Schyma, Christian; Berthold, Matthias (2024). New alginate-gelatine method for casting of staining inside firearm barrels. (In Press). International journal of legal medicine Springer 10.1007/s00414-024-03213-3
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Contact shots to the head often leave behind biological traces inside firearm barrels, a phenomenon of great forensic interest. Until now, the visualization and preservation of these traces presented a significant challenge, lacking a reliable method. This study addresses this gap by searching for a suitable method to extract the traces within a casting. Using alginate or gelatine as suitable materials, the results were hampered by serious adhesion issues and their extraction out of the firearm barrel was impeded. Finally, the combination of 11% gelatine with 1% alginate, introduced into the barrel around a 'central spine', succeeded to consistently produce replicable castings. Experimental contact shots displayed a distinct staining gradient from the muzzle to the rear of the barrel, as revealed through endoscopy and proved in the macroscopic casting. The technique proved effective for various common handgun barrels and successfully preserved blood and gunshot residue (GSR) patterns within the barrel. This method offers the dual benefits of visually mapping staining patterns and securing localized samples for targeted molecular genetic analysis in forensic investigations.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
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Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine > Forensic Medicine |
UniBE Contributor: |
Schyma, Christian |
Subjects: |
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services 600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health |
ISSN: |
1437-1596 |
Publisher: |
Springer |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Pubmed Import |
Date Deposited: |
27 Mar 2024 14:31 |
Last Modified: |
27 Mar 2024 14:41 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1007/s00414-024-03213-3 |
PubMed ID: |
38519639 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Ballistics Biological traces Firearms Forensic science Molecular genetics Shot range |
BORIS DOI: |
10.48350/194720 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/194720 |
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