Practical application of synthetic head models in real ballistic cases.

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Version: Final published version
License: CC BY 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_7F470355E372
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Practical application of synthetic head models in real ballistic cases.
Journal
International journal of legal medicine
Author(s)
Riva F., Fracasso T., Guerra A., Genet P.
ISSN
1437-1596 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0937-9827
Publication state
Published
Issued date
15/08/2021
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
135
Number
6
Pages
2567-2579
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
In shooting crimes, ballistics tests are often recommended in order to reproduce the wound characteristics of the involved persons. For this purpose, several "simulants" can be used. However, despite the efforts in the research of "surrogates" in the field of forensic ballistic, the development of synthetic models needs still to be improved through a validation process based on specific real caseworks. This study has been triggered by the findings observed during the autopsy performed on two victims killed in the same shooting incident, with similar wounding characteristics; namely two retained head shots with ricochet against the interior wall of the skull; both projectiles have been recovered during the autopsies after migration in the brain parenchyma. The thickness of the different tissues and structures along the bullets trajectories as well as the incident angles between the bullets paths and the skull walls have been measured and reproduced during the assemblage of the synthetic head models. Two different types of models ("open shape" and "spherical") have been assembled using leather, polyurethane and gelatine to simulate respectively skin, bone and soft tissues. Six shots have been performed in total. The results of the models have been compared to the findings of post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) and the autopsy findings.Out of the six shots, two perforated the models and four were retained. When the projectile was retained, the use of both models allowed reproducing the wounds characteristics observed on both victims in terms of penetration and ricochet behaviour. However, the projectiles recovered from the models showed less deformation than the bullets collected during the autopsies. The "open shape" model allowed a better controlling on the shooting parameters than the "spherical" model. Finally, the difference in bullet deformation could be caused by the choice of the bone simulant, which might under-represent either the strength or the density of the human bone. In our opinion, it would be worth to develop a new, more representative material for ballistic which simulates the human bone.
Keywords
Forensic Ballistics, Gelatin, Humans, Male, Models, Biological, Polyurethanes, Skull/injuries, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Wounds, Gunshot/pathology, Forensic, Headshot, Simulant, Synthetic model, Wound ballistic
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
30/08/2021 6:53
Last modification date
21/11/2022 8:21
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