Michael Brelo Trial Day 15 Part 2 04/28/15

TL;DR

Expert witness testifies about trajectory and gunshot wounds, discusses bullet grouping and the role of distance in accuracy.

Transcript

thank you I said we are back on the record who's cross-examine mr. Pell runner borrowed spoke of course this is a photograph taken by DCI during their documentation and examination of the Malibu vehicle on the driver side yes sir is Maggie one it's not really visible from that image but it's the pink to Jeffrey rod that has somewhat of a shallow do... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚄 The witness relied on physical evidence, statements, and consultations with Dr. Posey to reach conclusions about bullet trajectories.
• 🕳️ Grouping of bullet holes can indicate consistent aiming and shooting accuracy.
• 🧑‍🏭 Distance is a critical factor that affects bullet grouping and accuracy.
• 👨‍⚕️ The witness did not consult with other doctors or experts, but he believed Dr. Posey's expertise was sufficient for confirming his reconstruction findings.

Questions & Answers

Q: Did the expert witness consult with other doctors or experts?

The witness primarily consulted with Dr. Posey, a medical doctor, to confirm and discuss his reconstruction findings. He did not consult with other doctors in this case.

Q: Can the witness establish with certainty which bullet was fired by which gun?

No, the witness stated that he cannot establish this with certainty. However, based on the physical evidence, he can exclude or include certain officers as potential shooters for specific shots.

Q: Did the witness consider the opinion of Dr. Filo, the pathologist who performed the autopsies?

No, the witness did not consult with Dr. Filo because he had easy access to Dr. Posey, who was part of the same team. He believed Dr. Posey's expertise was sufficient to confirm his reconstruction.

Q: What factors contribute to achieving a tighter bullet grouping?

The witness mentioned the importance of aligning the sights, controlling recoil, and having consistent sight pictures for each shot. Distance also plays a role, but individual skills, firearm quality, and shooting technique are also factors.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The expert witness discusses trajectory analysis and the examination of a Malibu vehicle.

• He confirms the presence of a pink rod with a shallow downward angle in relation to the windshield.

• The witness states that he consulted with Dr. Posey and relied on his expertise in formulating his opinions.