that is a possibility..... although, most people who are fighting for their lives will not clutch and scrape with only one finger.
the scratch could be from many things, from weeds and underbrush, kitty cat, or scratching it on just about any old thing.
if there were other such markings, I would be more convinced
It depends on if there is a grab, the claw, slip claw again. Of course you are correct..but the defendant said he got the scratches trying to get his rv unstuck from sand. It's a lame excuse IMHO. Maybe there was a tool that kept poking him, in a row or something. If there is his DNA under her nails, assuming they are left..he's toast. They may have pics of more markings..but haven't introduced them yet.