Forensic Ballistics in Criminal Justice (Print On Demand)

The present work contains a brief introduction about firearms, ammunition, various phenomena associated with the three branches of ballistics, descriptions of gunshot injury cases, laboratory equipment, and techniques for examination of clue materials, scene investigation of shooting cases, expert evidence and illustrations from decided cases, all in seventeen chapters.

Replete with illustrations, photographs and useful data, the book will be found to be most useful and informative.

Reviews

In this book, the author has given a critical analysis of the subject of forensic ballistics in criminal justice, which is a very important and useful contribution to the field of forensic science. This work will be found very useful not only by the members of the Bar and Bench and lawyers but also by the Medico-Legal students, and crime and investigation branch machinery. The book provides an interesting reading to a layman also and it is a must for every library.

- All India Reporter

A glance at the contents of the book and a perusal of its important discussion bear testimony to the industry, diligence, spirit of academic enquiry, objective approach and thoroughness, with which this technical and difficult subject has been presented in a very practical and interesting manner. It is simple, direct and extremely practical and it holds the readers' interest throughout.

- Kerala Law Times

Table of Contents:

CHAPTER I : FIREARMS

1. Definition 1
2. Historical outfit 1
3. Gradual development of firearms 2

CHAPTER II : CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS

1. Introduction 13
2. Bore and Calibres 14
3. Choke 15
4. Teschner Calibre System 16
5. Calibre 17
6. Types of Choke 17
7. Choke Markings 19
8. Manufacturing Process 20
9. Musket 20
10. Shotguns 21
11. Pistols 25
12. Revolvers 29
13. Rifles 32
14. Sub-Machine Guns (Carbines) 37
15. Sten Gun 38
16. Thompson Sub-machine Gun 40
17. 0.30" U. S. Carbine 40
18. Light Machine Guns 40
19. Medium Machine Guns 40
20. Heavy Machine Guns 41
21. Tank Machine Guns 41
22. Air Craft Machine Guns 41
23. Anti-Tank Rifles 41
24. Recoilless Gun 42
25. Guided Missiles 42
26. AIR Guns/Rifles/Pistols 42
27. Rubber Bullets and Bullet Launcher 43
28. Caseless Cartridge 44
29. Silencer 47

CHAPTER III : AMMUNITION

1. Introduction 48
2. Composition of Ammunition 48
3. Propellant 48
4. Manufacturing Process 50
5. Smokeless Powder 51
6. Bulk Powder 52
7. Dram Equivalent 53
8. Dense powder 53
9. Fibrous Shotgun Powder 53
10. Gelatinished Shotgun Powder 53
11. Progressive Powder 54
12. Degressive Powder 54
13. Constant Burning propellant 54
14. Semi-smokeless Powder 55
15. Primer 55
16. Percussion Caps 57
17. Projectiles 58
18. Elongated Projectiles (Bullets) 60
19. Cannelure 63
20. Swaged lead Bullet 63
21. Shotgun Projectiles 64
22. Manufacture of Shots 64
23. Plated Shots 64
24. T. T. Shots 68
25. Types of Projectiles in Ball Cartridges 68
26. Wads 70
27. Functions of wads noted in items (b) to (d) 72
28. Turn over 72
29. Lubricants 73
30. Cartridge Case 73
31. Manufacturing Process 73
32. Pinfire Cartridge Shells 75
33. Rimfire Cartridge Shells 75
34. Centre-fire Cartridge Shells 75
35. Shape of the Shell 75
36. Signal Cartridges 76
37. Clips and Chargers 76
38. Magazines 77
39. Belt-Feed 77
40. Accelerator Cartridge 77
41. Duplex Ball 78
42. Tandem Bullet 78
43. Standard Loads for smokeless Powders only 79

