Amber Guyger Trial Day 4 Witnesses Ranger Michael Adcock & April Kendrick Ballistics Expert 092619

TL;DR

Forensic expert testifies about the functionality of the firearm, comparison of fired cartridge cases, and examination of the projectile recovered from the victim's body.

Transcript

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Key Insights

• 💼 The expert determined that the fired cartridge cases were from the same firearm based on a comparison of marks left on the cases.
• 🍻 The projectile recovered from the victim's body had similar characteristics to the firearm but could not be definitively linked due to unclear microscopic markings.
• 🗯️ The functionality of the firearm was confirmed, and its ejection pattern was noted to generally be to the right.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the expert determine if the fired cartridge cases were from the same gun?

The expert performed test fires with the firearm in question and compared the marks left on the test-fired cartridge cases to the marks on the fired cartridge cases recovered from the crime scene.

Q: Why couldn't the expert conclusively determine if the projectile was fired from the gun?

The microscopic markings on the projectile were not clear enough for a definitive comparison, but the projectile had the same class characteristics as the firearm.

Q: Did the expert determine the ejection pattern of the firearm?

The expert did not determine a specific ejection pattern, but noted that in general, the ejection direction for this type of firearm is to the right.

Q: What happens to a bullet when it strikes soft tissue?

The expert explained that a hollow-point bullet, like the one recovered from the victim's body, is designed to expand upon impact, creating a mushroom-like shape.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The expert examined fired cartridge cases and compared them to test-fired cartridge cases from the firearm, concluding that they were fired by the same gun.

• The projectile recovered from the victim's body had the same class characteristics as the firearm but could not be conclusively determined to have been fired from that specific gun.

• The expert explained the components of a bullet and how they function during the firing process.