Handling and Interpretation of Crossbow Injuries

Downs, James C.; Nichols, Clay A.; Scala-Barnett, Diane M.; Lifschultz, Barry D.

doi:10.1520/jfs13614j

Cited by 32 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…14,19], and suicides [e.g. 1,3,5,6,8,13,22,25,29] have been published whereas the number of homicides with this type of weapon appears to be small [4,5,7,12,13,27,31]. This paper contributes eight homicides and examines the question whether this easy to purchase weapon is suitable for intentional killing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crossbow homicides

et al. 2004

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A total of eight cases of homicide by crossbow are reported, including six intentional, assault-like killings and one hired killer. The bolts showed a high penetration capacity despite the rather low kinetic energy (<100 J): a field-tip traversed one upper arm and the thorax (36 cm) and two broadheads caused perforating injuries of the thorax (25-26 cm). This was due to the high sectional density and the split-like penetration mechanism. Wound morphology was especially important if the perpetrator had extracted the bolt, which occurred in half of the cases. The shape of the entrance wound depended on the type of arrowhead: broadheads produced star-shaped to triangular wounds, field-tips caused circular, oval or slit-like injuries. Foreign material from the arrowhead was found inside two injuries. In assaults, the crossbow was used to hunt the victim down from a short distance which does not require practice but still has the advantage of a distance weapon. However, immediate incapacitation occurred rarely so that additional violence was frequently applied. The noiseless character of the weapon explains why many victims were taken by surprise and why the corpses initially remained unnoticed. Crossbows can therefore be considered ideal weapons for man hunting and some were bought for the very purpose of the killing.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crossbow homicides

et al. 2004

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“…3). A study by Downs et al [12] gives suggestions on how to pursue crossbow death investigations. This includes detailed examination of the clothing for patterning of the bolt-head as well as radiography.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crossbow injuries: A case report

Smyk

2009

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine

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“…However, it should be noted that experimental simulations cannot always be an accurate re-enactments of a crime: variables such as movement and position of the body and velocity of the weapon are often unknown so that caution must be exercised in any interpretation of experimental simulations [18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An unusual case of crossbow homicide

Pomara

D’Errico

Neri

2007

Forens Sci Med Pathol

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The authors report the case of a man found unresponsive in a wooded area with injuries on the face, eyes, shoulders and back, probably produced by caustic agents. A penetrating wound was noted in the left occipital region. Four days after admission to an Intensive Care Unit he died. No weapon was found at the crime scene. Autopsy revealed an occipital bone defect in the wound area, and cerebral haemorrhage in the left hemisphere in the absence of an exit wound. Immunohistochemical staining of brain samples for β-APP were critical establishing the extent of the injury. The peculiarity of the wound and the lack of circumstantial evidence made it necessary to conduct a careful investigation to identify the weapon. Firing tests performed on experimental cranial models established the use of a crossbow weapon as a cause of the observed wound.

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Handling and Interpretation of Crossbow Injuries

Cited by 32 publications

References 9 publications

Crossbow homicides

Crossbow homicides

Crossbow injuries: A case report

An unusual case of crossbow homicide

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