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Site of entrance wound and
direction of bullet path in firearm
fatalities as indicators of homicide
versus suicide
Waraporn panngoen 51312321
Forensic Science Faculty of Science
Slipakorn University
Abstract
Retrospective study, 288 firearm deaths
 suicides (213), homicides (54), accidents (14)
and undetermined cases (7)
Females: 41% homicide, 1.4% suicide
Mean ages: homicide 37 yrs, suicide 50 yrs
Location:
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 suicides occurred vicinity of the residence,
 Homicides occurred elsewhere
Abstract
Medical records of previous psychiatric illness
or Suicide note : majority in suicide
The most frequent weapon used: Shotguns
 57% in homicide, 3% in suicide
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Shot at close range: 1/3 of homicide
Alcohol present : one-third of both
Abstract
Entrance wound
 38% of homicidal gunshot same as anatomical
regions typical of suicide ( rt. Temple), but
direction of bullet path often differed from
suicides (direction back-to-front)
This study suggests
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 estimation of the direction of the internal bullet
path should be conducted in firearm fatalities,
may assist in the determination of the manner
of death.
Introduction
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The location of the entrance of a gunshot
wound as a marker of suicide has been
stressed.
Signs of a close range shot including
characteristics of the entrance wound.
A number of circumstantial factors,related
to suicides in general.
Introduction(cont.)
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This study has focused on the
usefulness of the internal bullet path
as an indicator of homicide versus
suicide.
In Sweden, suicides by firearms
outnumber homicides almost by ten
to one.
Material and methods
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The files of all firearm deaths investigated at
the Institute of Forensic Medicine in
Linkoping, Sweden 1981-1990.
All firearm homicides in Stockholm district
1992-1996.
Deaths due to explosives were excluded.
A form, cover the most relevant circumstantial
Factors and autopsy findings.
Material and methods (cont.)
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Statistical methods
- Analyses using Statistics/W 5.0
- Shapiro- Wilks’ W test. was tested
Normal distribution.
- Tukey honest significant difference (hsd)
test was used for comparisons of means.
- Fisher exact test was employed for 2 x 2
tables only.A p-value less than .05 was
considered significant.
Results
.Demographics and circumstances
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Results
Fig.The anatomical sketch used for depiction of the entrance site and the
direction of internal bullet path. A separate sketch was used for each wound
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Results(cont.)
Fig.2. The preselected ‘typical suicidal areas’ The position and size of these areas
were determined visually,as depicted,and thus no strict limits,such as within 7.5
cm from outer auditory meatus,were used.
Results(cont.)
35
30
number
25
Undertain
20
Accidents
15
Homicide
10
Suicide
5
0
1981
1982
1983 1984
1985
1986
1987
1988 1989
1990
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yaer
Females: 41% homicide, 1.4% suicide
Fig.3. The annual number of all firearm death investigated at the Institute of
Forensic Medicine,Linkoping, Swedwn1981-1990,distributed on manner of death
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Mean ages: homicide 37 yrs, suicide 50 yrs
homicide(3) under the age of 10 were killed by
a parent or caretaker
Fig.4. Age distribution all suicides (pale bar) and homicides (dashed bar).
B
Results(cont.)
Shotgun
Unknown
.
A
Rifle,other
,other
Revolver
Unknown
Pistol
Revolver
Pistol
Shotgun
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Rifle,other
Fig.5. (a) Types of weapons used in the suicides.(b) Types of weapons
used in the homicides.
Results(cont.)
Autopsy findings
- 57% of the homicide victims sustained more
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than one gunshot ,3% in suicide
- Alcohol present : one-third of both
Results(cont.)
Table 2
Number of gunshot wound/victim, distributed on manner of death
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Number of wound Homicide
Suicide
Accidents Undertain
Total
1
23
207
13
7
250
2
15
5
1
0
21
3
6
1
0
0
7
4
6
0
0
0
6
>4
4
0
0
0
4
Not: Number of gunshot wound/victim, distributed on manner
Results(cont.)
Table 3
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Homicide of gunshot wounds, distributed on gender and
shooting range( in the remainder of the 112 homicidal wounds,
the distance could not be determined by certainty)
Wound type
Male
Female
Total
Close range
14
19
33
Distant wound
37
20
57
Total
51
39
90
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Fig.6. (a) Anatomical distribution of entrance site in the suicides. Each wound is only marked
once (on the most appropriate sub-figure).(b) Anatomical distribution of entrance site in the
homicides. Each wound is only marked once (on the most appropriate sub-figure)
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Discussion
Firearm suicides in Linkijping 198 l-1990,
only 3 of 213 of the victims were female.
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Difference between the situation in
Sweden and the pattern in the United
States.
Shotguns were the most frequent weapon
used.
Discussion
This study was that the internal bullet path
for a particular entrance site could differ
between homicidal and suicidal bullets.
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The gender was the main reason for
suspicion along with the confusion about
how she got hold of the weapon.
Conclusions
This study suspicion of homicide should be
aroused when the firearm victim is female.
Autopsy findings could also assist in the
interpretation of the case.
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 This study further suggests that the direction
of bullet path should be carefully investigated
and taken into account.
It is also concluded that more relevant
information is related to the entrance site.
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Thank you
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