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Differentiation of serrated and non-serrated blades from stab marks in bone

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Abstract

Although evidence of sharp-force trauma on the human body, particularly the skeleton, can be extremely useful in providing information regarding the manner and context of death, there is still a lack of necessary detail available to the investigator. Using ribs, radii, scapulae, vertebrae and carpal bones, this study demonstrated that distinctions could be made between the stab marks left by serrated blades and those of non-serrated blades. Low power and scanning electron microscopy were used to record distinctive ‘T’-shaped stab marks from non-serrated blades and ‘Y’-shaped stab marks from serrated blades. In addition, elemental evidence of the presence of the blade in the stab-mark kerf was recoverable even when no metal fragment was visible.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our fellow Forensic Biology Research Kernel members for their support and help throughout this project. Ken Robinson provided much assistance with the SEM. Dr. Becky Gowland (Durham University) gave very useful comments and suggestions on earlier drafts of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Science & Technology, University of Teesside, Borough Road, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS1 3BA, UK

    T. J. U. Thompson & J. Inglis

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  1. T. J. U. Thompson
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  2. J. Inglis
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Correspondence to T. J. U. Thompson.

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Thompson, T.J.U., Inglis, J. Differentiation of serrated and non-serrated blades from stab marks in bone. Int J Legal Med 123, 129–135 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0275-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0275-x

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