Posted on 05/02/2016 2:25:05 PM PDT by Chasaway
I need some general firearms/ballistics information.
I'm working on a criminal defense case. The defendant is accused by the state of shooting his girlfriend in the back of the head with an AR-15 at 10 feet...using a .223 round.
The defendant is a real scumbag and knows he's going to the pen over this. BUT, he claims he accidentally discharged the gun, it caromed off of a linoleum-covered concrete floor and then struck her. It all occurred in a very small kitchen.
My working hypothesis is that this WAS an accidental shooting and that the bullet DID ricochet off of the floor. That means that the defendant couldn't have MEANT to shoot her, because there is no way to accurately predict, ad hoc, the performance of a bullet after caroming off of a concrete floor.
Also, if he HAD shot her directly from 10 feet, I wouldn't expect the round to fragment and stay in her brain pan and I would expect to see some other residue from the round on her clothes or in her hair, etc.
Yes sir. That's what I'm saying. They even took pictures of the hole in the floor where the bullet ricocheted from!!!
Lawyer just wasn't familiar enough with guns and "real life" bullet actions to question any of it.
LOL!
I asked the attorney on the case about his budget because of just that kind of stuff.
But if I can help him demonstrate that she wasn’t shot DIRECTLY from the rifle, but was most likely hit with a ricochet, we get the same result.
good point....shape of entry hole would also be important. Shot direct to the body would be a round hole...there would be no indication of anything but a round hole....bullet would not be tumbling.
anyway, good luck. the defendant can be garbage, but the issue needs be guilt. low quality types are probably at increased risk of safe and prudent firearm handling. Macho male attitudes encourage unsafe handling.
Oh, yeah...and he knows he’ll go to the pen over this. He’s just hoping to avoid a murder conviction.
Which I think he should.
And THAT, exactly, is my point!
Thanks.
If we can get that across, he may avoid a murder charge and only have to deal with negligent homicide.
p.p.s. I think we are assuming a floor of linoleum on top of something quite hard/strong like concrete.
Also, there is the older linoleum that is thicker, harder and stronger than the newer (cheaper) stuff.
At 10 ft a .223 is going to go into the back of the head then the pressure will basically blow the face off. It will look like jelly. If that didn’t happen then it likely richocheted off the floor went into her head and fragmented.
“He’s a private eye. They don’t need a license, just a decoder ring.”
Manners are cheap enough for even you to afford some.
Not legal advice. Ballistics information.
Ok, if you are a PI, I offer my apologies.
Thank you for the correction!
Our goal here is accurate info.
Thanks for your post!
Bad lawyer.
But you’re Laz. You’re free to jump to conclusions.
It's my only exercise.
But when I'm wrong I'll admit.
I don't have the skill to answer your question, but others will.
I don’t know what side you are on in what capacity but discussing a murder case from the inside in any capacity, on a public forum, is ludicrous and dangerous for all involved.
Obviously there are ballistics experts who know this stuff, can examine the actual evidence, and work within professional and legal guidelines.
If you are not one of them, leave it to them and rely on them. Whether for prosecution or for defense.
You know, I’m not sure what the problem is.
I post some relatively straightforward questions, with plenty of background information if anyone chooses to read it.
And I get a few helpful responses.
But I get a LOT of people telling me how to do my business. Telling me I shouldn’t be doing this on a public forum. Telling me I should surrender my law license (I’m not a lawyer, LOL), suggesting all kinds of things I already said I’m doing.
What’s happened to the gun owners/aficionados on this site?
Where are the people with answers because of experience/research/work? Why do people who don’t appear to have any familiarity with the topic have the arrogance to feel like they need to chime in and “correct” me or any other poster to this thread?
I just want some information. If you feel like you know more about my field than I do, let me know in a FReepMail.
But good grief, folks!
Really?
As several have stated here, you need a ballistics expert to offer testimony on the physics and what the evidence shows.
The round deflected or bounced up to at least 5 feet in height, assuming she is at least 5 feet tall, to enter her skull within 5 to 10 feet? That is some ricochet.
1. What is the muzzle velocity of the round?
2. What is the velocity of the round at 10 feet?
Usually around ~3100 to 3250 fps for a 55 grain .223 bullet, and depending on the length of the the barrel. At 10 ft, about the same as muzzle velocity.
You don’t know what you’re talking about. I was hired specifically to do research in any forum or source necessary. There is nothing identifiable about this case.
I dare you to identify it specifically.
And there is no need to spend client money when logic and already presented evidence will suffice.
I suggest try to recreate the event.
There are none so blind as those who will not see. I have no desire to educate you further.
Bungled a few jobs lately, Detective?
Don’t worry, any day now there will be another crappy divorce case coming to make your day.
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