dave-in-nj:
...as a side note, if two combatants thrust and 'kill' the opponent, one is 50ms faster, both are dead, how do you pick the winner ?
So in Epee after the first opponent hits the second has 13ms to hit or else his touch is not registered. If both hit then both get the touch and awarded points (1 point per touch). If one hits then only one gets awarded the point.
Now in foil you have right of way. If one hits his hit has to land in the target area (chest area). If his hit was on target he gets a point. If it was off target no point is awarded. If both hit then the judge decides who has the right of way using the right of way rules and then awards a point if it was an on target hit.