ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 6

Evidentiary Value of the Contents of Hollow-Point Bullets
Smith, O'BC
Assistant professor and instructor, University of Tennessee, TN

Harruff, RC
Assistant professor and instructor, University of Tennessee, TN

(Received 16 June 1987; accepted 14 October 1987)

Abstract

The fortuitous recovery of material trapped within the cavity of a hollow-point bullet at autopsy was demonstrated to be of evidentiary value. Analysis of this material, as well as that from hollow-point bullets from test-firings, showed that the contents, especially if in multiple layers, could be correlated with the series of intermediate targets perforated. In the case presented, this aided investigators in determining how many bullets actually struck the victim. Frequently displaced, especially if distortion of the hollow point has occurred, this tidbit of trace evidence is worth recovering and analyzing.

Keywords:
criminalistics, ballistics, trace evidence, wound ballistics

Paper ID: JFS12531J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12531J
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