8:00 – 8:20 AM
Research Into the Matching of Lead
Cores to Bullet Jackets – Part II
Richard Ernest, Alliance Forensics
Laboratory, Inc. Fort Worth, TX
Objectives: In this paper,
which includes follow-up research to a similar paper
given by the author at the 1994 AFTE conference,
several methodologies will be discussed, including
the research behind the methodologies which allow
lead bullet cores to be positively associated with
the bullet jackets they were separated from.
Methodology: Research was
conducted into the origins of several types of tool
marks seen in case work on separated lead bullet
cores & bullet jackets. These included manufacturing
tool marks, including bullet jacket trimming
operations & die forming tool marks from the bullet
jacket formation, and "tear-out" of tiny lead
particles from the lead core retained within the
separated bullet jacket.
Results: There are at least
three different methods, which will be discussed,
for positively associating a lead bullet core with
the bullet jacket it separated from.
Conclusions: In certain types
of cases, it may be crucial to the solving of a
case, to be able to positively associate a lead
bullet core back to the bullet jacket it separated
from. The results from two different cases will be
discussed in which these techniques have proven
invaluable to the solving of the case.
8:20 – 9:00 AM
The Case of the Talking Cartridge Case
Lucien Haag, Forensic Science Services,
Carefree, AZ
Abstract: There are a number
of firearms-generated markings deposited on
cartridge cases that often go unnoticed or
unutilized by forensic examiners. The incident
presented here will illustrate the importance and
the reconstructive value of the various marks
deposited on cartridge cases during its chambering,
firing and extraction. These marks include magazine
lip marks, slide drag marks, slide scuff marks,
three types of extractor marks along with the better
known breechface marks, ejector marks and firing pin
impressions. Following a brief illustrated
description of the source and method of deposition
of the less well known marks, a case example will be
presented that will show how the recognition and
understanding of these markings was used to test the
accuracy and truthfulness of the statements made by
the shooter in an alleged accidental shooting. As a
result of this case example it should be apparent
that these markings are no less important that the
traditional markings used for identification
purposes and the failure to appreciate their value
and meaning can result in one or more miscarriages
of justice.
9:00 – 9:20 AM
SWGGUN Update
Thomas T. L. Price, KBI Laboratory,
Topeka, KS
Objectives: This is an
informational update on the Scientific Working Group
for Firearms and Toolmarks. The presentation will
include a brief history of the working group,
current Board members, objectives, committees, and
the documents/guidelines approved and available for
peer review.
9:20 – 9:40 AM
Is this what the Docu Meant?
Dom Denio, FBI Laboratory, Quantico, VA
Objectives: Presentation will
list methods for implementation of the recently
passed Standard for Documentation of Conclusions in
Firearm/Toolmark Casework.
9:40 – 10:00 AM
Deactivation / Reactivation of Firearms
André Desmarais, Laboratorie de Police
Scientific de Lyon, Lyon, France
Objectives: More and more
firearms are deactivated, in France. Indeed, despite
of being a shooter or a hunter, it is very difficult
to purchase a genuine firearm. Some processes have
been accepted by the French authorities, to make
firearms unshootable, after deactivation. Some of
these deactivated guns are found in offenders' hands
- reactivated!
Methodology: A point on the history of deactivation
methods used in France will be presented.
Description of the processes used will also be
shown. Some examples of reactivated firearms found
in recent cases will be presented.
Conclusions: Despite
comprehensive deactivation of the guns, it is
impossible to be sure that a gun will not be
reactivated.
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Break
10:30 – 11:00 AM
National Clearinghouse for Science,
Technology and the Law
Anjali Swienton, NCSTL, Germantown, MD
Objectives: This presentation
will discuss the updated activities of the National
Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law
including the National Conference for Science,
Technology and the Law, the reference collection
housed at Stetson University College of Law, and the
online searchable database of scientific and legal
information. The presentation will include an
interactive demonstration of the database and will
encourage feedback from attendees on additional
research needs that the Clearinghouse may be able to
assist with.
Methodology: New challenges
for expert witnesses and the legal community have
arisen due to recent developments in science and
technology. New technologies and methodologies, as
well as fields long considered established, such as
latent print identification and tool marks are
facing increased scrutiny. Given this explosion of
scientific evidence litigation, scientists, law
enforcement, laboratory personnel, judges and
lawyers are overwhelmed by the amount of information
required to educate them to meet these legal
challenges. Until now, judges, lawyers, scientists
and law enforcement personnel did not have one
centralized source that allowed them to navigate all
the existing case law, journals, reports,
proceedings and other resources necessary to conduct
effective investigations and litigation. Building on
The Resource Guide for Users of Science and
Technology (a searchable CD supported by a joint
cooperative agreement between the NFSTC and NIJ
(#2000-RC-CX-K001) a searchable online database was
developed and is now accessible at The National
Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law's
website,
www.ncstl.org.
