Scientists Cast Doubt on Kennedy Bullet Analysis

[cal04]

Multiple Shooters Possible, Study Says

In a collision of 21st-century science and decades-old conspiracy theories, a research team that includes a former top FBI scientist is challenging the bullet analysis used by the government to conclude that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

The "evidence used to rule out a second assassin is fundamentally flawed," concludes a new article in the Annals of Applied Statistics written by former FBI lab metallurgist William A. Tobin and Texas A&M University researchers Cliff Spiegelman and William D. James.

The researchers' re-analysis involved new statistical calculations and a modern chemical analysis of bullets from the same batch Oswald is purported to have used. They reached no conclusion about whether more than one gunman was involved, but urged that authorities conduct a new and complete forensic re-analysis of the five bullet fragments left from the assassination 44 years ago.

"Given the significance and impact of the JFK assassination, it is scientifically desirable for the evidentiary fragments to be re-analyzed," the researchers said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/16/AR2007051601967.html?hpid=topnews

[uppityperson]

1. The last bit is interesting. Will be interesting to see if anything comes of this

"This finding means that the bullet fragments from the assassination that match could have come from three or more separate bullets," the researchers said.

"If the assassination fragments are derived from three or more separate bullets, then a second assassin is likely, as the additional bullet would not be attributable to the main suspect, Mr. Oswald."

[SpiralHawk]

2. D'oh

not news to anyone who was paying attention.

Time to question Poppy Skull & Boner Boyo Bush. He can explain it all.

[Gabi Hayes]

3. don't miss this Octafish thread on David Talbot's new JFK/RFK book

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x884545