In a message dated 98-02-09 09:07:02 EST, richard.arnold@juno.com writes:
<< Am working on a project for school (an Evidence course). Scenario:
Driver A shoots Driver B four times during an argument over whether B
scratched A's MG with a key (semi-LBC content).
Does anyone know:
A. How fast a person is traveling in mph when they travel one mile in
five, four, three, two, and one minutes? Actually, if someone could just
tell me the formula for this, I'll figure it myself.
>>> Use each of the above for divisors and divide them into 60 for the mph.
B. How long would it take an average adult person, at a normal pace, to
cover six feet (in feet per second)? Same thing for the formula....
Also, how does one convert feet per second into miles per hour?
>>> Have an average six footer walk 60 ft. while timing him. Divide the time
by 10 to get the amount of of time it takes to cover six feet. Just multiply
ft/sec times 3,600 to get miles per hour.
C. How long would it take an average adult person, rushing, to cover
six feet (in feet per second)?
>>>Same as above, but have them "rush."
D. How fast does an average adult person move backwards (in feet per
second)?
>>>Same as above backwards.
E. How long (in seconds or fractions thereof) it takes an average adult
person to fire four shots from a pistol (assuming a double action
revolver)?
>>> Maybe you shouldn't act this one out. I'd guess 2-4 seconds.
The victim has four wounds that were all inflicted at approximately the
same distance. The Defendant claims that he fired the shots with a
slight pause between the first and second. He also claims that the
victim was approximately six feet away and moving to attack the Defendant
when the defendant was "forced to fire."
It seems to me that, even if the victim was rushing toward the Defendant,
and even if the four shots were fired one right after the other, the
victim would have been in contact with the gun by the time the third shot
was fired (if for no other reason than momentum would have carried the
victim forward). If you place a slight pause between the first and
second shots, it seems to guarantee that the victim would have been in
contact with the gun when the second, third, and fourth shots (this would
mean the victim was upright and motionless at the time the shots were
fired, and thus, no threat).
Those assume the Defendant was not moving backwards. If he was moving
(since we can't move backwards as quickly as forward), then it still
seems that the gun would have been in contact with the victim when the
last shots were fired....
>>> A parafin test can be conducted to check for gun powder residue to
establish if the shots were fired at close range. Also, the angle of entry
and exit wounds should be established to determine the body's position when
struck by the bullets. My inclination is that a bullet of any caliber would
most likely spin the victim around and/or stop the victim. I doubt that
forward momentum would continue with four shots. I'm betting the first shot
dropped the victim, and the others were fired from above while he was down!
Serves him right for scratching the car!!!
I have found that everyone is an expert when it comes to law enforcement
and teaching. I just happen to have a degree in both. The above is my $.03
worth and may not be credible. After all, I thought OJ was guilty!
Tom Green
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