Murder, a Self Portrait - S9-E1
Character mistake: When Columbo asks Barsini about one particular artist paintbrush, Barsini says it is a fluffy red sable brush. It's actually one made from pig bristle. Natural sable brushes are soft red fur, while pig bristles are flatter, stiffer and a light beige color. There's no mistaking the two, and any experienced artist knows the difference.
Character mistake: Columbo took the Beretta off the gun display by inserting a pencil into the barrel of the gun. In a previous episode, he said to NEVER insert a pencil there because it will ruin the groove of the barrel, making it impossible for ballistics to get a match on the bulletin. When using a pencil, Columbo picks up a gun up near the trigger.






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 ★