Microscopic and microanalytical examinations of metallic particles and single textile fibres for forensic purposes

Metallic particles and textile fibres belong to forensic microtra ces of a distinctively high evid ential value. Examinations of these materials performed by various techniques of optical microscopy, electron microscopy, x-ray microanalysis and other microspectroscopic methods are utilised mainly for th eir identification and comparison to reference materials secured as evidence in various crimes. Results of such ex aminations are complementary to other information obtained during investigations and can be used to crime reconstruc tion. In shooting incidences usually gunshot residues, among them characteristic metallic particles, are cautiously stud ied. However, our experience demonstrates that detailed examinations of fibres in the surroundings of a gunshot dama ge in clothing of victims may additionally contribute to explanation of the impact done to the clothing and so signi ficantly improve the inferences on the crime reconstruction. This is illustrated by an example of complex examinations of both, gunshot residues and textile fibres, selected from the casework of the authors