Complex investigation of body and clothing injuries during the identification of the assault instrument

Abstract

The value of complex analyses of body injuries and clothing has been proven by practice. The purpose of presented study is to discuss what additional information can be obtained during investigations of clothes in the area of injury. A case study, in which results of visual and stereomicroscopic morphological analysis of wounds, lesions of clothing and their comparison are presented. Examination of wounds revealed that some of them were made by blunt, others-by stabbing instrument. Lesions of clothes were made by secant instrument. Comparison of data enabled to determine characteristics of the instrument with greater precision-it was secant-stabbing tool. An experiment with suspected assault instrument-wheel wrench-under controlled conditions was performed. It was found that the head of this wheel wrench can be fixated when secant blow are performed, and it’s sharp edge leaves secant-stabbing wounds. Our study revealed that precise knowledge of the assault circumstances enabled to select suitable conditions for experiment and this in turn enabled to identify the instrument of assault.