Blood Spatter

It may be possible to associate an assailant to a crime if the clothes they are wearing can be tested for blood.  It has been shown that even dried or decomposed blood can be identified with luminol.  Fine blood spatter is likely to occur from high velocity impact generated from a firearm.  It is possible for an assailant to receive blood spatter on their shoes, trousers, and top including the arm that is holding the weapon. The mist like dispersion of blood droplets typical of a high velocity impact is not likely to reach further than about 4 feet and ultimately the amount of blood spatter will depend on the location of the assailant with regards to the victim (James and Eckert, 1999).