CASE REPORT
Necessary Defense or Homicide?
The Importance of Crime Scene Reconstruction in Crossbow Injuries
Petr Handlos, MD, PhD,* Marek Joukal, MD, PhD,† Marek Dokoupil, MD,*‡
Matěj Uvíra, MD,* and Klára Marecová, MD§
from the head. He was subsequently transferred to intensive care
Abstract: Reconstruction of a criminal offense is a crucial approach in in a critical condition, where he died 7 days later.
forensics and criminalistics allowing for the verification of the location, The autopsy, performed by 2 forensic pathologists, found
the particular method used, or the use of a specific instrument. This report 2 surgically sutured wounds in the hairy part of the head. A sur-
describes the case of a young man who was killed by an arrow shot from a gically sutured 1 cm wound was found in the left temporal edge
crossbow. The autopsy revealed a penetration of the head and significant (Fig. 1A) that was 150 cm above the level of the foot and 15 cm
damage to the brain stem. Although the cause of death was evident from to the left of the median line of the head (the reference point being
the outset, it was necessary to clarify whether or not the arrow was shot as the glabella). In the right temporal part, a surgically sutured wound
necessary self-defense. Ballistic investigation of the seized weapon and re- of 5 cm (Fig. 1B) was found, which was 148 cm from the level of
construction of the crime was absolutely essential to bring forth conclusive the foot and 13 cm to the right of the median line of the head. Ac-
evidence to convict the perpetrators of the murder. cording to available medical documentation, this was due to a shot.
Key Words: forensic science, forensic pathology, Upon removal of the soft tissue covering the skull, a circular hole
crime scene reconstruction, crossbow, homicide, ballistic 1 cm in diameter was seen in the left temporal bone. This continued
to spread into the skull cavity with funnel-like contours (Fig. 1C).
(Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2019;40: 293–297)
An irregular, markedly rectangular aperture measuring 1.5 1.2 cm
was found in the right temporal bone, with bone fragments pushed
R econstruction of a criminal offense is an important approach in
criminalistics and forensics allowing for the verification of the
location, the particular method used, or the use of a specific in-
outwards from the cranial cavity (Fig. 1D). The shot channel ran
from left to right, slightly from the back to the front, and from
top to bottom (Fig. 1E). Brain dissection revealed a shot channel
strument.1 The reconstruction could be based on testimony of
lined with bloody and bruised nerve tissue, which penetrated the
witnesses, suspects or injured parties, documentary and other ev-
left temporal lobe, through the midbrain, to the right temporal
idence, or findings ascertained at the crime scene or through an
lobe (Fig. 2, A and B). Toxicological tests of blood taken upon hos-
autopsy in cases involving death. Reconstruction of crime will
pital admission showed trace amounts of midazolam and clonaze-
not only help investigators eliminate minor ambiguities but also
pam administered as part of first aid. Neither ethanol nor any other
can also uncover new evidence that could be central to under-
toxicologically significant substances or their metabolites were
standing the case and could facilitate conviction.2 We report
found in the blood samples. The immediate cause of death was
the case of a young man who was shot in the head with an arrow
the extensive bruising of the brain stem.
fired from a crossbow. Although the cause of death was evident
The crime scene happened as 3 adults (gathering discarded
from the outset, it was necessary to clarify whether or not the
metal items) were being chased away by the owner from unfenced
arrow was shot as necessary self-defense. In the case under
property located in a flat terrain at the end of a village (Fig. 3A).
consideration, reconstruction of the crime helped convict the
According to the testimony of the 2 survivors, the shot was fired
perpetrators of a murder committed using a crossbow.
as they tried to get into a car to escape from the conflict. According
to the owner's statement, he felt threatened by the actions of the
3 people and fired in necessary self-defense when 1 of them
CASE REPORT began to approach him. The positions of the young man and
the owner of the property at the time of shooting were estab-
The current report presents the case of a young man shot in lished using the testimony of all the participants. The shot itself
the head with an arrow fired from a crossbow. The crossbow shot
apparently occurred when the alleged attacker was about 12.5 m
penetrated the young man's head and remained stuck there. An air
away from the owner of property. It was proved that the shooter
ambulance subsequently transported the unconscious victim to the
had a clear view on the victim. When the shot was fired, the owner
hospital, and because there were signs that the young man was still
of the building was in a crouched position with his knees bent and
alive, an emergency operation was performed to remove the arrow
his torso forward in front of the lower limbs. He held the crossbow
in a 2-handed grip at the level of the chest aiming at the victim with
Manuscript received February 10, 2019; accepted April 11, 2019.
