Can BPA always associate a pattern to a specific source event?
No. Bloodstain pattern analysis is class characteristic type evidence. This ability to associate a specific pattern to a specific source event is the goal of BPA, but it is not always feasible. We can generally identify the basic type of pattern, but it is only through scene context that we can ultimately associate it to a specific event. It is not uncommon that the analyst will recognize that a particular type of pattern is present, but not be able to limit it to a specific event. For instance: In a case involving multiple blunt trauma blows delivered by both hands and a weapon, the analyst would certainly recognize the presence of multiple impact spatter patterns. But it is unlikely based only on the spatter patterns themselves that the analyst could associate one pattern to a particular blow by a particular weapon.
