tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post28580941886782497..comments2024-03-20T10:44:31.869-05:00Comments on D.A. Confidential: Ballistics - matching casingsD.A. Confidentialhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08445074681227492215noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-88439320108997021602023-05-27T23:24:02.514-05:002023-05-27T23:24:02.514-05:00Some of the markings are inconsistent to my eye af...Some of the markings are inconsistent to my eye after blowing the picture up,you really have to look hard at it because people's life's depend on this evidenceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-86663863209502191782023-05-27T23:22:03.349-05:002023-05-27T23:22:03.349-05:00Well,if someone life depends on this you really go...Well,if someone life depends on this you really gotta look hard,some of this do not match to my eye,I blew the pictures up,but it was very similar but there are inconsistenciesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-57368112091950346792021-10-13T20:13:57.138-05:002021-10-13T20:13:57.138-05:00I was just watching a Dateline episode about the t...I was just watching a Dateline episode about the trial of Christian Martin. Part of the evidence was a shell casing found at the scene.The ballistics expert testified that he thought it was a match to a fun that Martin owned. I was wondering if this matching of casings to a particular firearm is 100% foolproof?Don'tTreadOnMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10308079307315669436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-19576660626230924152014-10-06T17:17:45.330-05:002014-10-06T17:17:45.330-05:00Ann, I hope my reply isn't too late. The answe...Ann, I hope my reply isn't too late. The answer to your question is... Yes and No. The Yes part: an expert could conclude that the rounds were both fired from the same gun, yes. The No part is your extrapolation - nothing about an empty casing will tell you who fired it. You probably know that, just be careful - a defense lawyer will argue that the casing was dropped there by the "real" perpetrator. <br /><br />But I think your main concern is met: if the have the same markings, they will have been fired from the same gun. Which is pretty good evidence in the absence of the weapon itself. :)D.A. Confidentialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08445074681227492215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-17576139829266499752014-07-30T21:34:18.948-05:002014-07-30T21:34:18.948-05:00Okay. I want to be sure I have this correct. If tw...Okay. I want to be sure I have this correct. If two rimfire cartridges are fired from the same gun (at different times and locations), both empty casings will have the same marks on the rim--under microscopic observation. Here's why I want to know. I'm at the end of a 4-year journey writing a novel. With no murder weapon, if one empty casing is found at the crime scene, and another empty casing is found in the perpetrator's home, and they both have the exact same markings, it could be concluded that the perpetrator shot both cartridges from the same gun. This could prove a case without having the murder weapon. Please let me know if this is an accurate assumption. THANK YOU!!Ann Blosfeldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-45810898603827749472014-06-29T10:52:43.530-05:002014-06-29T10:52:43.530-05:00I've done quite a few mock trials where Travis...I've done quite a few mock trials where Travis County in the State of "Lone Star" is our hypothetical jurisdiction. Hopefully I can finally start putting that (and this awesome info) into practice in a few months. For now, back to studying for the bar. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12234711037317578977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-33989932243494507032012-07-12T02:27:22.409-05:002012-07-12T02:27:22.409-05:00Is it heard of - and if so, how common is it - tha...Is it heard of - and if so, how common is it - that two guns (same maker, same model) could leave marks on the casings that look identical when analyzed microscopically?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-80570909187544998022012-07-11T13:58:32.812-05:002012-07-11T13:58:32.812-05:00Anon, that's precisely why I like this evidenc...Anon, that's precisely why I like this evidence. The firearms folks explain what there is to look for and the jurors can see it (or not) for themselves. As PD said, in that regard it's even better than DNA.D.A. Confidentialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08445074681227492215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-79795945896947784152012-07-11T13:43:53.749-05:002012-07-11T13:43:53.749-05:00I like the fact that such photos allow the lay per...I like the fact that such photos allow the lay person to formulate their own opinion of the evidence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-37277500771815881282012-07-11T08:29:27.922-05:002012-07-11T08:29:27.922-05:00Exactly. You can actually see the jurors lean for...Exactly. You can actually see the jurors lean forward and tune right in to this stuff. And Greg, our main firearms guy, is such a great teacher, you can tell he loves doing it and so is very good.D.A. Confidentialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08445074681227492215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238764490786855274.post-69881802301630748652012-07-11T07:59:02.761-05:002012-07-11T07:59:02.761-05:00I love the bullet match and primer impression matc...I love the bullet match and primer impression match at trial. Even better than DNA. The jury gets to see the match for themselves in pictures, unlike DNA.Prosecutor's Discretionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16052776388565362412noreply@blogger.com