Abdorrahman Boroumand Center

Judicial expert report

To the esteemed Investigator of Branch Two, General and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office, Farsan Province

Greetings,  

With all due respect, in accordance with the expert order No. 120132100002729932 issued by your honorable office regarding case No. 140132920000228453, I, Qasem Jafarian, an authorized judicial expert in the field of forensic ballistics, have taken the following actions. The results of these actions are hereby submitted for your reference and use.  

A) Expert proceedings

1. On May 18, 2022, at 8:00 a.m., I, Qasem Jafarian Dehkordi, the authorized judicial expert specializing in forensic ballistics, immediately visited the Provincial Forensic Medicine Center following a telephone call from the Honorable Investigator of the Second Branch of the General and Revolutionary Court of Farsan Province. After coordinating with the director general and the examining physician, I visited the autopsy room of the center.

2. In the autopsy room, Dr. Nurian, the designated examining physician, conducted the autopsy and examination of the deceased Jamshid Mokhtari. I, along with the crime scene investigator from the Provincial Identification Administration, assisted Dr. Nurian and conducted a detailed examination of the deceased's body.

3. In addition to the body examination, the deceased's clothing was thoroughly examined for forensic analysis.

4. An X-ray was taken in the autopsy room of the Provincial Forensic Medicine Center to ensure a comprehensive evaluation and to determine whether there was a bullet in the deceased's body.

5. On May 29, 2022, after receiving the expert assignment order, I visited the Farsan Province Judiciary. Following coordination with the head of the office of the Honorable Investigator of Branch Two, I reviewed case file numbered 1001330 and was informed of the issued expert order.

6. After reviewing the case file, I visited the scene of the shooting in Junaqan city. The site was thoroughly examined, and I conducted interviews with several witnesses whose names are mentioned in the case file. In addition, I prepared a sketch of the site, which is attached to this report.

7. In view of the discovery of a single bullet casing at the scene of the shooting, which was handed over to the police detectives by the local residents, I examined the casing as deemed necessary, and the results are included in this report.

8. At the scene of the shooting (Junaqan City, Keshavarz Boulevard), extensive efforts were made to locate potential CCTV cameras that might have captured footage of the incident. Unfortunately, no such cameras were found.

B) Provisions of the expert order

The expert assignment order issued by the Honorable Investigator of the Second Branch of the General and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office of Farsan Province on May 26, 2022, has been thoroughly reviewed and considered by me, the appointed expert, based on the following instructions: 

1. Provide a detailed report of the injuries sustained by the victim, focusing on the type of firearm likely to have been used.

2. Determine whether the injuries were caused by gunshot wounds.

3. Identify the type of firearm used (hunting or military, specifying the type if military) based on the wounds, entry points of the bullet(s) or pellet(s), residual evidence, and the bullet(s) or pellet(s) recovered.

4. Determine whether security forces present at the scene used the identified type of firearm. If so, determine which unit or individual used it.

5. Assess whether the shots fired were multiple or single, based on the nature of the injuries.

6. Confirm whether a bullet or pellet remains in the victim's body (in the affected area).

7. Indicate whether the bullet or pellet has been removed to date. If removed, determine where it is currently stored and provide pertinent details.

8. Obtain and attach color photographs of any recovered bullets or pellets.

9. Determine the angle of the shot.

10. Determine the range of the shot.

C) Expert Findings 

In conclusion, after integrating all expert actions conducted—especially the examination of Jamshid Mokhtari’s body at the Provincial Forensic Medicine Center, as well as the inspection of the shooting site in the city of Junaqan—the findings of the expert assignment are presented as follows:

1. Based on the investigations and direct observations conducted at the Forensic Medicine Center of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, the late Jamshid Mokhtari Junaqani, son of Gholamali, was hit by a single direct shot of a military-grade bullet on May 17, 2022. The bullet's entry into his body caused severe damage, including the rupture of both his right and left lungs, which ultimately led to his death.

