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Robert F Kennedy Assassination — Part 1

59 pages · May 11, 2026 · Document date: Aug 12, 1975 · Broad topic: Kennedy Assassination · Topic: Robert F Kennedy Assassination · 55 pages OCR'd
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_ 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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