70
Secondary spatters are known as cast-off or back spatter.
solving crimes with physics
Blood that is left behind by more than one swing is called cast-off or
back spatter. It is common for a forensic investigator to find cast-off spat-
ter on the walls or even the ceiling of a crime scene where a weapon was
used. Cast-off spatter is indicative of multiple blows, so it is very important
information in court. Accidental injuries do not normally leave behind back
spatter because accidents usually involve only one swing. Hitting a person
more than once with a weapon is a dead giveaway of intent to cause harm.
Image 11 is a depiction of a typical cast-off spatter pattern. To determine
point of origin, the cast off from the end of the weapon can be traced in
the same way as most other spatter patterns, allowing the investigator to
figure out where the attacker was standing during the attack. In addition,
the approximate height from the ground of the weapon can be determined
through examination of cast-off patterns.
