PREPARING OF MATERIALS FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC EXPERTISE OF FIREARMS, CARTRIDGES AND TOOL MARK EVIDENCE
The effectiveness of forensic ballistic expertise of firearms, cartridges and tool marks evidence significantly depends on the quality of materials for expert examination, prepared by investigators, interrogation officers and judges. The preliminary examination and evaluation of the objects, formulation of tasks (questions) for expert examination and objects' packaging are considered as the most important tasks of the preparation period. The preliminary examination and material evidence evaluation provide information about firearms, cartridges, fired bullets and cartridge cases, tool mark evidence which needs further expert evaluation. When inspecting firearms and cartridges it is necessary to devote special attention to safety regulations which are not always properly covered in methodological and academic books for investigators. Some methods of firearm discharge are recommended according to the way of its charging. Particular attention is paid to construction features of certain cartridges samples with special bullets. A number of questions which characterize the nature, state, properties and correlation of firearms, cartridges and tool mark evidences and can be raised by investigators are formulated. Some recommendations on how to pack up firearms, cartridges, fired bullets and cartridge cases, tool mark evidence on clothing are given. The problem of preparing some biological evidence (animal skin) for the forensic ballistic expertise in cases of poaching is considered.