From the *Department of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital Ostrava,
front of the crossbow being 131 cm above ground level (Fig. 3B).
Ostrava; †Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk The young man tried get on a car (Škoda Fabia, production year
University, Brno; ‡Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty 2005) to right back seat to leave the scene. When the shot was fired,
of Medicine, Ostrava University, Ostrava; and §Department of Forensic he was crouched getting on the car, slightly turned to the left having
Medicine and Medical Law, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc,
Czech Republic.
his head below the car door frame (140 cm above ground level).
The authors report no conflict of interest. The crime scene reconstruction contained ballistic examina-
Reprints: Klára Marecová, MD, Department of Forensic Medicine and Medical tion of the crossbow (CROSSBOW VA 9611) weighing a total of
Law, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic. E-mail: 2490 g. The bow width was 760 mm and the total crossbow length
[email protected].
Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
was 770 mm. The crossbow was equipped with a step-wise camera
ISSN: 0195-7910/19/4003–0293 system for drawing the bowstring, a manual safety catch, and
DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000493 an adjustable scope with a front sight. The cocking effort was
Am J Forensic Med Pathol • Volume 40, Number 3, September 2019 www.amjforensicmedicine.com 293
Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Handlos et al Am J Forensic Med Pathol • Volume 40, Number 3, September 2019
FIGURE 1. Surgically stitched wound at the site of the shot entry (arrow in A); surgically stitched wound at the point of the arrow (arrow in B).
In the left temporal bones at the entry site, there was a circular hole 1 cm in diameter, which opened out into the cavity in a funnel shape (C).
In the right temporal bone at the point of the arrow, an irregular, obliquely rectangular opening of 1.5 1.2 cm was found with bone
fragments pushed outwards from the cranial cavity (D). The shot channel ran from left to right, slightly forward from the back and
downwards (probe in E).
150 lbs, with a maximum range of approximately 200 m, with a of an unwanted shot, and the trigger was very sensitive. The speed
declared target range of between 40 and 50 m. The weapon was of the fired arrow ranged between 53.8 and 55.2 m/s; test firing on
designed specifically for target shooting up to 40 m. Police also straw targets from a distance of 12.5 m showed an impact scatter
seized laminated arrows fitted with three 77-mm long polymer of up to 12 cm with different arrows and 3 to 5 cm using the same
feathers and a glued back-end, with a 21-mm metal tip at the arrow (Fig. 3C).
front. The seized arrows were near-identical to the arrow removed
from the head of the young man during neurosurgery. Ballistic ex-
amination revealed that the seized crossbow functioned normally DISCUSSION
and was fully operational. The test showed flawless operation of A crime scene can be loosely defined as any location where
the safety catch; a provisional drop test eliminated the possibility an event of a criminal nature occurred or where evidence of such
294 www.amjforensicmedicine.com © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol • Volume 40, Number 3, September 2019 Necessary Defense or Homicide?
FIGURE 2. The channel was lined with bloody and bruised nerve tissue, penetrated the left temporal lobe of the brain, through the
midbrain up to the right temporal lobe.
an event may be found.3 The crime scene includes all of the areas This sort of reconstruction is affected by changes that occurred
over which the victim, the perpetrator, or any witnesses moved subsequently on the site. Such changes may be incidental (atmo-
while the crime was being committed.4 The types and locations spheric effects) or could be due to intentional behavior (covering
of crime scenes can vary in size, be static or mobile, or sometimes up evidence) on the part of the perpetrator.5
be virtual (eg, on the internet). The crime scene may be reconstructed to its initial state
Reconstruction of the crime scene is the restoration of the (before the crime was committed) or to the final state (after the
location of the crime. In other words, it is the restoration of the crime was committed or the perpetrator's departure). The crime
material conditions of the crime scene, such that they resemble scene reconstruction can be based on the testimony of witnesses,
those when the crime was committed.1 It concerns not just the suspects, or the victim(s), documentary and other evidence (dis-
spatial arrangement of objects but also includes the restoration of covered traces and objects), the results of crime scene inspection,
other relevant conditions such as visibility, humidity, and audibility. and autopsy.6 The reconstructed crime scene not only is important
© 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. www.amjforensicmedicine.com 295
Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Handlos et al Am J Forensic Med Pathol • Volume 40, Number 3, September 2019
FIGURE 3. The crime scene happened in a flat terrain at the end of the village (A). The positions of the young man (crossmark in B) and
the owner of the property at the time of shooting were established; the distance between them was approximately 12.5 m. The owner of the
property was in a crouched position, with the front of the crossbow 131 cm above ground level (B). Firing at straw targets from a distance
of 12.5 m showed an impact scatter of up to 12 cm with different arrows (C).
