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W Janssen

Publications and source records attributed to W Janssen.

84 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
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[Unintentional gunshot during police intervention].

33 cases of unintentional handgun use by police officers during operation since 1983 in Northern Germany have been evaluated. These cases have been selected from our own investigations and from prosecutors' and police departments' files and records. It was intended to find out criteria for forensic expertise. The unintended use of a handgun was always influenced in a decisive and causal manner by the behaviour of the delinquents (resistance, assault, escape). The confrontation of the police officer with the violence of aggressive offenders was of immediate importance for triggering the shot in various kinds of police operation. Sensorically caused, reflex muscle contractions as a consequence of a great effort, a loss of balance or fright when simultaneously protecting oneself with weapon in hand can be made responsible for the unvoluntary shot. In 10 cases (30%) persons were injured, 2 times lethally. As a whole, the consequences were of random nature, they could be explained by the series of actions in each case. The type and technical state of the weapons in use have not influenced the unintentional use. A behaviour of the police officers offending against the legally required care was stated in two of the investigated cases. Considering our investigations and the many policemen killed in duty we state that securing oneself in time with a weapon at the ready in critical phases of operations cannot be successfully replaced by any other method of self defense.

Accidents↗
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[Gunshot fatalities in connection with hunting and hunting rifles--causes, prevention and expert evaluation].

Fatalities due to gunshot injury by hunting firearm or during hunting, that had been investigated in the Institute of Legal Medicine of Hamburg University during the last 20 years, were retrospectively analyzed from the view points of epidemiology, morphology, criminology and ballistics. Thirteen accidents, 23 suicides and 13 homicides were included in this study. Female victims were observed in only 2 cases. In the accidents, the age of the most victims ranged from 30 to 60 years. Seven of 13 accidental victims killed themselves; remaining 6 were shot by other hunters. Nine accidents happened during hunting. The most frequently used firearm in cases of suicide and homicide was a shotgun whereas accidents preferably occurred with rifles. In some homicidal cases pistols were also used. The entrance wound was localized mostly in the head, neck or breast. Shooting in the mouth was observed in many suicidal cases. Although many victims were shot in the hunting ground, 15 of 23 suicides were performed at home. In 3 homicides which occurred in the hunting ground, the murderer committed another crime with the robbed hunting firearm of the victim. Three accidents occurred during training in the shooting-gallery. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was determined in 28 cases. Different degrees of drunkeness were observed in 2 self-inflicted accidents, 5 suicides and 2 homicidal cases. No BAC determinations were performed on the shooters. Ten case histories are presented. The discussion concentrates on the effect of the kind of firearm and ammunition on the appearance of the wound, prevention of accidents, and the principles of reconstruction, especially concerning the differentiation accident/suicide. The forensic expert investigating gunshot injuries during hunting should have personal experience in this field. The most frequent cause of accidents was careless handling of the loaded firearm and violation of invulnerable rules for safety during hunting.

Accidents↗