Sven Hartwig

Black powder handgun deaths remain an uncommon event.

Although it was predicted that there would be an increase in the use of black powder guns due to their greater ease of procurement with less government control on sales, this does not seem to have been the general experience. To determine the rate of use of black powder handguns in shooting deaths in Berlin, Germany, review of the files of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin was conducted over a 10-year period from 1997 to 2006. Out of total 85 gunshot deaths, there were only 3 where black powder handguns were used (3.5%). The cases involved 3 males aged 55, 62, and 63 years, respectively, all of whom had committed suicide with black powder percussion handguns, using 0.45, 0.56, and 0.36 caliber weapons. The source of the guns could not be determined. Wounds were characterized by excessive soot and propellant soiling and tattooing. The low number of fatalities involving black powder guns in a large forensic institution in Berlin, Germany, suggests that limiting access to such weapons would have little effect on total numbers of gunshot deaths. Simple loading mechanisms and reliability appear to be more important features influencing the choice of a handgun, rather than mere availability.

Self-Constructed Shooting Devices Utilizing Manually-Impacted Firing-Pins (Suicide Machines)

Three cases of suicide are described where deaths were due to single gunshot wounds to the head from self-constructed shooting devices. The victims were twin brothers aged 27 years, and a 53-year-old male. The firearms were manufactured by the victims who used machined metal tubes with 12-gauge shotgun and 7.65 mm ammunition, respectively. The mechanism of action in all cases relied upon direct impact on the firing pin rod; with a hammer in 2 cases, and a rock in the third. Homemade firearms are manufactured globally for use in criminal activities, although they tend to be found more often in countries and among groups where there is limited access to commercially manufactured weapons due to economic or legal constraints. Most devices use either a standard sprung hammer or trigger mechanisms. Given the unusual and cumbersome nature of the firing mechanism in the reported cases, it is likely that these firearms were specifically manufactured for the purpose of suicide.

Suicide with two shots to the head using a rare ‘Velo-Dog’ pocket revolver

A 64-year-old woman was found lying lifeless on a sofa in her apartment with blood coming from her head. The woman was taken to hospital but died approximately 7 h later despite intensive care. When she was found in the apartment, her face was covered with a folded towel which exhibited two separate penetrating holes, each 5–6 mm in diameter, with adjacent soot and blood deposits. A ‘VeloDog’, .25 (6.35 mm) caliber revolver (Fig. 1) was found next to the body. The revolver cylinder contained three spent cartridges and two unfired rounds. A deformed projectile was discovered on the sofa where the body of the woman was lying. Police investigations could not determine how she had obtained the revolver. Relatives reported that she suffered from diabetes mellitus and alcoholism. No history of psychotic disorders or previous suicide attempts was reported. A suicide note was left on a table near her body in the apartment. Postmortem multislice computed tomography (pmMSCT) scans prior to medico-legal autopsy demonstrated a circular bony defect accompanied by a circular superficial injury of the outer table of the skull on the right temporal bone (Fig. 2a). An intracranial foreign body, which was interpreted as a projectile, was detected in the left temporal region (Fig. 2b). External examination revealed two small circular skin defects (measuring 3–4 mm in diameter each) surrounded by an abrasion margin and concentric rubor on the right temporoparietal region (Fig. 3). Neither soot nor gunpowder residue were deposited around these wounds. Consistent with the finding of pmMSCT scans, a circular superficial depression injury of the outer table was observed in the right temporal bone corresponding to the antero-superior wound (Fig. 4). A circular penetrating cranial defect of the outer table, measuring 6 mm in diameter, exhibited internal bevelling and corresponded to the postero-inferior wound. The wound track passed intracranially through anterior parts of the right temporal lobe, crossed the midline through both lateral ventricles and the corpus callosum, where intraventricular hemorrhage was observed, and continued through the left temporal lobe. The wound canal ended at the subarachnoidal space of the left temporal lobe where a deformed projectile was recovered (Fig. 5). The brain showed massive swelling (weight 1,690 g) and moderate epidural and subdural hematomas (EDH and SDH) were detected in the right temporal region. There was widespread subarachnoidal hemorrhage (SAH) particularly over the right cerebral hemisphere. The brainstem was uninjured. Apart from a fatty liver and chronic pancreatitis, no other gross pathology findings were noticed. Toxicological analysis of a femoral blood sample was negative. The cause of death was a cranial gunshot injury and the manner of death was classified as suicide. T. Hayashi (&) R. Gapert M. Tsokos S. Hartwig Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, University Medical Centre Charite, University of Berlin, Turmstr. 21, Building N, 10559 Berlin, Germany e-mail: takahito@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp URL: http://remed.charite.de

Suicide with One Cranial Gunshot by a .320 Caliber Pocket Revolver

Suicide using a firearm is the most commonly used method of committing suicide for men and women. In this paper, we present and discuss a suicide case in which an 86-year-old man shot himself using a .320 caliber pocket revolver. Proper crime scene investigation, recovery of the weapon used, and precise interpretation of autopsy findings play a fundamental role in determining the exact cause and manner of death. Accurate analysis of the injuries and a thorough knowledge of weapons and ballistics are essential for an adequate investigation in these unusual cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a cranial gunshot inflicted by a .320 caliber pocket revolver.