Ballistics And Ballistics cases
All of us know the word crime and crime scene. Crime scene in which ballistics involved is probably related to homicide , suicide , assault but firearms also involved in accidental cases , theft robbery , burglary , narcotics and rape cases. Whatever the case may be the investigation officer should always applied the scientific approach.
Role of investigating officer with ballistics and forensic experts and investigate the following points -
1) The investigation officer must find the make model and caliber of the firearm . Is it improvised. Is it in working condition and it is the same weapon that use in the incident and the when it fired lastly. Note the serial number etc and find out that the information on weapon is erased or tempered. He must see that the weapon is loaded or not.
2) Fired and live ammunition is same or not ? Caliber make and type of empty cartridges. Is it fired from the same firearm which was recovered from the crime scene.
3) The other information he must obtained from the ballistics expert and also gathered the medico legal points from the doctor. The information are -
The point of entry and exit of bullet on victim body. The hole on the clothing's of victim is due to gunfire or not. Direction and range. The injuries are ante-mortem or they are postmortem . When gunshot done at that time the position of deceased. If no exit wounds present than find out the position of bullet in the body.
How to investigate a ballistics crime scene -
1) we have already discussed about the general conditions of investigating a crime scene (link below)
https://www.forensicfingerprint.in/2020/05/crime-scene-investigation-forensic.html
https://www.forensicfingerprint.in/2020/05/crime-scene-investigation-forensic.html
Lets discuss how to investigate a ballistics crime scene -
1) In all incidents related to crime the first thing is to photographed the whole crime scene . If an injured person found at crime scene sent him for hospitalization and the position should be marked.
2) The position of the firearm (in the hand of deceased or otherwise) noted and see that it is tightly gripped by the deceased or found loosely in the hand. The position of bullets , wads , pellets , cartridges etc must be noted or photographed. Cartridges found at crime scene handled carefully as they have fingerprints on them.Ejected cartridges case help to determine the position of the shooter. Wads and pellets preserved like cartridges and bullets.
3) The barrel of the firearm should be protected by capping. The fingerprint would be present on the weapon so it should be handled carefully. There is a possibility of live cartridges in the chamber of firearm or in the magazine. Handled carefully. Search for cartridges etc and if a shotgun is used in crime scene search for pellets wads etc.
4) Always search walls of room doors windows etc for bullets as it probably embedded in them. Outside search the tree etc. Photographed them with scale.
5) when a person fired a weapon the gunshot residues found on his hands or on the clothing's , so closely look the suspect and collected the evidence. The clothing of victim first dried and use paper envelope for packaging.
6) when you found a dead body , examine the gunshot wounds , see the position of the wound and the bleeding direction. Photograph it by using scale. Wounds entry and exit seen by analyzing the wounds edges as they were averted and inverted. Examined the clothing of victim for powder residues blackening etc.
7) Trace evidence like hair blood tissue paint etc may be present on weapon. It is wisely searched or developed by expert or the investigation officer send the weapon to the laboratory.
In live shooting cases , you can't immediately protect or secure the ballistics crime scene . In these cases respond accordingly.
The ballistics evidence found at crime scene help us to know the following information
1) How many firearms involved in a case.
2) Is Injuries mark on victim and deceased body from firearms?
3) Direction of fire and from which range it fired.
4) The case is a suicide, homicide or an accident.
that for the day......
that for the day......
MR. DEEPAK PAWAR has been working as Finger Print Expert / Police Officer in Finger Print Bureau , Delhi Police at New Delhi since 2001 . He is the senior most Finger Print Expert , attending / visited several scene of crime and solved many crime cases .He has passed M.Sc (Chemistry) and he is the Member of International Association of Identification . He is the Member of Delhi Police welfare association . He is supervising the Forensic , New Delhi District , Mobile Crime Team . He is one of the Expert in the Special Investigation Team held for investigation of important cases . He has been giving fingerprint proficient training to Delhi Police personnel's . He has been Presented / giving lectures on topics related to forensic science . He is also making examination paper of Finger Print proficient course . He is awarded with Police Medal by MHA and Delhi Police.