Determination of distance in a shooting scene Essay

Determination of distance in a shooting scene Introduction            Distance determination is an activity that is carried out to determine the distance at which a fire-arm was shot from in a crime scene. It is also a calculation done by the examiner to indicate the really distance of shooting in a crime scene. It is done to approximate the actual point from which a person was shot, something that is evident in the gun residue, that is, gunpowder from the muzzle to the target (Saferstein, 2011).            Forensic science has been of great help in investigating crimes in all ways that the crime is committed helping the investigator apprehend the criminal (Saferstein, 2011). The laboratory is not only used for the blood stain, it is also used to examine the weapon used in committing the crime for example a gun. The firearms suspected to have been used or involved in a crime are taken to the laboratory for investigation and examination to help establish the source and whether the firearm has ever been used in addition to the owner (Saferstein, 2011). This is done using a microscope that magnifies the cartridge used. The gun is used to determine the distance using the muzzle. The investigator can shoot from different angles using the same type of gun then checks the hole and measures the diameter used from the gun and the gunpowder will give clear indication of the distance (Saferstein, 2011).            The gun is used to determine the distance using the muzzle the investigator can shoot from different angles then checks the hole and measures the diameter of the muzzle from the points and then compares with the hole of the actual incident (Saferstein, 2011). Therefore, the muzzle-to-target analysis can help in determine the distance of the shooter to the target. The gunpowder is beneficial to the investigator because it leaves a pattern and enables the investigator to match the firearms used and the how the shooting took place (Saferstein, 2011). Reference Saferstein, R. (2011). Criminalistics: An introduction to forensic science. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Source document