Blood-Spatter Patterns: Hands Hold Clues for the Forensic Reconstruction of the Sequence of Events

For the purpose of forensic reconstruction, blood-spatter patterns on the hands were examined on site in 5 cases of suicide caused by gunshot. In all cases, forensically relevant conclusions regarding forensic reconstruction were enabled through close examination of the spatter marks. Implications of the findings for crime-scene investigation are discussed. (19 refs)