Results: The National
Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law,
located at Stetson University College of Law,
expanded and updated the original NFSTC/NIJ
searchable CD materials. The database fills an
information need regarding legal issues relating to
the use of science and technology in criminal and
civil justice. The database topics include:
bloodstain pattern analysis, biometrics (body &
retinal scans), digital evidence, digital image
enhancement, DNA, entomology, expert witness
malpractice, fingerprints, firearms and tool mark
analysis, forensic anthropology, forensic odontology,
pathology, psychology, questioned documents, smart
cards, thermal imaging, trace evidence (fiber &
hair), and voice analysis. Within each major topic,
resources are listed: court cases, scientific and
legal articles, relevant information from books and
periodicals, current and pending legislation,
conference proceedings, university and continuing
education courses, and websites, as well as other
relevant information.
Conclusions: In addition to
the searchable online resource, the Clearinghouse is
building partnerships with law schools, scientific
and legal organizations, law enforcement agencies,
professional associations and federal agencies. The
National Clearinghouse also sponsors a science and
technology seminar series and convenes Community
Acceptance Panels at the request of NIJ. Educational
opportunities are being developed in the form of a
National Conference on Science, Technology and the
Law, primers written by qualified experts, and
training modules delivered via various distance
education methods. The Stetson University College of
Law library will house the National Clearinghouse's
reference collection of law, science and technology
literature and media, which will be available
through interlibrary loan to other institutions. The
Clearinghouse is supported by a grant from the
National Institute of Justice (#2003-IJ-CX-K024).
11:00 – 11:30 AM
Walk In Wednesdays
Doreen Hudson, LAPD Forensic Lab, Los
Angeles, CA
The Firearm Analysis Unit of the Los
Angeles Police Department executed the
Walk-In-Wednesday (WIW) program in order to
facilitate the timely and appropriate use of law
enforcement resources to investigate shootings
crimes.
In a backlog of cases numbering two thousand, spread
over four hundred and fifty square miles and
submitted by two-hundred different detectives, which
ones are most important? Which ones need priority
attention? The WIW program compels detectives to
prioritize their own cases and walk firearm evidence
into the lab where it is subjected to a quick review
and immediate imaging into the National Integrated
Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) database.
Detectives watch and wait while their evidence is
input into the system. Since the beginning of the
program, 2095 cases were walked into the lab on the
WIW program and 1220 of them were linked.
Comparisons between crime scene specimens are
performed only if the science or technology supports
the possibility of a "link" between cases. Except
for homicides, the most limited resource (a forensic
firearm microscopist) is only applied to a case with
the highest chance of a positive outcome. Meanwhile,
link information is provided to detectives before
the link is confirmed. This enables them to move
forward in real-time with preliminary findings.
Since eighty percent of the potential links are
ultimately confirmed, the information has enormous
value, even though it is only preliminary. Since
case prioritization is in the hands of the
detectives, the cases under review at any given time
are invariably the cases under "active"
investigation. Any results (links to other crimes or
confiscated firearms) from the WIW program are more
timely and meaningful in the investigative outcome
of the case. Because of the timely links developed
from the WIW program, and the release of preliminary
findings, hundreds of these cases have been solved
in real time while witnesses are still available and
their memories are fresh.
11:30 – 11:45 AM
Time Dependent Effects of Dried Human
Blood on Fired Bullets for Microscopic Identification
Wayne Arendse; Presenter: Gary Lawrence,
Centre of Forensic Sciences, Toronto, Canada
Objectives: Forensic Firearms
and Toolmarks Examiners commonly encounter fired
projectiles recovered from crime scenes and
autopsies that have wet human blood adhering to
their surface. Anecdotal findings suggest a linkage
between the exposure of projectiles to blood and the
degradation of the fine detail necessary for
microscopic identification and comparison. A
laboratory experiment was conducted using several
types of fired bullets to determine what effect
dried human blood has over time on the microscopic
features present. For the duration of this study,
however, no damage was noted, on any of the bullets
that hindered identification.
Methodology: A 9 mm Luger
calibre Walther PPK model was selected from the
Firearms Reference Collection together with lead;
copper and nickel bullet types for this study.
Twenty test fires for each bullet type were carried
out in the Firearms Section of the Centre of
Forensic Sciences and retrieved from a
water-recovery tank. The fired bullets were dried
and placed into the biohazard room where they were
placed into transparent plastic containers. Bullets
were randomly dipped in wet human liquid blood. The
blood was acquired from the author the night before.
The bullets were left to dry in open transparent
plastic containers in a room temperature of 72º F.
Three control samples were chosen to compare against
all experimental samples. Data were collected on a
weekly basis where a representative of each category
were removed, cleaned systematically using a
combination of water and soap. The experimental
samples were compared against the relevant control
samples; verified and photographed.
