Painter Vincent van Gogh may have been murdered, according to a gunshot wounds expert who has analysed vital forensic evidence Painter Vincent van Gogh may have been murdered, a leading forensics expert has claimed. The long-held theory that the troubled artist shot himself in a wheat field near Paris in 1890 may have to be reconsidered after the shocking claim. Dr Vincent Di Maio, an expert on gunshot wounds, reassessed vital evidence from van Gogh's shooting and believes the painter could not have shot himself in the chest. Dr Di Maio, a key witness in the trial of George Zimmerman - the man who was accused of shooting US teenager Trayvon Martin, used evidence and testimony from the time to come to his conclusion.
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Forensics expert says Vincent van Gogh could not have shot himself
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Dr Vincent di Maio said evidence suggests he was killed by someone else
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Historians believe van Gogh shot himself in a wheat field outside Paris
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But the painter could not have held the gun at such close range to his body
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Even if he could, there would have been scorch marks on his hands
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Mystery remains over who fired revolver which killed the troubled painter
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Some say a group of boys killed van Gogh by accident and he took blame
Previously historians thought that the purple area was caused by the proximity of the gun to @placeholder's chest and that the brown colouring was caused by gunpowder burns.