296 www.amjforensicmedicine.com © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol • Volume 40, Number 3, September 2019 Necessary Defense or Homicide?
as a source of information to understand the circumstances but In the subsequent trial, the panel of judges ruled that the
also could be a source of new evidence. The purpose of the recon- self-defense was not necessary and the owner of the property
struction can be to confirm or refute the existence of a certain was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment without probation in a
criminally relevant fact or remove any significant contradictions high-security prison. In this case, a detailed reconstruction of
or other shortcomings found during the investigation. It can also the crime scene proved necessary to convict the perpetrator of
be used to compare details from individual testimonies with the committing homicide using a crossbow.
crime scene situation and to obtain new evidence.2 Reconstruction
of the crime allows verification of the method by which the crime
was committed, or the particular instrument used, or the specific REFERENCES
location. Reconstruction of the crime is most often used in cases 1. Lee H. Crime Scene Investigation. Taoyuan, Taiwan: Cent Police
of murder and other violent crimes such as grievous bodily harm Univ.; 1994.
or burglary.7 2. Byard R, Payne-James J. Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine.
In the current case, the purpose of the reconstruction was to Cambridge, MA: Academic Press; 2015.
verify not only whether the crossbow was fit for shooting but also 3. Petherick W. Applied Crime Analysis: A Social Science Approach to
the exact positions at the time of the shot of the property owner Understanding Crime, Criminals, and Victims. Amsterdam, Netherlands:
and the victim indicating whether or not the arrow was shot as nec- Elsevier; 2014.
essary self-defense. Although arrow injuries were quite common
4. Osterburg JW, Ward RH. Criminal Investigation: A Method for
during the Middle Ages, crossbow injuries are extremely rarely Reconstructing the Past. New York: Taylor & Francis Inc; 2010.
encountered in forensic practice. Fatal cases are usually suicides
or accidents8–10 but could also be homicide.11,12 5. Chisum WJ. Crime reconstruction. In: Mozayani A, Noziglia C, eds.
On the basis of data revealed by reconstruction, it was clear The Forensic Laboratory Handbook: Procedures and Practice. Totowa, NJ:
Humana Press; 2006:63–77.
that when shooting from a distance of 12.5 m the striker could
focus precisely on the head of the victim. Moreover, described 6. Geberth VJ. Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and
position of the attacker strongly suggests that he was aiming on Forensic Techniques. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2016.
the victim. In the conclusion to the ballistic examination, the expert 7. DiMaio VJ, DiMaio D. Forensic Pathology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2001.
notes that at a distance of 12.5 m the fired arrow had the potential to 8. Byard RW, Koszyca B, James R. Crossbow suicide: mechanisms of injury
cause injuries similar to those observed in the victim. The second and neuropathologic findings. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1999;20:
part of the investigation was devoted to verify whether the crossbow 347–353.
was fired in self-defense or while the young man tried to get into the 9. Zátopková L, Hejna P. Fatal suicidal crossbow injury—the ability to act.
car to escape the scene of conflict. Position of the shot wounds J Forensic Sci. 2011;56:537–540.
(150 cm above the level of foot) and direction of shot canal (from
left to right, from back to front) on the victim as well as the position 10. Grellner W, Buhmann D, Giese A, et al. Fatal and non-fatal injuries caused
by crossbows. Forensic Sci Int. 2004;142:17–23.
the crossbow (131 cm above ground level) gave evidence that, at the
time of the shot, the head of the young man must have been below 11. Pomara C, D'Errico S, Neri M. An unusual case of crossbow homicide.
the level of the crossbow. The shot was most likely fired as the de- Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2007;3:124–127.
ceased tried to get into a car and escape from the conflict. Therefore, 12. Karger B, Bratzke H, Grass H, et al. Crossbow homicides. Int J Legal Med.
it was also shown that attacker was not threatened by the victim. 2004;118:332–336.
© 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. www.amjforensicmedicine.com 297
Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
