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| Common
Weapons |
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| In
a complex world of weapons, forensic scientists see hundreds of different
wounds causes by weapons other than guns. For example, blunt trauma,
sharp trauma, asphyxiation, strangulation and assault.
All of these forms of murder are brutal and the wounds on the dead
body left behind provide vital evidence of the type of weapon used
by the criminal. |
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Select a topic from below to read more:
--> Trauma
--> Asphyxiation
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| Trauma |
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| Blunt trauma concerns
injuries and death caused by blunt objects such as bats, household
ornaments and rocks. If a person is the victim of blunt trauma, fractures,
broken bones and external bruising are usually strong evidence for
the occurrence of blunt trauma. Sharp trauma refers to injuries caused
by sharp objects, such as knives, nails and swords. The type of knife
wound on the body can often reveal what type of knife was used. Different
types of knives include double-edged knives, single-edged knives and
serrated edged knives. Double-edged knives have dagger-like
cutting edges that leave obvious markings of two sharp edges. Single-edged
knives have one sharp edge and often create wounds that have a boat-like
shape. Serrated knives often give the wound a rough appearance around
the edge. |
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| *Kitchen
knives and often bread knives, are a common weapon, leaving lacerations
corresponding to their blade size. Photo courtesy of www.morguefile.com.
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| Asphyxiation |
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| Asphyxiation is a condition whereby
a lack of oxygen and an excessive amount of carbon dioxide
causes interference in breathing and subsequently choking, then eventually
death. The most common cause of asphyxiation occurs in motor vehicles,
where the vehicle's exhaust is channeled into the car, subsequently
suffocating the victim. Strangulation, another possible form of asphyxiation,
leaves marks or bruising around the neck, whether death was inflicted
manually or using an object. The size and markings on the wound reveal
whether the actions were repeatedly used and whether the rope or cord
was twisted or flatted out around the neck. Any long, flexible and
tough object is suitable as the weapon for strangulation, many of
which are household items like belts, a telephone cord or a scarf.
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