ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 5

Finding of a Bullet in the Cervical Column of a Body Hit by a Train
Sanz, CL
Assistant professor, University of Zaragoza,

Cortés, E
Scientific officer, Ballistic Laboratory of Police Science, Police Headquarters,

Navarro, JA
Professor, University of Zaragoza,

Pellicer, MA
Forensic chemist, Laboratory of Police Science, Police Headquarters,

(Received 7 March 1990; accepted 7 May 1990)

Abstract

This case is about the finding of a body of an unidentified male of approximately 70 years of age who was hit by a train. During the carrying out of the corresponding autopsy and after the radiological tests for posterior odontological identification, a foreign body of a cylindrical-cone shape, identical to that of a bullet, was found lodged between the first and second cervical vertebrae. During dissection of the neck, a bullet was found. When the ballistie test was carried out, it was ascertained that the bullet was from a cartridge of 7.92 by 57-mm Mauser caliber, manufactured in Spain in 1936. This ammunition corresponds to that used during the Civil War in Spain (1936–1939). After the identification of the body, it was proved that the bullet was the result of a war wound. However, the victim had been unaware of the existence of the bullet, which had remained in his body for 50 years.

Keywords:
forensic science, pathology and biology, ballistics, wound ballistics, radiology, forensic pathology, human identification, criminalistics

Paper ID: JFS13066J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13066J
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