2. Based on the investigations conducted at the scene of the shooting in the city of Junaqan, as well as interviews with witnesses mentioned in the case file, it was determined that on May 17, 2022, during the presence of several vehicles with private license plates and the arrest of an individual identified by the individuals in question as Sadeq Malekzadeh, the late Jamshid Mokhtari Junaqani was sitting in his double-cabin Mazda pickup truck parked in front of Sadegh Malekzadeh's shop. At that time, a white Peugeot Pars vehicle, identified as belonging to the aforementioned individuals, was parked in a double row next to Mokhtari's truck, blocking his access. When these individuals approached Mokhtari with the intention of arresting him, he resisted while remaining in his vehicle. Meanwhile, as several members of the public began to gather at the scene and a commotion ensued, the individuals attempting to arrest Mokhtari fired several shots in the air to disperse the crowd. Taking advantage of the distraction, Mokhtari exited his vehicle and fled to the opposite side of the boulevard and an alley known as "Haq". One of the individuals pursued him, maintaining a distance of approximately 5 to 10 meters. As he ran through a grassy area and trees in the middle of Keshavarz Boulevard and toward the alley (leaning forward slightly as he ran), Mokhtari was struck by a bullet from behind at a distance of approximately one meter from the roadside water canal. The impact caused him to fall face down near the canal.

3. Based on the injuries sustained by the late Jamshid Mokhtari Junaqani, the shooter fired at close range (approximately 5 to 10 meters) while positioned behind the victim. The bullet struck the victim's back approximately 32 centimeters below the nape of the neck and 6 centimeters to the left of the midline of the torso, causing a circular entry to wound approximately 0.7 centimeters in diameter. The bullet traveled through the body in a lower to upper, back to front and slightly left to right trajectory, causing severe damage to both the right and left lungs. It exited the body through the right side of the chest, approximately 4 centimeters below the right clavicle and 6 centimeters to the right of the chest midline, leaving an elliptical exit wound measuring approximately 1 cm by 1.2 cm.

4. Based on the X-rays performed on the body of the deceased Mokhtari at the Forensic Medicine Center of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, no bullet was found in the body.

5. Based on the examinations conducted on the deceased's body and considering the points outlined above, it has been determined that the late Mokhtari was directly hit by a single military-grade bullet. The injuries observed on his body correspond to the entry and exit points of the bullet.  

Left Image: Bullet Exit Point Right Image: Bullet Entry Point

6. Based on the entry and exit wounds observed on the body of the deceased Mokhtari, as well as the extent of tissue damage, including severe damage to the right and left lungs, it is concluded that the weapon used by the shooter was a handgun, most likely a pistol.

7. A single cartridge case submitted as evidence in the case file was examined. The analysis revealed that the cartridge case was consistent with a 9×18 mm cartridge commonly used in handguns such as the Makarov or Walther pistols, with an approximate caliber of 9 mm.

8. Regarding other injuries observed on the body of the deceased Jamshid Mokhtari, the examination revealed a 1 cm scratch accompanied by bruising on the right side of the face and a 0.5 cm scratch on the left side of the nose.

With renewed respect, 

[Signature and Seal]

Qasem Jafarian Dehkordi

Authorized Judicial Expert 

Specialized in Firearms and Ammunition

License No.: 3201050190 

Incident location sketch:

Forensic Medicine Report:

General Department of Forensic Medicine, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province

Forensic Medicine Department of Shahrekord Province

Autopsy Hall

Autopsy Report Sheet

Identity: Recognized

Surname: Mokhtari Junaqani

First name: Jamshid

Father's Name: Gholamali

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: 1983

Age: 39 years

Examining Physician: Dr. Mohammadreza Nurian

Requesting Authority: Junaqan Law Enforcement Command

Date of examination: May 18, 2022

Time of the Examination: 10:00 AM

Location of Examination: Shahrekord Forensic Medicine Center

Date of Death: May 17, 2022

Cause of death: Respiratory failure due to rupture of the right and left lungs caused by the trauma of a high-speed metal projectile (military weapon).

Identity: The body belongs to a male, approximately 39 years old, with an estimated height of 172 cm and weight of approximately 75 kg.

General hygiene and appearance of the body: Appropriate.

Clothing condition: No clothing.

