Micro-computed tomography of false starts produced on bone by different hand-saws

The tools used in post-mortem dismemberment produce characteristic witness marks on the body of the victim, commonly defined tool marks. The macroscopic and microscopic analysis of tool marks on bones plays a crucial role in forensic anthropology and pathology, providing useful information about the instrument used to cause them [1]. When saws are used to cut bones, they often leave specific saw marks, known as “false starts”, which occur when the blade of the saw, during a stroke, hits the surface of the bone briefly and then restarts from another point, close to the initial point of cut.

Source: Legal Medicine - January 24, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Guido Pelletti, Guido Viel, Paolo Fais, Alessia Viero, Sindi Visentin, Diego Miotto, Massimo Montisci, Giovanni Cecchetto, Chiara Giraudo Source Type: research