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FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS AND STAIN PATTERNS OF HUMAN BLOOD

NCJ Number
1747
Author(s)
H L MACDONELL
Date Published
1971
Length
77 pages
Annotation

INFORMATION ABOUT BLOOD STAINS WHICH PROVIDES BASIC KNOWLEDGE FOR INTERPRETING BLOOD PATTERN EVIDENCE WITH UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE.

Abstract

RULES AND GUIDES ARE GIVEN FOR INTERPRETING BLOODSTAINS AT THE SCENE OF BLOODSHED TO OBTAIN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO RECONSTRUCT THE CONDITIONS EXISTING AT TIME OF BLOODSHED. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN BLOOD IN FREE FALL-AND AFTER IMPACT ON A SURFACE ARE DESCRIBED AND THE CHARACTERISTICS AND PROPERTIES OF HUMAN BLOOD ITSELF. OVER 60 REPRESENTATIVE BLOOD STAIN PATTERNS SHOWING THE EFFECT AND APPEARANCE OF BLOOD IMPACTING ON VARIOUS SURFACES AT DIFFERENT ANGLES, AT DIFFERENT VELOCITIES AND FROM DIFFERENT HEIGHTS ARE PICTURED. THE AUTHOR CAUTIONS THE INVESTIGATOR THAT THE RULES AND GUIDELINES ENUMERATED ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE IN THEMSELVES BUT WILL ASSIST IN DECIDING A FURTHER COURSE OF ACTION. LITTLE ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO EXPRESS THE COLLECTED DATA IN A STATISTICAL MANNER.