from The Guardian
An analysis from the federal Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF) could not conclusively connect a
bullet fragment recovered during Charlie Kirk’s
autopsy to the rifle found near the scene of the rightwing political
activist’s killing – and the FBI is running additional tests, lawyers
for Kirk’s accused murderer said in recent court filings.
In
the court filings, Tyler Robinson’s defense team also asked for a delay
to a preliminary hearing scheduled in May, saying they need time to
review the bullet analysis as well as an enormous amount of other
material that could contribute to the suspect’s defense.
The
ATF’s bullet analysis report has been kept private, but attorneys have
cited snippets in other public filings that say the results were
inconclusive.
The success of a forensic
ballistics analysis largely depends on the size and condition of the
bullet fragments. Experts are looking for unique, microscopic markings
that are left on a bullet as it passes through the gun’s barrel. The
scratches are like fingerprints in that no two firearms make identical
markings.
The defense said in its motion that
it may try to use the analysis to clear Robinson of blame during the
preliminary hearing while prosecutors aim to show they have enough
evidence against him to proceed with a trial.
Prosecutors
intend to seek the death penalty for Robinson, 22, who is charged with
aggravated murder in the 10 September shooting death of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. Robinson has not yet entered a plea.
Prosecutors
have said DNA consistent with Robinson’s was found on the trigger of
the rifle, the fired cartridge casing and two unfired cartridges.
Defense attorneys note that forensic reports indicate multiple people’s
DNA was found on some items, which they say requires a more complex
analysis...
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