AKIPRESS.COM - Painter Vincent van Gogh may have been murdered, a leading forensics expert has claimed, reports Daily Mail.

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.

According to Vanity Fair, the forensics expert told Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith - who have long believed that van Gogh did not commit suicide - that the painter's fatal wounds did not look as if they were self-inflicted.

According to the son of van Gogh's physician Paul Gachet Sr, Paul Jr, the wound had a 'brown and purple halo around [it]'.

Previously historians thought that the purple area was caused by the proximity of the gun to van Gogh's chest and that the brown colouring was caused by gunpowder burns.

Speaking of the 'purple halo', Dr Di Maio said: 'In fact, this is subcutaneous bleeding from vessels cut by the bullet and is usually seen in individuals who live awhile. Its presence or absence means nothing.'