Why were the jury taken off site to hear the rifle?

[Adam]

Firstly has anyone got a source this happened?

Was it the defence or prosecutions request?

[Adam]

Not sure what the point of spending a whole day taking the jury off site.

The blood and paint confirmed the silencer was on the rifle. This was not disputed until decades later.

The jury would be aware of the reason a silencer would be used in a silent massacre attempt - it reduced/silenced the rifle noise.

[David1819]

Because the Jury asked to hear a sound comparison.

"The reconstruction was held on an Army range after the court took a 28-mile drive in a police escorted convoy so that firearms expert Malcolm Fletcher could demonstrate the gun. The Chelmsford Crown Court jury of seven men and five women had asked to hear the sound of shots fired from the semi-automatic weapon. Mr Fletcher fired the un-silenced rifle five times into a huge block of soap which absorbed the impact of the bullets. Then he fired four times with the silencer in place. There appeared to be very little difference."

[Adam]

Because the Jury asked to hear a sound comparison.

"The reconstruction was held on an Army range after the court took a 28-mile drive in a police escorted convoy so that firearms expert Malcolm Fletcher could demonstrate the gun. The Chelmsford Crown Court jury of seven men and five women had asked to hear the sound of shots fired from the semi-automatic weapon. Mr Fletcher fired the un-silenced rifle five times into a huge block of soap which absorbed the impact of the bullets. Then he fired four times with the silencer in place. There appeared to be very little difference."

Wonder why the jury requested this.

The defence did not dispute it was Sheila's blood and the aga paint in the silencer.

I suppose it would be interesting to see how much of an advantage a silencer was to Bamber.

[Adam]

As CC said, the rifle shots for the jury were outside. The noise would have been different inside.

[Adam]

Were the sights discussed at trial?

RB said the sights were on the rifle a few days before the massacre. He also said once sights are put on the rifle they stay on.

Can understand Bamber taking the sights off pre massacre. It would make him more agile.

[Adam]

Both sides and the judge dismissed Bamber saying he went out to shoot rabbits - minus silencer.

They all agreed it was Sheila's blood and the aga paint on it.

The defence would have to say Sheila picked up the rifle with silencer attached.

There would be no reason she would insert the silencer pre massacre.

[Adam]

The silencer's main benefit was when shooting June/Nevill and Daniel/Nicholas.

This worked as Daniel/Nicholas remained sleeping while the other one was being shot in the same room.

It did not work in the main bedroom as Nevill woke while June was being shot.

The difference here is that Nevill & June were in the same bed, rather than seperate beds.

[Adam]

It was a low powered quiet rifle & would not wake people in another room. With or without silencer.

[Cambridgecutie]

The silencer's main benefit was when shooting June/Nevill and Daniel/Nicholas.

This worked as Daniel/Nicholas remained sleeping while the other one was being shot in the same room.

It did not work in the main bedroom as Nevill woke while June was being shot.

The difference here is that Nevill & June were in the same bed, rather than seperate beds.

The sound of the rifle with or without silencer was nothing compared to the inevitable shouting, screams and groans from June and NB.

[Adam]

The sound of the rifle with or without silencer was nothing compared to the inevitable shouting, screams and groans from June and NB.

June and Nevill were shot 5 & 4 times in quick succession. Including shots in the neck and jaw.

So no screaming.

[BarefootDanC]

Firstly has anyone got a source this happened?

Was it the defence or prosecutions request?

I don't know, but could it be for them to experience how difficult or otherwise it would be for a novice to fire a gun.

If I was a juror and I couldn't work out how to reload the gun without someone showing me and most other jurors were the same, I would then find it very hard to believe that Sheila carried out the killings (from that fact alone).

[ILB]

June and Nevill were shot 5 & 4 times in quick succession. Including shots in the neck and jaw.

So no screaming.

Speculative in fairness

[Adam]

Speculative in fairness

The pathologist said Nevill would have had difficulty speaking after his first 4 shots. So unlikely he would be screaming as going downstairs.

June was only able to crawl a few feet so unlikely she was simultaneously screaming.

Furniture being knocked over in the kitchen would make a noise.

[Adam]

A summary of the noise in the kitchen would be -

Smashed ceiling lightshade.

Two knocked over chairs.

One knocked over stool.

One knocked over sugar bowl.

Silencer scraping the aga.

Moved but not knocked over furniture. Maybe the kitchen table.

Bamber's footware may make a noise on the kitchen floor.

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Estimated time of attack, 60-90 seconds.

The blows to Nevill's head, face and torso would not make a noise.

I don't believe any of the above would be particulary loud or long enough to wake Sheila upstairs. But possible.