Self inflicted gunshot wound caused by a home-made gun--medico-legal and ballistic examination.

The reconstruction of the mechanism of a fatal gunshot wound inflicted with a zip gun is presented. The joint investigation of medico-legal team and firearms experts teams resulted in an explanation of the unusual distribution of gunpowder encountered around the entry wound. Although the use of crude home-made weapons associated with various criminal activities and suicide is widespread, the forensic literature on this subject is sparse especially concerning tests conducted on the weapon.