Study of unusual phenomenon of contact firing on gelatine block using .38 Special revolver--forensic importance

Gunshot wounds in suicide cases are self-inflicted wounds. Self-inflicted wounds in suicide cases are usually caused by contact firing and are of great forensic significance. Evaluation of contact wound may be associated with difficulties if the bore gets obstruction prior to firing. This paper investigates the phenomenon and interprets the results of test firing conducted on 20% gelatine block at 10 degrees C, using .38 Special revolver with obstruction of a bullet in the bore. Test firings were conducted in three different muzzle-target contact conditions keeping the muzzle pressed against the gel block in each case. The physical evidence and the wound ballistic parameter namely bullet track, remaining velocity of the bullets and volume of permanent cavity have been studied. When compared with the results of contact firing conducted with the same firearm without having any bore obstruction under similar conditions, it has been found that the physical evidence and the wound ballistic parameters would be helpful for interpretation of such unusual incidents for forensic inference.     

Child and adolescent survivors of suicide

Suicide in a family is distressing for each and every member. Children and adolescents bereaved by suicide are known to be more at risk of suffering from a variety of psychiatric problems, especially affective disorders. A group of children and adolescents who experienced a suicidal death in the family were assessed for psychiatric problems as well as for social adjustment. The findings suggest that the bereaved children and adolescents are at elevated risk for major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and impaired social adjustment.     

Time since discharge of pistols and revolvers

The estimation of time since the latest discharge of pistols and revolvers has been achieved by the Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) sampling technique and the GC/TEA analytical system. The TEA2 compound, which in our previous work (1) was observed in barrels of shotguns and rifles as well as inside spent cartridges, was also detected in pistols and revolvers. The amount of this compound was very low in short-barreled small arms and its escape from the barrel could generally be measured for only a few days or up to two weeks after the latest discharge. To improve the detection of TEA2 compound, the SPME sampling time was prolonged and fibers coated by Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane were used. The decrease of the TEA2 peak with time after shooting from pistols is nonexponential but the curve-fitting procedure proposed for the estimation of time since discharge of shotguns and rifles is difficult to apply as the decay is very rapid. Therefore, the detection of TEA2 compounds in small arms should be interpreted that the firearm had been used very recently. The amount of volatile decomposition products of smokeless powder increased significantly with the length of the barrel when firearms of the same caliber, but with different barrel lengths were investigated.