Brian J. Heard

Forensic Ballistics in Court (eBook, PDF)

Interpretation and Presentation of Firearms Evidence

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

Forensic Ballistics in Court: Interpretation and Presentation of Firearms Evidence is an accessible introduction to firearms and ballistics evidence and how this is analysed and presented as evidence in a court of law. The book approaches the subject in terms of the realities of case work, opening with a clear and illustrated explanation of the correct nomenclature for various weapon types and their parts. Ammunition is also extensively covered, again with annotated illustrations. Basic external and terminal ballistics, wounding capabilities are likewise covered to give an overview of the subject. A key aspect of the book covers the theory and philosophy behind striation matches and the associated statistics, how positive matches should be peer reviewed and the importance accreditation has on this subject. Gunshot residue formation and identification and the various methods used in its analysis are reviewed in depth. This includes a critical examination of the pros and cons of each type of examination and the evidential weight which can be applied to each method. * Accessible and reader-friendly introduction to firearms and ballistics. * Clarifies the limitations of firearms evidence. * Extensive use of global case-studies throughout. * Focus on the interpretation and assessment of the weight of firearms/ballistics evidence presented at court. * Covers the importance of witness and accused statements and their interpretation in relation to the investigation under review. * Includes coverage of gunshot residue collection, examination and interpretation and the potential for contamination of GSR samples. * Includes numerous real life case studies that the author has dealt with over the past 45 years. * Takes an applied approach to the subject.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: John Wiley & Sons
• Seitenzahl: 400
• Erscheinungstermin: 11. März 2013
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781118504994
• Artikelnr.: 37756155

Autorenporträt

Brian J. Heard, Formerly of the Ballistics and Firearms Identification Bureau for the Royal Hong Kong Police.

Inhaltsangabe

About the Author xiii Introduction xv About the companion website xix 1.0
Firearms History 1 Further reading 8 2.0 Weapon Types and Their Operation 9
Further reading 24 2.1 Gas and Air Powered Weapons 25 Further reading 31
2.2 Rifling Types and Their Identification 33 Additional reading 42 2.3
Home-made, Improvised and Converted Firearms 43 Further reading 50 2.4
Antique Weapons 51 3.0 Proof Marks 55 Further reading 61 4.0 A Brief
History of Ammunition 63 Further reading 66 4.1 Ammunition Components 67
Further reading 79 4.2 Bullet Types 81 Further reading 86 4.3 Headstamps
and Other Identifying Features on Ammunition 87 Further reading 91 4.4
Non-toxic and Frangible Bullets 93 Further reading 96 4.5 Non-toxic Shot 97
Suggested further reading 100 4.6 A Brief History of Propellants 101
Further reading 108 4.7 Priming Compounds 109 Further reading 114 5.0 An
Introduction to Ballistics 115 Further reading 116 5.1 Internal Ballistics
117 Further reading 121 5.2 External Ballistics 123 Further reading 135 5.3
Terminal Ballistics 137 Further reading 152 6.0 A Brief History of Forensic
Firearms Identification 153 Suggested further reading 160 7.0 Basic
Concepts of Striation Matching 161 Further reading 172 7.1 Basic Concepts
in Comparison Microscopy 173 Further reading 181 7.2 The Concept of
Consecutive Matching Stria 183 Further reading 187 7.3 A Statistical Model
to Illustrate the Concept of Individuality in Striation Matches 189
References 193 8.0 Accidental Discharge 195 Further reading 204 9.0
Identification of Calibre from the Bullet Entry Hole 205 Further reading
208 10.0 Ricochet Analysis 209 Further reading 213 11.0 Bullet Penetration
and Trajectory through Glass 215 Further reading and references 223 12.0
Range of Firing Estimations and Bullet Hole Examinations 225 12.1 Chemical
Tests for Range of Fire Estimations and Bullet Entry/Exit Hole
Identification 235 Further reading 239 12.2 Range of Fire Estimations for
Shotguns 241 Suggested further reading 247 13.0 The Use of X-ray
Photography for Projectile Identification 249 Further reading 254 14.0
Gunshot Residue Examination 255 References 275 15.0 Gun Handling Tests 277
Further reading 283 16.0 Laser-etched Serial Numbers and Bar Codes 285
Further reading 287 17.0 Classification of Firearms-related Death 289
References and further reading 293 18.0 Practical Considerations in a
Firearms Case from a Legal Point of View 295 Further reading and references
300 19.0 Qualifying the Expert and Cross-examination Questions 301 Further
reading 308 20.0 Chain of Custody 309 Further reading 311 Appendix 1
Standard of Review: 'Daubert Trilogy' 313 Appendix 2 Commercial and General
Abbreviations for Bullet Configurations 317 Appendix 3 Some of the More
Common Trade Names 323 Appendix 4 Important dates in the History of
Firearms from 1247 335 Appendix 5 Dates for the Introduction of Various
Cartridges by Calibre 341 Appendix 6 Some Trademarks Found on Guns 345
Appendix 7 General Firearms Values Conversion Table 349 Appendix 8 Hearing
Loss 351 Appendix 9 A List of Handgun Cartridges 355 Appendix 10 A List of
Rifle Cartridges 357 Appendix 11 Air Weapon Legislation 361 Index 367