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Macroscopic Characteristics of Hacking Trauma

NCJ Number
187604
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2001 Pages: 228-233
Author(s)
Joshua H. Humphrey B.A.; Dale L. Hutchinson Ph.D.
Date Published
March 2001
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study was undertaken to determine whether a reasonable set of generalizations about the effects of differing hacking weapons on long bones could be made and used in the determination of weapon type.
Abstract
This research examined the effects of a hacking trauma caused by machete, cleaver, and axe weapons, as well as the characteristics of each weapon type on bone. Each weapon type was used in multiple trials on pig (Sus scrofa) bones, and then the wounds were examined macroscopically for several characteristics that serve to differentiate the weapons. Although general agreement about weapon type that caused a particular wound was present among the observers, more consistent interobserver agreement of the exact type of injury was found for sharper weapons, such as the cleaver, than for the axe, due to less crushing and fracturing. In general, cleaver wounds had a distinctive appearance, with narrow, sharp entrance wounds. Axes had a crushed and fragmented appearance, occasionally exhibiting a wedge shape at the entry wound. Machetes were in between the two types of entry wound appearance. For all weapon types, entry and exit of the wound were often clearly apparent. Comparatively, each weapon presents enough criteria to make a reasonable judgment as to which was used. 4 tables, 9 figures, and 21 references