Results:
|
Week |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
Lead |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Copper |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Nickel |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3=Positive 2=Positive Inconclusive 1=Inconclusive
0=No Value
Conclusions: This study revealed that bullets
exposed to liquid human blood and left to dry in a
room temperature of 72º F; showed some discoloration
on the bullet surfaces. However it did not affect
the striation marks to the extent where the bullets
were no longer identifiable to one another.
11:45-12:00
Barrel
Casting: An Evaluation of Forensic Sil
Chris Coleman, Contra Costa Sheriff's
Office
12:00 – 1:15 PM
Lunch, This will be your
last opportunity to visit our Exhibitor’s as they will
start dismantling their booths at 1:00 PM
1:15 – 1:45 PM
Consecutively Made Bolt Cutters
Evan Thompson, WA State Patrol Lab,
Seattle, WA
Objectives: To verify that the
three-dimensional individual characteristics left by
the crushing action of bolt cutters are indeed
individual in nature.
Methodology: Consecutively made bolt cutters were
obtained and test cuts made in lead, aluminum and
through hardened lock shackles. All of the test cuts
were microscopically compared.
Results: As reported in past
AFTE papers, the three-dimensional individual
characteristics left by the crushing action of bolt
cutters were indeed individual in nature.
Corresponding impressed family characteristics could
be mistaken for individual characteristics.
Conclusions: An examiner must
be aware of the 'how' certain tools are made to be
able to distinguish family characteristics from
individual characteristics left on the object that
the tool came into contact with. The 'how' can be
done by either contacting the factory or a grounding
in general machining techniques and tooling.
1:45 – 2:15PM
Effect of Primer Sealants on
Characteristic Breechface Marks
Carol Hayes & Mark Basoa, NYPD Crime Lab,
New York, NY
Objectives: This presentation
is based on an article that came out in the Spring
2004 journal. Research was conducted to determine
how the application of primer sealants across the
entire surface of the primer would affect the
appearance of characteristic breechface marks.
Methodology: Sellier & Bellot
cartridges were chosen due to the presence of red
primer sealant across the primer. Some of the
cartridges were cleaned with acetone prior to
firing. Three different guns were used. The
cartridge cases with sealant present were then
compared to those that had been cleaned prior to
firing. The samples were also entered into the IBIS
computerized database.
Results: The presence of
primer sealant caused a reduction in the appearance
of impressed marks. While prominent marks were not
significantly affected, less intense marks were
notably reduced. There was no notable change to the
firing pin impression's appearance. The IBIS
computerized database was also affected,
demonstrating lower correlation rankings between the
two groups.
Conclusions: Primer sealant
acts as a barrier between the breechface of the gun
and the primer. Its presence can reduce the
intensity of the transferred marks.
2:45 – 3:15 PM
Break
3:15 – 3:35 PM
Forensic Test Sessions at the Yuma
Proving Ground
James Roberts, Ventura County Sheriff’s
Laboratory, Ventura, CA
Objectives: This presentation
will look at some of the data collected at the
Forensic Test Sessions conducted each fall at the
Yuma Proving ground. A few examples of what data can
be collected will be given. The test sessions are a
result of a meeting held at the AFTE training
conference in Miami in 1992 following the Wolberg /
Roberts’s paper on the Black canyon data and its use
to validate computer Ballistics programs. Bill
Morris arranged for the use of YPG as a result of
that meeting.
Methodology: Doppler Radar and
High Speed Video
Results: The data has been
collected for 13 years and includes both Doppler
Radar exterior ballistics tests and high speed video
image data. One of the most extensive exterior
Ballistics data sets outside the military. The data
has been used in papers presented at AFTE in the
past.
Conclusions: This paper is an
overview of the program conducted each fall at the
Yuma Proving Ground, Hosted by the U.S. Army YPG,
AZ. Department of Public Safety and the Southern
California Firearms Study Group.
3:35 – 4:00 PM
Windshield Glass Crack Propagation
Resulting from Additional Bullet Passage
James Roberts, Ventura County Sheriff’s
Laboratory, Ventura, CA
Objectives: This presentation
will demonstrate why it is ill advised to try
sequencing bullet holes in windshield glass based on
radial cracks. It provides a look at what does occur
when laminated windshield glass is penetrated by a
series of bullets. Vibrations from later shots
extend the cracks of earlier shots giving some false
impressions of which shot was earlier in the
sequence. The material was prepared from high speed
video images captured at the Yuma Proving Ground
during the 2003 Forensic test session.
Methodology: High Speed Video
of 3 successive shots into one windshield. The
process was repeated so only one set will be shown.
Results: Cracks continue to
propagate as motion is caused in the glass by the
successive shots. Radial cracks do not necessarily
show which shot was fired first in this type of
glass.
Conclusions: One would be ill
advised to try to sequence shots into windshield
glass based on radial cracks.
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Pre-Banquet Reception
7:00 – 10:30 PM
Annual Banquet
www.afte.org
> Training Seminar
> 2005 Thursday