Body Coverage: Covered for examination and determination of cause of death, transported to Shahrekord Forensic Medicine Autopsy Hall.

Scars/Tattoos: One tattoo was observed on the left arm. Other identifying marks are insignificant.

Estimated time of death: Rigor mortis is fully developed in the body. Rigor mortis is naturally colored and has formed on the posterior surfaces of the body. There is no sign of decomposition. Based on postmortem changes and hospital documentation, the elapsed time of death is estimated to be approximately one day.

External Examination:

Head and face: Skin and mucous membranes appear normal in color. There is no sign of pallor, congestion, cyanosis, petechiae, ecchymosis, or visible hemorrhage. There is no sign of blood or foam discharge from the mouth, nose, or ears. Oral cavity is free of foreign bodies. There are no visible injection marks. A scratch approximately 1 cm in length accompanied by bruising is observed on the right side of the face, along with a scratch approximately 0.5 cm in length on the left side of the nose.

Neck: The skin appears normal in color. There is no sign of petechial or ecchymotic hemorrhages on the skin. There are no injection marks or evidence of medical procedures. There are no signs of trauma, burns, or electrical marks. There are no striations on the neck indicating life-threatening injuries. Movement of the cervical vertebrae is normal.

Chest, abdomen, and back (torso):  

Skin appears normal in color. No petechial or ecchymosis hemorrhages are observed on the skin. No injection marks are visible. An oval-shaped perforation measuring 1.2 × 1 cm is observed on the right anterior chest, 4 cm below the right clavicle and 6 cm from the midline of the chest, consistent with a bullet exit wound. A circular perforation 0.7 cm in diameter with slight abrasions around the edges is observed 32 cm below the neck and 6 cm to the left of the midline of the upper torso, consistent with a bullet entry wound.  

Upper and lower extremities and pelvis:  

There is no sign of fingerprints. Skin appears normal in color. No petechial or ecchymotic hemorrhages are observed on the skin. On the left forearm, there are traces of injections from the hospital. There is no sign of other medical procedures, trauma, burns, or electrical marks. There are no palpable fractures or dislocations. There are no foreign bodies visible on the palms, between the fingers, or under the nails.  

Examination of anogenital area: There are no signs of trauma. Genitalia are male. The anal area shows no signs of bruising, abrasions, or lacerations.

Autopsy Report 

Head: Autopsy of the head was done and the scalp was incised and reflected. No hematoma was observed beneath the scalp, and no fractures were noted in the bones of the cranial vault. There was no sign of tissue degeneration, edema, or vascular congestion after removal of the cranial vault. Examination revealed no hemorrhage in the epidural space, subdural space, subarachnoid space, brain parenchyma, cerebellum, pons, ventricular spaces, base of the brain, circle of Willis region, or brainstem. No contusions were observed on the brain surface or within the brain sections during sectioning. There was no sign of foreign bodies in the brain tissue, nor were there any signs of tumors, cysts, or space-occupying lesions within the brain or skull. The dura mater was carefully removed, and no fractures were observed or palpated in the bones of the skull base.

Neck: The autopsy was done on the neck. Examination under the skin, within the muscles, vessels and vital structures of the neck revealed no signs of hematoma. The pharynx and larynx were dissected. No fractures or palpable abnormalities were noted in the laryngeal cartilage or hyoid bone. The pharynx and larynx were longitudinally incised and examined, and the mucosa appeared normal. No foreign bodies were found in the pharynx or larynx. Vessels in the neck were examined and appeared normal with no evidence of thrombosis. No fractures or dislocations of the cervical vertebrae were observed or palpated.  

Thoracic Cavity: Thoracic cavity necropsied. Hematoma was observed under the skin of the chest. A fracture and perforation were noted in the second rib on the right side. No other fractures or deformities of the sternum or ribs were visible or palpable. The sternum was removed, and the pleural membranes were found to be free of adhesions to the chest wall. Blood and muscle tissues appeared normal in color. Approximately 3 liters of blood was noted in the pleural space on both the right and left sides. The trajectory of the injury was examined and indicated that the bullet entered the chest cavity from the left posterior side and traveled upward and anteriorly to the right. The trajectory resulted in laceration of both the right and left lungs before exiting through the right anterior side of the chest cavity.

