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Robert F Kennedy Assassination — Part 1
Page 48
48 / 59
_ Bradford’ s- declaration — continues by pointing out dack of
on tirearae and ballistics. Bradford states that "on the public
record there is no examiner's notes, no pretrial discovery
information, no demonstrative exhibits, no explanation of the exact
examination methodology used in the case, no statement of the basis
for the opinions rendered that give an indication of identi-
fication." The previous District Attorney Office's investigation
concerning the ballistics evidence in 1971 and 1974 had failed to
discover any such writ-2. documents or notations. Bradford felt
‘that “a complete independent re-examination of the bullet identi-
fication evidence would do much to restore public faith and
confidence in the ability of modern science to resolve problems of
scientific fact in law enforcement."
° Additionally, Bradford called for a very thorough examination
and test procedure. “prac.ord readily admitted that a non-
verification of the bueyin.st:somparison through the lack of indi-
vidual identifying chatésteristiecs would in-and-of itself not
exclude tne possibility that Sirhan's gun had fired the Kennedy
F i mm hae i+ ace T arhor
bullet, nor would it actually determine that it did. In other
words, Bradford was honest to admit that his elaborate test
procedure might produce more doubts rather than settle the question
resolving ballistics and firearms identification.
As a prerequisite to any test procedure, Bradford (as did the
other criminalists, including Jolling), called for a classical
bullet identification comparison using the comparison microscope
with a stereoscope microscope. Such an examination would verify
bullet comparison of the Kennedy bullet with the test bullet.
Bradford asked for a «r-y thorough examination of individual
characteristics, and a very ‘thorough comparison of all test bullets
with the evidence bullets.
Additionally, Bradford stated after examining both the Harper
and the Ward hearing photographs, that the bullets did not appear
to have suffered deterioration from oxidation, or handling, and
that there was a good opportunity to verify bullet identification.
Bradford also called for additional tests if the bullet
comparison of the Kennedy bullet to a test bullet fired from the
Sirhan gun could not be established. . These additional tests
included micromeasurements of the bullets. This procedure would be
an analysis of the pitch of the rifling, and the bullet diameter.
Bradford reasoned that there were minute differences in the
dimension among manufacturers of .22 caliber bullets and, if
bullets were fired from two different barrels, each from a
different manufacturer, it would be possible to discover class
differences between the two bullets.
Bradford also asked for the possibility of chemical tests on
‘ r th a ount
bullets. These tests would help determine the presence and amount
of trace metal in the bullets themselves. Commonly used trace
metal tests concerned energy x-ray analysis and neutron activation
analysis. Bradford asked that samples be removed from bullet lead
about the size of a pinhead. This lead would be removed from the
nose of the bullet, and such samples would be sent to the Physics
Department of the University. of California at Irvine, where Dr.
Vincent Guinn would conduct such examinations.
= HM .
“FF
©
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