Factual error: Columbo solves the case based on fingerprints on the shell casings in the gun. No gun, even a prop gun that never fires live rounds, would be put away loaded.
Other mistake: We see Fowler (Shatner) take the gun from the board in the Gun Room. Later, he puts the gun back, but in a different place on the board. Anyone in the Prop Department might notice that the gun had been moved.
Continuity mistake: When Fowler (Shatner) goes into the Wardrobe Department and takes the parka and ski mask, he has a dark green garbage bag. When he leaves that room and goes to the Gun Room, the bag is grey.
Factual error: In common with many other episodes, Columbo and all the other police officers at the crime scene hopelessly contaminate it - none of them wear gloves or protective clothing. Not one artifact recovered from the scene would be usable as evidence.
The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case - S6-E3
Factual error: A "silencer" (properly called a "suppressor") does not muffle a gunshot to a whisper. An unsuppressed gunshot is about 160 dB, equivalent to a jet airliner taking off, but a suppressed gunshot still registers about 100 dB, equivalent to a power lawn mower. Also, a suppressor on a revolver is totally useless, because most of the noise comes from the gap between the front of the cylinder and the rear of the barrel.
Answer: Columbo deduces that the first blow must have been to the front of the head, the force causing the victim to fall backwards and hitting the back of his head hard on the ground.
raywest ★