 1997
Summary
Analyzing bevelling in exit gunshot wounds reveals outward bevelling in most cases. However, the direction of bevelling does not reliably indicate the direction of fire in forensic investigations.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Skeletal Trauma Analysis
Background:
- Skeletal trauma analysis is crucial in forensic casework.
- Limited attention is given to gunshot wound analysis in major pathology references.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze bevelling patterns in exit gunshot wounds.
- To determine the correlation between bevelling direction and shooting direction.
Main Methods:
- Examined 17 exit gunshot wounds from 14 forensic cases.
- Measured endocranial and ectrocranial wound dimensions.
- Identified pronounced bevelling and its direction relative to shooting direction.
Main Results:
- Outward bevelling observed in nearly two-thirds of exit wounds.
- No bevelling noted in orbits, sphenoid, occipital, and parietal bones in some cases.
- Internal bevelling was not observed in this series.
Conclusions:
- Bevelling in exit wounds can be partly explained by a glass model.
- The inconsistent correlation between bevelling direction and shooting direction means it cannot reliably determine the direction of fire.