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3) Evidence Bullets Matched With Same Gun In their individual working papers, and upon cross examination, three of the experts, Garland, Cunningham = and Biasotti, positively found that the three crucial evidence bullets, Kennedy (47), Goldstein (52), and Weisel (54), had sufficient individual characteristic marks (as well as the heretofore mentioned gross characteristic marks found on all the bullets) to - make the positive matchup of these three bullets having been fired by the same gun. This was on the basis of a microscopic comparison of the individual characteristic marks present on the three bullets. The three experts were positive that repetitive and sufficient matching individual characteristics were noted on all three bullets, and stated that these three bullets had been fired through the same weapon. However, all three experts stated that there were insufficient matching individual characteristics for a positive identification to be made with the Sirhan weapon itself. This was because of several factors, including the severe leaded condition which was observed in the bore of the Sirhan revolver. The experts stated, both in their working papers and upon cross examination, that such leaded condition could cause the wiping of bullets fired through the revolver, preventing the repetition of markings necessary in the identification process. Biasotti felt that the several gross individual characteristics were in a constant relationship to each other, showing that not only the three particular evidence bullets in question, but that all other bullets examined were "very probably fired by the same gun." Again, Biasotti stated that the source of the repetitive gross individual characteristics was attributed to gross imperfections on the front edge of the lands and grooves at the muzzle crown of the Sirhan weapon. The microscopic examination and casting of. these imperfections showed that they were irregular ridges of metal which projected above the surfaces of the lands and grooves in some part of the muzzle. Biasotti stated that these imperfections were accidental in origin and were produced after the lands and grooves were formed in the bore by the swage rifling process and therefore were true individual characteristics, unique to the gun. However, Biasotti coneluded that the very limited number of individual characteristics reproduced by the metal coated bullets were possibly due to the leaded condition of the bore at the time of firing, both in 1968 and at the time of the test firing conducted by the panel in 1975. Patrick Garland echoed the same findings of Biasotti concerning the leaded condition stating that the lack of sufficient matching individual characteristics prevented a positive identi- fication of bullets with the Sirhan weapon, but it was his conclusion that there were sufficient characteristics on Exhibits 47, 52, and 54 to conclude that the three bullets had been fired from the same weapon. Finally, Cortland Cunningham also stated that the leaded barrel caused significant differences in the individual charac- teristic marks imparted on the test bullets fired from the weapon. ' - 29 - SO ct pages + een en ee Senger ne n= oer gr A a