Vol. 8, Issue 5 (2019)

Author(s):
Manoj Kumar Pathak and Srishti Rai

Abstract:
A fatal gunshot case presents many challenging medico-legal problems which involve co-operation among the police personnel, forensic pathologist, ballistic expert, chemical and explosive analysts. Due to the increase in incidence of use of firearms, criminal investigation and trials have been assuming an ever-increasing importance. In most of the cases, ballistic evidences if processed and examined properly can link criminal with the crime. The difficult part is to conclude about the definite manner of death i.e. if the death was homicidal, accidental or suicidal. It is very common to portray homicidal gunshot as suicidal or accidental gunshot death in order to escape punishment. In cases where it is important to determine whether a person has fired the shot or not, the presence or absence of GSR particles play a vital role as the particles can be identified positively up to 12 hours on the hands after firing the shot. Proper crime scene investigation methods combined with sophisticated instrumental techniques lead to justice being served. Some of these instrumental techniques include ICP-AES, SEM-EDX, FTIR etc. testing comparing the efficacy of ICP-AES and automated SEM-EDX in screening living individuals suspected of having fired a gun revealed positive results in 3.9% by ICP-AES/FAAS and 31.6% by SEM-EDX.