Cases involving the use of a firearm requires the expertise of a ballistics expert witness. A ballistics expert can draw on his or her knowledge of firearms and firearms training to offer expert opinion.
A ballistics expert witness can research to reconstruct what happened during the weapon discharge. He or she may read documents, interview the participants and/or witnesses, visit the scene to examine and document it, view videotapes, and fire the weapon used in the incident. After collecting evidence, the expert often calls on various professionals to assist him or her in reconstructing the events, such as ballistic wound experts, firearms manufacturers and examiners, and crime scene investigators.
With the information gathered, the ballistics expert witness evaluates the facts to determine the sequence of events surrounding the firearm discharge. He or she will work to determine where the shooter was located by making use of the projectile flight of the bullet. Examination of the wounds may also shed light on both parties and where the gun was discharged. If more than one bullet is fired, the investigator needs to account for each one during the reconstruction process, and all bullets need to be examined for any evidence. Such information is pertinent to the investigation and helping determine exactly who did what in a shooting incident.
Many choose to Submit A ForensisGroup Expert Request Form when in need of a ballistics expert witness. From gunshot wound ballistics to microscopic comparisons of bullets and/or casings, an expert can assist in making sense of ballistic evidence.
