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Robert F Kennedy Assassination — Part 1
Page 47
47 / 59
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As part of his declaration in the affidavit, Bradford next
stated the conclusions of forensic scientists Herbert MacDonell and
William Harper. Essentially, Bradford restated the MacDonell
position concerning gross differences between cannelures on Kennedy
bullet, 47, and Weisel bullet, 54, and the Harper position con-
‘cerning differences in pitch of the rifling (angle of the grooves
left by barrel rifling) which indicated that both the Kennedy and
Weisel bullets had been fired from different barrels.
Additionally, Bradford, in his declaration, cited Harper's
previous statements that Harper had failed to find individual
identification characteristics on all the test bullets fired from
the Sirhan gun when compared with the Kennedy bullet, Exhibit 47.
In so doing, Bradford based his statements on previous statements
of Harper and MacDonnell, both of whom had based their statements on
photographs taken by Harper in 1970 and at the request of Baxter
Ward in 1974. Bradford econcluded that "on the basis of this
examination (of the photographs and conclusions of MacDonell and
Harper) as well as a review of available information concerning the
firearms identification evidence introduced in the Sirhan trial and
related proceedings, it is my opinion that there is reasonable
cause for a scientific re-examination of all of the firearms iden-
tification evidence." But, unlike Harper and MacDonell, Bradford
was not specifically stating that he had observed any definite
differences in bullets, cannelures, or evidence of a secend gun.
Bradford merely stated a summary of the previous allegations
of a second gun and evidentary discrepancies in his declaration and
affidavit. These were:
1. A conclusion concerning cannelures and rifling pitch
contradicts the proposition that all of the bullets fired at the
scene were from one gun.
2. The conclusion about these critical differences in
cannelures are verifiable from photographs and appear to have
merit, but such an examination of photographs is not. as deter-
Minative as an examination of the original object.
3. The conclusions concerning differences of rifling pitch
are based on a set of measurements that statistically appear to
have merit, but the result should be tested because the quantative
differences which have been found are close to the limit of
precision of the method used in determining these differences.
{Here it is obvious that Bradford is hesitating, in making
absolute declaration of a second gun. He equivocates in the
similar manner as he did in the Baxter Ward Hearing in May, 1974.)
~ 43 -
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