Jamie Hood Trial Day 14 Part 2 07/11/15

TL;DR

Firearms examiner testifies about ballistics testing in court.

Transcript

call your next one the state El good morning sir if you wind raise right do you swear affirm the testimony about present before this Court should be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth go I do please bece if you will if you uh scoot up for the microphone State your full name and spell your last name please my name is Kyle Felix k y ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚄 The examiner is trained to perform microscopic identifications on bullets and cartridge cases.
• ❤️‍🔥 Comparison microscopy is used to match evidence bullets and cases to test fires from a specific firearm.
• ❓ Certifications from professional organizations validate the expertise of the Firearms examiner.
• 😒 The examiner uses class and individual characteristics to link evidence to a specific firearm.
• 🚄 Trajectory analysis of bullets provides an additional method to determine shooter location.
• ❓ Peer review is conducted on every examination report to ensure accuracy.
• 💼 Aluminum cartridge cases from a specific manufacturer can impact ballistic analysis.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the primary duty of a Firearms examiner?

A Firearms examiner performs microscopic identifications on bullets and cartridge cases to determine if they were fired from a specific firearm.

Q: How does a Firearms examiner compare evidence bullets and cases?

The examiner uses test fires from a firearm to compare against evidence bullets and cases under a comparison microscope for class and individual characteristics.

Q: How many certifications does the examiner hold?

The examiner is certified in Firearms examination, tool Mark examination, and distance determination by AFI.

Q: Can a Firearms examiner determine the location of a shooter based on shell casings?

No, there are too many variables like ejection trajectory, shooter's height, grip strength, and gun position to definitively determine the shooter's location from shell casing positions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The examiner is a firearms scientist who performs microscopic identification on bullets and cartridge cases.

• He compares evidence bullets and cases to test fires from a firearm to determine a match.

• The examiner confirms cartridges from crime scenes were fired from a specific gun, using class and individual characteristics.