Forensic Pathologists are required only to determine the cause of death of the victim in gunshot wound cases but also to assist in determining the type of weapon used, the type of ammunition, the trajectory of the missile, and the distance of shooting. In or-der to accomplish this, the forensic pathologist must possess adequate basic knowledge of wound ballistics, have experience in various types of gunshot wounds, and above all show keen acumen in the investigation.
Gunshot wounds exhibit different characteristics under different settings, and one can utilize these characteristics in reconstructing the crime in actual cases. These characteristics, however, may be´inapparent for many reasons as discussed in the text.
It is important for a forensic pathologist to recognize that one can render his opinion as to what has happened only when there are certain features to support it and that the absence of such findings does not entitle him to state the contrary
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