Who fired the gun? A casuistic contribution to the differentiation between self-inflicted and non-self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

A fatal gunshot wound to the thorax from a .357 Magnum revolver is reported. The entrance wound was located dorsally at the transition of the right shoulder and the upper arm, the exit wound below the left axilla and a re-entry at the medial aspect of the left upper arm. A friend of the victim, who was present when the gunshot was fired, stated that it was a self-inflicted accident. But the inclusion of both upper arms in the trajectory allowed a comparison between the posture of the upper arms at the moment the gunshot was fired and the posture of the upper arms necessary for a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This reconstruction, which is presented in detail, definitely excluded a self-inflicted wound. The friend then confessed that he had fired the gun accidentally.