Forensic medical characteristics of the injuries inflicted by home-made arbalest

The classification of arbalests as a representative of the class of missiles is presented. Basic design characteristics of such weapon, wounds and damage to cotton targets from shot distances 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 m are described.     

Forensic medical aspects of injuries inflicted with self-defense capsaicin aerosols

Toxicological and forensic medical characteristics of capsaicinoids are presented. Capsaicinoids represent a mixture of three basic compounds with similar structure: capsaicine, dihydrocapsaicine, and nordihydrocapsaicine, all of which are the primary components of red pepper extract (Oleoresin Capsicum). The advantages of this group of irritants in comparison with synthetic irritants are discussed. Probable routes of administration of the extract with regard to its hazard for the organism are considered. Results of experimental studies on nonbiological phantoms and volunteers are presented.     

Forensic medical characteristics of the injuries inflicted by modern sport bow

Modern bows are classified as representatives of darts. Construction characteristics of bows and arrows, damage to experimental cotton targets from shooting distance of 1-15 m are described.     

Forensic medical evaluation of harm severity inflicted to one's health by slight craniocerebral injuries in the remote period

A pressing problem is discussed: forensic medical evaluation of harm inflicted to health by slight craniocerebral injuries. Analysis of 2150 expert forensic medical and medico-social conclusions revealed serious organization and methodological errors in evaluation of harm inflicted to health by slight craniocerebral injuries. Approaches to improving the quality of such forensic medical expert evaluations are outlined.     

The expert assessment of the force of blows by blunt solid objects

The author distinguishes 4 degrees of strength of strikes inflicted with blunt hard objects. Intervals of strength expressed in newtons correspond to each of these degrees. The scheme is based on experimental data of many authors who determined the parameters of strength of strikes inducing certain injuries. Use of the proposed scheme will render objectiveness and reliability to conclusions of forensic medical experts.     

Forensic,medical, and criminalistic description of injuries inflicted by firing the pistol "PB-4"

A case of causing a lethal injury from the PB-4 self-defense pistol (traumatic action bullets) is described. An issue of the relation between notions "a non-lethal gun" and "special-purpose weapon" are under discussion.     

Forensic medical expert evaluation of gunshot injuries of brain skull

Forensic medical experts are offered a set of morphological signs which help identify the gunshot origin of a skull injury, identify which of the injuries is the inlet and which is the outlet, specify the direction of the shot and succession of formation of injuries in cases with several shots. The author suggests evaluating a gunshot wound in the head with due consideration for the mechanisms of its formation. From a complex of signs of a gunshot injury to the brain skull he singles out the tissue defect with a conical channel and the edge of bone defect, additional injury to the external compact plate near the inlet, and type, number, and location of the radial and concentric cracks. Analysis of the morphology of the above listed signs of gunshot injuries to the skull notable extends the potentialities of forensic medical expert evaluation in cases with gunshot injuries.     

Identification of blunt objects according to the injuries caused by them

The article presents principles of forensic-medical identification of blunt objects by injuries inflicted with them. It is shown that each injury has its own complexes of identifying signs. It is necessary to consider mechanisms of action of blunt objects inflicting contact, noncontact and other injuries. Mathematical methods should be employed to estimate probability of identification of traumatic blunt object.     

Unusual injuries caused by blows with a sash saw

A 62-year old man was found killed by multiple blows against the face and head; near the victim a hammer with broken grip, a bended saw (weight 142 g), and in the possession of the doer two hatchets. Some straigt, parallel, horizontal wounds in the face with smooth lips and straigt incisions of the maxilla first were interpreted as violations by hatchet. The culprit confessed attacks by hammer and saw, but not by hatchet. Experimental blows with a saw like the used on the leg of a corpse showed an unexpected result: it was possible to produce wounds of the soft-tissues and the bone similar to those by hatchets.     

Mechanogenesis and morphology of a closed trauma of the liver inflicted by blunt hard objects (mathematical estimation)

A retrospective analysis was made on traumas associated with hepatic injury. Signs-lesions in different kinds of trauma are characterized. A mathematic probabilistic method for differential diagnosis of a traumatic impact by hepatic lesion was applied. The findings can be used in conduction of forensic-medical examinations for the kind and mechanism of trauma.     

The characteristics of injuries to the ribs in children by repeated impact with solid blunt objects]

Mechanisms of occurrence of thoracic lesions as well as characteristic features of repeated rib trauma in children with repeated blunt trauma were studied. Experimental data were compared with expert observations. It was stated that morphological features of repeated rib trauma in children are localized within the limits of substantia compacta or its superficial layers. There is also possibility for straightening primary incomplete fracture in repeated exposure and for forming secondary fracture, which depends on the type of force applied, its application area and direction of force action.     

Forensic-medical aspects of injuries inflicted by nonlethal arms

Special literature (surgical, forensic-medical and criminalistic) is reviewed on classification, mechanisms of a harmful action and characteristics of injuries inflicted by non-lethal arms. Some details of such arms construction and damaging action are given.     

Characteristic of injuries inflicted by a blank gunshot

The analysis of the data published in the special literature indicates that forensic-medical aspects of the injuries inflicted by blank shots fired from a variety of small-arms weapons remain poorly known or virtually unexplored. Despite considerable variability of such injuries, their forensic-medical examination should include three basic components, viz. the proof of the absence of the injurious action of the shot, differential diagnostics of the consequences of injuries attributable to each traumatic factor of the shot, and experimental simulation of the damages to the human body and the clothes taking into account concrete models of the weapons and the blank cartridge.