The tragic afternoon in Modena left a complex scene for investigators: a vehicle struck seven pedestrians, four of them seriously, followed by a knife-wielding assailant who wounded the hero Luca Signorelli. The sequence includes an attempt to aid a woman with traumatic amputations, a foot chase, and a final struggle. This article analyzes how 3D reconstruction allows each phase of the incident to be broken down, verifying the consistency of testimonies and the physics of the impact.
Forensic pipeline: scene modeling and trajectory simulation 🛠️
The first technical step involves generating a 3D model of the street using photogrammetry from security footage and testimonies. On this digital scene, the vehicle's impact points and the victims' initial locations are positioned. Simulating the car's trajectory, calculating its speed and angle of impact, allows for estimating the projection forces on the bodies. Then, the assailant Salim El Koudri's movement is modeled, from when he leaves the vehicle until he reappears armed, synchronizing with Signorelli's pursuit route. The analysis of the two stab wounds, one to the heart and another to the head, is recreated through animation of the struggle's biomechanics, evaluating the effectiveness of the reported blocks and dodges.
Verification of testimonies and judicial utility ⚖️
The 3D reconstruction not only illustrates the sequence but also serves as a critical tool for the prosecution. By contrasting Signorelli's statement (aiding the woman, pursuit, blocking the knife) with the simulation of times and distances, inconsistencies can be validated or refuted. For example, the interval between the hit-and-run and the appearance of the knife defines the hero's reaction window. In court, this model allows the jury to visualize the exact dynamics, clarifying the proportionality of the citizen's response and the assailant's dangerousness, key elements for the legal classification of the case.
Would you use laser scanning or photogrammetry to document this case?