FREQUENCY OF BLOOD SPATTERS ON THE SHOOTING HAND AND OF CONJUNCTIVAL PETECHIAE FOLLOWING SUICIDAL GUNSHOTS WOUNDS TO THE HEAD

A total of 103 suicidal and 29 homicidal gunshot fatalities were evalu ated. In 42% of the suicides, characteristic findings like blood spatt ers and/or powder soilings, could be found on the shooting hand by nak ed-eye inspection indicating the importance of an accurate examination of the deceased's hands at autopsy for a preliminary diagnosis. Petec hial hemorrhages of the conjunctivae due to the gas pressure after dis charge of the weapon were observed in 22% of those cases with contact shot wounds to the head/neck, but not in cases of distant shot injurie s following the use of non-high velocity ammunition. Therefore, conjun ctival petechiae can be regarded as an additional but optional sign of contact head shots in cases without alterations possibly influencing the development of conjunctival pin-point bleedings. The evidence of s uch findings can be of practical importance if the entrance shot wound cannot be examined for whatever reason.