The silencer, hand swab, and scratch marks on the aga, Conspiracy...

[Patti]

They are all making out that this little rifle was difficult to use, just because a few farm ignorant folk in the jury couldn't do it?

Hey G....your posts have been fantastic tonight. I can't use a remote control, but I could use that rifle...

[elphick]

That is where I read it....Well done elphick for finding that...

For some reason I thought I'd also seen a picture of Sheila on the shooting holiday holding a gun. But then I probably made that up.

[Nuala]

For some reason I thought I'd also seen a picture of Sheila on the shooting holiday holding a gun. But then I probably made that up.

 

[Roch]

Hey G....your posts have been fantastic tonight. I can't use a remote control, but I could use that rifle...

I've enjoyed reading grahame's posts in general of late.  And yours Patti.

[Patti]

I've enjoyed reading grahame's posts in general of late.  And yours Patti.

So have yours Roch.....excellent! 

[elphick]

 

Has anyone seen one? Joking aside?

[Nuala]

I've enjoyed reading grahame's posts in general of late.  And yours Patti.

I second that

[Nuala]

So have yours Roch.....excellent! 

I second this too. In fact, we've recently had some excellent posts from many members. The standard of debate seems to have gone up by a notch. Good posts everyone!

[Nuala]

Reloading and firing a carabina anschutz .22

"It has been postulated by the prosecution that it would have been difficult for Sheila to load and fire the weapon. Most of us do not realize exactly how easy the gun was to fire, and that it could be fired accurately at close range. All the deceased were shot within less than 4 feet. The picture to the right is a photograph of the actual gun which Sheila used to kill the family.

We suggest that you take a look at the video below of rifle fire. The gun is not the same as the one used in the tragedies, but it is a more modern, similar self loading Anshuttz.22 rifle. (This rifle has telescopic sights attached but the one at White House Farm did not).  Notice how quiet the weapon is and how easy it is to load the magazine in the bottom and fire continuously. It is possible that while Sheila reloaded the rifle it gave Nevill time to get to the phone?  Imagine the gun being fired not in a rage like the one on the video, but in a house where there are furnishings to absorb the noise. Also notice in the video that the man loads the 4 bullets into the magazine and it takes him 8 seconds, so it would have taken Sheila just over 20 seconds to fully reload the rifle that is if she did fully reload it each time." 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWHIi9J1DL8&feature=player_embedded

(From JB's official website)

[lookout]

Grahame has excelled himself with certain posts,,,such as the Monastery thread,,,though it's true to say that I've enjoyed,,and learned from,a lot of other posters too.Well done y'all.

[bloggs and son]

Reloading and firing a carabina anschutz .22

"It has been postulated by the prosecution that it would have been difficult for Sheila to load and fire the weapon. Most of us do not realize exactly how easy the gun was to fire, and that it could be fired accurately at close range. All the deceased were shot within less than 4 feet. The picture to the right is a photograph of the actual gun which Sheila used to kill the family.

We suggest that you take a look at the video below of rifle fire. The gun is not the same as the one used in the tragedies, but it is a more modern, similar self loading Anshuttz.22 rifle. (This rifle has telescopic sights attached but the one at White House Farm did not).  Notice how quiet the weapon is and how easy it is to load the magazine in the bottom and fire continuously. It is possible that while Sheila reloaded the rifle it gave Nevill time to get to the phone?  Imagine the gun being fired not in a rage like the one on the video, but in a house where there are furnishings to absorb the noise. Also notice in the video that the man loads the 4 bullets into the magazine and it takes him 8 seconds, so it would have taken Sheila just over 20 seconds to fully reload the rifle that is if she did fully reload it each time." 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWHIi9J1DL8&feature=player_embedded

(From JB's official website)

Now looking at that film can you see just how little residue would have come from the gun? See how long the gun is? Now a .22 pistol would be different because of the short barrel. And quite honestly there would be more residue from a cap gun than from this. And a cap gun would sound louder as well. I think I've put videos of this kind of gun before. But not many people took much notice. I do hope they notice this one. Recall also that Sheila already had a full magazine to start off with.

[Nuala]

Now looking at that film can you see just how little residue would have come from the gun? See how long the gun is? Now a .22 pistol would be different because of the short barrel. And quite honestly there would be more residue from a cap gun than from this. And a cap gun would sound louder as well. I think I've put videos of this kind of gun before. But not many people took much notice. I do hope they notice this one. Recall also that Sheila already had a full magazine to start off with.

Good point. I didn't look at this. Are you saying that there would be less residue because of the length of the rifle?

[bloggs and son]

Good point. I didn't look at this. Are you saying that there would be less residue because of the length of the rifle?

Yes. Most of the residue comes from the end of the barrel. This was seen in that every victim had gun residue on them. There is of course a smaller amount of residue that is emitted when the shell case is ejected. The question is how much? But I've always held (though of course there is no way of proving it except from the showerhead on the floor of the bathroom) that Sheila must have washed her hands at some point? I cannot see that anyone, the prosecution and the defence went out of their way to establish as to whether this was possible? I don't believe that it was explored very thoroughly?

[mertol22]

I have a issue with this , if we are saying residue as in powder ? if so after 4 of the family killed just leaving Sheila say she washed herself , im not saying anything yet as to this image of sheila on the bed but if its true then there could only be residue from a new 1 shot or discharge, can perspiration play a part here ?

[Nuala]

"When the firing pin of a firearm strikes the primer of a cartridge the primer compound ignites sending a flame into the cartridge case.  Gunpowder in the cartridge case starts to burn, causing it to change from a solid material to a gas.  This change creates pressure within the cartridge, which in turn forces the bullet down the barrel and down range. Pressure building behind the bullet is released when the bullet exits the muzzle of the firearm.

The bullet acts like the cork in a shook up Champagne bottle.  When the bullet exits the muzzle, pressure behind it blows the gunshot residues out of the firearm's barrel under high velocity. The residues are expelled from the barrel in a smoky cone shaped pattern.

The further gunshot residues travel from the muzzle, the broader and less concentrated the pattern becomes.  Because the various elements included in gunshot residues are very small and lack mass they lose their energy rapidly.

Gunshot residues can also be emitted from other areas of a firearm. As you can see in the above image, gunshot residue is escaping from the barrel/cylinder gap of the revolver.

The muzzle-to-garment distance can vary considerably depending on the firearm and type of ammunition being used.  Short-barreled firearms and lower velocity cartridges will not normally expel residues as far as a high velocity rifle.  At shorter distances however, they may deposit greater concentrations of gunshot residues.   Also, gunpowder can come in several forms such as ball, flake, disc, and others.  Ball powder being spherical in shape is more aerodynamic than say a particle of flake gunpowder and as a result will travel farther.  A number of other variables can influence the amount of gunshot residues that may reach a target; therefore, it is essential that the firearm and ammunition used in the shooting incident be recovered.

Gunshot residues emitted from the muzzle will travel out to distances of approximately 3 and 5 feet in most firearms but in some cases can travel even greater distances.  At the 3-5 foot range the gunshot residues may only consist of a few trace particles and make determining the firing distance difficult if not impossible.

As the firearm gets closer to its target the residue concentrations increase and the actual size or diameter to the pattern gets smaller.  At around 18-24 inches most firearms will start to deposit considerable concentrations of gunshot residues that may or may not be visible to the eye.

At distances of less than around 12 inches heavy concentrations of visible gunshot residues will normally be deposited."