CHAPTER IV : INTERNAL BALLISTICS

1. Introduction 80
2. Common Defects-Causes and Effects 80
3. Burning of the Propellant 84
4. Combustion 85
5. Deflagration 85
6. Detonation 85
7. Burning of Propellant-A function of Geometry of Gun Powder 85
8. Pressure 85
9. Combustion of Propellant Charges 86
10. Black Powder 86
11. Smokeless Powder 87
12. muzzle Velocity 89
13. Barrel Length and velocity 89
14. Twist v. Muzzle Velocity 92
15. Density of Loading and Air Space 94
16. Strength of Barrel and Other Parts 94
17. Obstructions 95
18. Faulty metal 96
19. Burnt barrel 96
20. Rusting or corrosion 96
21. Remedy 98
22. Erosion 99
23. Recoil, Jump and Vibration 101
24. Elements of recoil 102
25. Measurement of recoil 105
26. Calculation of recoil 105
27. Recoil can be described in the following way 106
28. Recoilless gun 108
29. Cutts Compensator 108
30. Weaver Choke 108
31. Hangfire 109
32. Precautions 109

CHAPTER V : EXTERIOR BALLISTICS

1. Introduction 110
2. General Consideration 110
3. Why the path traced by a bullet has the shape of a parabola? 111
4. Vacuum Trajectory 112
5. Calculation of Remaining Velocity 115
6. Air Resistance 116
7. Ballistic Coefficient 117
8. Bullet Drop 117
9. Wind Deflection 118
10. Gyroscopic Drift 119
11. Twist v. Stability 120
12. Canting 120
13. Shooting up/down 122
14. Velocity of falling shot 123
15. Velocity of falling bullet 124
16. Escape Velocity 125
17. Maximum horizontal and vertical range of shot pellets 126
18. Ricochet 127
19. Critical angle for bullet ricochet for the
20. bullet and the surface 128
21. Relationship between the angle of incidence and ricochet 129
22. Stability in flight after ricochet 130
23. Lethal effects of ricochet bullet 130

CHAPTER VI : WOUNDS BALLISTICS-FIREARMS INJURIES

1. Introduction 133
2. Stopping Powder 133
3. Injuries and Quantity of Energy of Projectiles 135
4. Shock Wave 135
5. Cavitation Effect 136
6. Misconceptions in Firearms Injuries 137
7. The bullet after hitting the bone may bounce back through
8. the same hole 137
9. If the wound of entrance is higher on the body as compared to the
10. wound of exit, then the position of the assailant was at
11. a higher level than the victim 137
12. Of the two wounds, communicating with each other, the wound of
13. entrance is always smaller than the wound of exit 138
14. The bullet travels in straight line from the wound of
15. entrance to the wound of exit 138
16. A bullet emerging from the muzzle of the weapon is so hot that
17. it will burn the body tissues on impact at close range 138
18. The bullet shot from a high velocity rifled weapon at a very high
19. spin rate essentially drills its way into the target 138
20. There exists a relationship between the survival time and
21. the severity of the wound which could be ascertained
22. from an examination of the injuries 139
23. Whether accidental deaths can be caused due to discharge of
24. projectiles while cleaning the gun 139
25. Nature of Gunshot Injuries 139
26. Abrasion 139
27. Contusion or rupture 139
28. Laceration 139
29. Combination of abrasion, Contusion and laceration 139
30. Fracture 140
31. Compression 140
32. Bleeding 140
33. Incised wound 140
34. Stab/punctured/perforating wound 140
35. Firearms Injuries 140
36. HAS THE INJURY BEEN CAUSED ON ACCOUNT OF PENETRATION OF PROJECTILES
37. Examination of the Margins of the wound/Entrance
38. wound and Fabrics 142
39. Spot test for lead 142
40. Walker test for Nitrite 143
41. Principle 143
42. Experimental procedure 143
43. Observation and inference 144
44. Modified Walker Test 144
45. Experimental Procedure 144
46. Detection of Nitrate in presence of
47. Nitrite and vice versa 145
48. Thin Layer Chromatography 146
49. Observation and inference 146
50. Spot Test 147
51. Discharge Residue Detection by Flourescence 147
52. OUT OF THE WOUNDS COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER WHICH ONE IS THE WOUND OF ENTRANCE AND WHICH IS THE WOUND OF EXIT
53. Sampling Technique 150
54. Reagent 150
55. Procedure 150
56. Result 150
57. WHAT WAS THE TYPE OF WEAPON THAT CAUSED THE INJURY?
58. WHETHER THE INJURY WAS SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL AND ACCIDENTAL IN NATURE
59. Test for identifying Shooter's Hand 152
60. Visual examination 152
61. Paraffin test 152
62. Rust Stain Detection 154
63. Gunshot Residue Test 154
64. Sampling Technique (Swabbing) 155
65. Washings of the Hand 156
66. Analytical Technique 156
67. Detection of Gunshot Particles by S.E. M. 157
68. Development of Latent Fingerprint on Fired Shell 157
69. Experimental Arrangement 158
70. HOW MANY ROUNDS HAVE CAUSED THE INJURIES TO THE VICTIM
71. Number of Bullets in a victim's body 159
72. Number of entrance holes 160
73. Types of shots 161
74. Penetration of shots in different regions of the body 161
75. WHAT WAS THE DISTANCE FROM WHICH FIRING TOOK PLACE?
76. Wounds caused by Machine-guns 168
77. Airgun/air rifle injuries 169
78. Blank cartridge injuries 170