Lungs: The lungs were examined and found to be free of adhesions to the chest wall. They were spongy in consistency and had a typical anthracotic appearance. Collapse (atelectasis) was observed in both the right and left lungs. Two lacerations were noted in the middle lobes of the left lung and two lacerations in the apex of the right lung. Lung sectioning revealed no signs of congestion, edema, tissue consolidation or purulent secretions. No thrombi were observed within the lung parenchyma, hilar vessels, or peripheral pulmonary vasculature. No foreign bodies were found in the Respiratory airways.

Pericardium: The pericardium appeared normal on examination. The pericardium was opened and no clotted blood, free flowing blood, pus, or excess fluid was observed within the pericardial space. The pericardium showed no evidence of cuts, tears, or perforations.  

Heart: The heart was detached from its vascular base. It contained fluid blood and its weight was recorded as 300 grams. The adipose tissue on the surface of the heart appeared normal, with no evidence of petechial hemorrhages. When the coronary vessels were sectioned, no stenosis or calcification was observed. Transverse sections of the heart showed normal valves, ventricles, and wall thickness. No subendocardial hemorrhages were observed in the left or right atria or ventricles. The myocardium showed no evidence of fibrosis, hyperemia, contusions, lacerations, or incision. Examination of the great vessels in the thoracic cavity showed no abnormalities.

Abdomen and pelvic cavity: An autopsy of the abdomen and pelvic cavity was done. No hematoma was observed under the skin of the abdomen. There was no abnormal fluid, blood or purulent secretion in the peritoneal cavity. There was no discoloration indicating necrosis of abdominal organs. There was no hyperemia or pallor on the surface of the internal organs and muscles. No lacerations, incisions, or perforations were observed on examination of the stomach and intestines. No foreign bodies were found in the abdominal cavity, stomach, or intestines. The stomach was opened and found to contain digested food. The internal surface of the stomach showed no signs of erosion, ulceration, laceration, or perforation. The intestines were opened and contained fecal matter. The internal surface of the intestines showed no signs of erosion, ulceration, laceration, or perforation.

Liver: The liver was of normal consistency, color, size, and appearance. No lacerations, incisions, or perforations were observed in the liver. There was no congestion or discoloration on sectioning. The gallbladder was full and appeared normal.

Spleen: The spleen was observed in its usual location with normal shape, size, and consistency. There were no lacerations, incisions, or perforations in the spleen.

Retroperitoneal space: No blood, abnormal fluid, hemorrhage, or hematoma was noted in the retroperitoneal space. There was no sign of damage to vital vessels in the retroperitoneal space.

Pancreas: The pancreas was of normal shape, size, and consistency. No lacerations, tears, hemorrhages, or masses were found in the pancreas.

Kidneys: Both the right and left kidneys were observed in their anatomical position. The consistency, color, and size of the kidneys were normal. No lacerations, ruptures, hemorrhages, or masses were found in the kidneys. On sectioning, the outer surfaces of both the right and left kidneys were smooth, and the ratio of the cortical (outer) layer to the medullary (inner) layer was normal. No hyperemia or pallor was observed in the medullary or cortical layers of either kidney. No stones or cysts were found in either kidney.

Adrenal glands: The adrenal glands appeared normal both externally and on sectioning.

Bladder: The bladder was empty. No lacerations, lacerations, hemorrhages, or masses were observed in the bladder.

Conclusion:

Samples of internal organs, bile, stomach contents, kidneys, vitreous humor, and blood were collected for toxicologic analysis and sent to the forensic laboratory for further examination.  

Based on the findings, the cause of death was determined to be respiratory failure as a result of bilateral lung rupture due to the trauma of a high-velocity metallic projectile (military firearm), with the trajectory of the bullet moving from posterior to anterior, from left to right, and from bottom to top.  

A burial permit was issued for the deceased.  

Examining doctors:  

Dr. Mohammad Reza Nurian - Signature  

Dr. Hamid Reza Nazifi, Director of Forensic Medicine, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province - Signature