Citation

Gallidabino MD, Weyermann C. Forensic Sci. Int. 2020; 311: e110290.

Affiliation

École des Sciences Criminelles, Faculté de Droit, des Sciences Criminelles et d'Administration Publique, Université de Lausanne, Bâtiment Batochime, 1015 Lausanne-Dorigny, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110290

PMID

32362519

Abstract

The estimation of the time since last discharge of firearms or spent ammunition elements (e.g., casings) may provide crucial information in the investigation of a shooting incident and, eventually, the following trial. Herein, an exhaustive review of the methods described in the literature is reported, with the aim to evaluate their potential and limitations from a forensic perspective. This work, in particular, highlighted the fact that a number of investigations have been carried out in the field during the last century (with an especially high rate in the last 30 years), but the implementation of related procedures in forensic laboratories is still rare. The situation has been discussed and a series of propositions have been forwarded, in order to overcome challenges and facilitate the implementation of dating approaches in real casework.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Ageing; Cartridges; Dating; Discharge; Firearms; Forensic science; Gunshot residue; Time