Foundation, Foundation, Foundation
From OCDLA Library of Defense
This wikilog article is a draft, it was not published yet.
by: Ryan Scott • April 24, 2018 • no comments
Interesting legal article out of Illinois. It begins notably as follows:
- There’s a new rule for ballistics experts who testify at trial.
- “Take my word for it” is not enough.
Key quote:
- During a December 2011 trial, state police firearms examiner Justin Barr testified that he believed the bullet recovered from the victim’s body originated from Jones’ gun.
- Barr explained that experts look for “sufficient similarities” between bullets when trying to identify a match, but there is a level of subjectivity in the process.
- On cross-examination, he explained firearm examiners don’t have to identify a set number of matching irregularities or scratches, nor do they have to count them in order to determine a match. He ended his testimony without identifying any individual characteristics between his test bullets and the one recovered from the victim’s body.