Essay Question 4: Guns & ammo

Question 1

Handgun ownership

Answer 1

(1) registration; (2) fingerprints on cartridges in magazine; (3) ask D’s friends & family; (4) check D’s social networks; and (5) forensic computer expert search computer.

Question 2

Casings

Answer 2

(1) breech face marks/impressions; (2) firing pin impressions; and (3) extraction marks.

Question 3

Bullets

Answer 3

Check lands & grooves.

Question 4

S’s distance from V

Answer 4

(1) large entrance wound + close stippling & tattooing = barrel was inches away from V. (2) casings were found 4 ft. from body. Typically ejected to the left. Shows handgun was fired in close proximity to V.