CHAPTER VII : SPHERICAL PROJECTILES INJURIES

1. Introduction 171
2. Contact Shot 171
3. Near Contact Shot 172
4. Range between 1 to 3 yards (0.9 to 2.75 metres) 172
5. Range between to 3 to 6 yards 173
6. Range between 6 to 10 yards 173
7. Pattern between 10-40 yards/10-35 metres 173
8. Range beyond 40 yards/35 metres 174
9. Range evaluation from percentage of Pellets 175
10. Wounding power and Casualty Criteria 175
11. Pattern of other weapons/Buck Shots 178
12. Pattern from sawn off barrel 179
13. Range estimation from wads 180

CHAPTER VIII : COUNTRY-MADE/ZIP GUNS

1. Introduction 183
2. Type of weapon 183
3. Materials for Construction 183
4. Barrel Design 183
5. Firing Mechanism 184
6. Fitting of various parts of the weapon 184
7. Muzzle velocities and Energy Conclusion 186
8. Conclusion 186

CHAPTER IX : SURVIVAL TIME AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES OF VICTIMS OF FIREARMS INJURIES

1. Embolism of missile 189
2. Activities after Firearms Injuries 189
3. Prolonged Survival 190
4. Bullet-proof Protective Vests 191
5. CHAPTER X : ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE CASES
6. Introduction 192
7. Ten Commandments 193

CHAPTER XI : GUN-SHOT INJURIES-ILLUSTRATIVES CASES

1. Introduction 195
2. Case No. 1 195
3. Case No. 2 199
4. Case No. 3 200
5. Case No. 4 202
6. Case No. 5 203
7. Case No. 6 206
8. Case No. 7 207
9. Case No. 8 208
10. Case No. 9 209
11. CHAPTER XII : RANDOM NOTES
12. Introduction 211
13. Effect of Choke on velocity 211
14. Widening of the Pattern of a full choke 211
15. Light weight 12 bores 211
16. Best Length of Barrels for shot-guns 211
17. Report from Different barrel Lengths 211
18. Weight of Trigger Pulls in shot guns 212
19. Single Trigger Action 212
20. Weight of Gun Stock 212
21. Chamberless Gun 212
22. Difference between the Barrels of Revolver and Pistol 212
23. Effect of oil in a Barrel on Pattern or Groupings 212
24. Effect of oil in Chambers 212
25. Shot Cartridges in Long Chambers 213
26. Long Cartridge in Shorter Chamber 213
27. Gas-tight Cartridge 213
28. Best Shot size 213
29. Mould Shot 213
30. Over Bore 214
31. Skeet and Trap Shooting 214
32. Keyhold shots 215
33. Cartridge Storage Life 215
34. Can Revolver Cartridge be fired through a Pistol
35. and vice versa 215

