Fatal neck injuries caused by blank cartridges

We report three cases where fatal neck injuries were caused by blanks from starting pistols. The weapons were loaded with blank cartridges or tear gas cartridges. Neither live ammunition nor any form of projectile was used. A ll three cases involved a contact discharge. The gas pressure caused by fir ing the weapons created extensive wound cavities in all three cases. Each v ictim died from blood loss as a result of ruptured cervical vessels; there were no air embolisms. In one case, a man shot himself eight times with two different starting pistols, and the wounds could be matched to each gun by the muzzle imprint marks on the neck. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Lt d. All rights reserved.