Ballistic Analysis of Crime Scene - Case Study Example

 Ballistic Analysis of Crime Scene Introduction From the description of the crime scene, the firearm that had been used to inflict the bullet wounds on the victims was recovered at the scene. The initial step would then be to either identify or eliminate it as the firearm that had been used in the crime. From the description given it appears that the mentioned “undercover” .38 special revolver had been used in the crime as it was still loaded, as discovered. To determine this, there should be evidence such as a cartridge case or bullet that should be used for comparison. In carrying out the ballistic forensic examinations in this crime scene, an establishment has to be made that the weapon in question is safe to handle. A number of details should be made of the firearm including its state when it was received, the type, the make, its serial number and the model among other important necessary details. If the firearm was either locked or cocked, this should be noted, and the number of cartridges left in its cylinder. In this circumstance, as the identified firearm would be the main crime weapon, it would be necessary to test-fire it probably on a gelatine block to help get the test bullets and cartridge cases so that they can be compared with the items of evidence. The distance and directions travelled by the ejected cartridges should also be noted. This kind of testing should be carried out when the other tests have been done (Heard, 2013). The major aim of doing such an investigation would be to help establish whether or not the firearm was responsible for firing the shots in question. Other key aspects that would help prove this would be the recovery of the spent ammunitions, the cartridge cases, gunshot residues and the study of the victims’ wound characteristics. This kind of evidence recovery would help in narrowing on the possibilities of the crime weapon used (Heard, 2013). With a strong indicator pointing to the found firearm as having been used in the crime scene, it would be important to note other factors including its trigger pressure and if it is indeed working properly and that its safety features are in order. This to a larger part would help eliminate other potential defenses that could arise in such cases as suicidal crimes. In addition to these, other evidence including the gunshot residues and powder burns should be collected to help examiners determine shooting distances so that they could easily reconstruct the incident that occurred. In addition to carrying out the firearm analysis and examinations, the other forensic analysis that would prove helpful to unravel the mysteries of the crime could include: The analysis of the fingerprints; these investigations have successfully been used to help match prints left at crime scenes to those prints present on files or approved databases. The fingerprints in this crime scene could be obtained from the firearm recovered and from the plain surfaces both in the kitchen and the living room. The prints could also be found on the myriad of pictures present in the hallway and others in the living room. The technique often used for such scrutiny is the ACE-V both for the analysis, comparison, evaluation and verification of the prints. Such examination exercises looks into such features as the ridge shapes, patterns and lengths of the fingerprints to look for similarities that could constitute a match (Saferstein, 2002). Trace evidence analysis; this would involve an analysis of paints and any fibers present within the house. These could include everything from the paint residue to clothing fibers of any kind. At the crime scene, there are several pieces of clothing that would be used to reveal the presence of an outside party, if there was an intruder and if none then it could be used to indicate that the killing could have been carried out by the occupants of the building in question. There are pillows present at the location where the woman was murdered and the carpet covering the whole surface of the living room that could harbor the trace evidence that would be necessary for such an investigation. These samples would then be subject to pattern-matching and both microscopic and chemical analysis. In the paint analysis, it would be prudent to get a sample of all the available layers to help in matching of the samples to the objects they were extracted from. A lot of information about the crime scene can be revealed through this examination. Such could include the revelation of any movement of an item or body and/or whether an assault occurred from behind or to the side of the victim. In this circumstance, the materials that would be subjected to such examinations would include the hair, clothing fibers, the paint and the glasses in the living room. Biological Evidence examinations; this would largely focus on the DNA science that would reveal any biological evidence present in the crime scene. There are some blood droplets in the hallway and the living room that could be taken for DNA testing to help unravel the mystery of the killings. When performing the DNA tests, it would be important to look for matches to help establish the real bearers of the blood. Hair samples that could be retrieved from the scene could also undergo a similar testing (Saferstein, 2002). In performing the ballistic forensic examinations of the crime scene in question, mostly according to the partial report provided by the police department, it would be prudent to say that the male occupant must have murdered the elderly female victim and moments later committed suicide. As the police report indicates, another gunshot was heard over the line moments later after the caller had called in. It is possible that the caller could have been the male victim, who called after murdering her female compatriot. Before the police could reach the said apartment, he then committed suicide. All these possible examinations would help reveal this in more than one way. In performing the ballistic analysis, it was noted that there were only two bullet holes in the apartment, that which was used to murder each of the victims. The firearm that the shooter used was still right there at the location where the male victim lay, still loaded. With a possible fingerprint examination, this could help reveal the male victim as the shooter. Moreover there wasn’t any sign of a forced entry. The police themselves had to break in so that they could get access into the building. The trace evidence would help eliminate an intruder as a possible shooter. Together with the DNA tests on the blood droplets, it would be possible to prove that this could have been a possible murder and a suicide case. NIBIN would be very useful in this case as it would help assist with the firearm examinations. Most of the ballistic examinations are currently being aided by computer databases including the NIBIN (Integrated Ballistic Information Network) one. This program would enable an automated ballistics evaluation of the firearm and provide actionable investigative leads in a time that is sufficiently adequate. Instead of having to do a manual evaluation of the crime weapon, it would be run through an existing database and provide faster and more accurate solutions. The program has been applied successfully in other several areas to help solve unsolved firearms cases and in others to develop new leads in dead end cases (Cork et al, 2008). Reference Heard, B. J. (2013). Forensic ballistics in court: Interpretation and presentation of firearms evidence. Saferstein, R. (2002). Forensic science handbook. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall. National Research Council (U.S.)., & Cork, D. L. (2008). Ballistic imaging. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Read More