CHAPTER XIII : LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF FIREARMS CASES

1. Introduction 216
2. Proof Testing of Firearms 216
3. Resuscitation of Serial Numbers 217
4. Technique 217
5. Cast Iron and Cast Steel: Solution 218
6. Wrought, Drawn, Forged Iron and Steel 218
7. Identification from Fired Cartridges and Projectiles 218
8. Firing pin and breach-face imprints 218
9. Extractor marks 219
10. Drag marks 220
11. Chamber marks 220
12. Unusual marks 220
13. Characteristics of marks found on bullets 220
14. Mismatching of ammunition 225
15. Unusual marks on fragmented bullets 225
16. Bullets fired through non-rifled barrels 226
17. Identification from fired shots/pellets 226
18. Identification from fired airgun slugs 228
19. Identification from proof mark 228
20. Recovery of fired shots/projectiles 228
21. Bullet recovery box 228
22. Water recovery tank 230
23. Comparison 230
24. Measuring velocities 230
25. Experimental arrangement 233
26. Calculation of exact MV 234
27. Pattern Testing 235
28. Evaluation of Target Groups 236
29. Mean point of Impact 237
30. Study of Injury Report 238
31. Distinguishing a Fired Shot from Unfired 240
32. Systematic Recording of Date pertaining to firearms Examination 241
33. Equipment 245

CHAPTER XIV : SCENE INVESTIGATION OF A FIREARMS CASE

1. Introduction 249
2. Interrogation of the Complainant eyewitnesses and the suspect 250
3. Perception 250
4. Observations 250
5. Inconsistency due to time gap 250
6. Expression 250
7. Survey of the whole crime scene 250
8. photography at the scene of Crime 251
9. Overall photography 251
10. Photographs of the deceased/victim 251
11. Photographs of articles of physical evidence 251
12. Photographing the environs 251
13. Preparation of the Sketch map 252
14. Sketch of the locality 252
15. Sketch of the ground 252
16. Sketch of the details 252
17. General Rule for Sketching 253
18. Choice of Scale 254
19. Signs 254
20. Equipments for Drawings 255
21. Instructions for Collecting, Identifying and Preserving
22. and Packing Firearms Evidence 258
23. Hints on Forwarding of Exhibits 260

CHAPTER XV : EXPERT OPINION AND EVIDENCE-GENERAL

1. Who are experts ? 262
2. Expertise 262
3. Clarity 262
4. Relevancy 263
5. Reliability 264
6. CHAPTER XVI : GENERAL OBSERVATION AS TO EVIDENCE ABOUT FIREARMS
7. Identification 266
8. Mukhtiar Singh v. State of Punjab 266
9. Kartar Singh, Mukund Singh v. State of Punjab 266
10. Ramesh v. State of U. P. 266
11. Kalu v. State of U. P. 267
12. Weapon's idea from size of the injury 268
13. Weapon's idea from the type of injury 269
14. Accidental discharge cases 270
15. Reconstruction of crime scene 271
16. Necessity of Expert's evidence 271
17. Importance of photographs for presentation of evidence 272

CHAPTER XVII : SPECIFIC CASES OF FALLACIES AND CONFLICTS

1. Case No. 1: (Bakhtawar Singh v. State of Rajasthan) 276
2. Post-mortem Report (Jagga Singh) 276
3. Injury Report (Balbir Singh) 277
4. Discussion 278
5. Case No. 2 : (Modan Singh and Sampuran Singh v.
6. State of Rajasthan) 279
7. Test of Expert Report 280
8. Academic Discussion 280
9. Case No. 3 : (State of U. P. v. Sugher Singh) 281
10. Discussion 283
11. Case No. 4 : (Raza Pasha v. State of M. P.) 283
12. Discussion 286

SUBJECT INDEX 286