shelias prints on the riffle is there an innocent explanation.

[mike tesko]

Her fingerprints were found on three weapons:-

(1) - shotgun

(2) - .22 BSA air rifle

(3) - .22 anshulz rifle

[Alias]

Her fingerprints were found on three weapons:-

(1) - shotgun

(2) - .22 BSA air rifle

(3) - .22 anshulz rifle

Was this mentioned at the trial?
I can see how she could get her fingerprints on one firearm - maybe she had to move it to get to something. Two, OK, begins to be more unlikely for a person who is allegedly afraid of guns. Three is very strange.

[nugnug]

so shes supposed to be afraid of guns but shes touched 3 different guns.

[ngb1066]

Usually,April,,but I just wondered if Neville would have been the type to have said gun if he meant gun,,and rifle if he meant rifle. Also,,because Jeremy had left the rifle in the room off the back kitchen on the settle,,that it would have been the easiest to grab,hence Neville would have said " she's got hold of the rifle ".If you see what I'm getting at. Though obviously I wouldn't know if Neville did refer to the collection as all guns.

You have made a good point Lookout.  I have thought about this in the past.  For those experienced with shotguns and rifles a rifle would not normally be referred to as a gun.  Coupled with the fact that  Sheila's fingerprint was found on the 12 bore shotgun, and the fact that a neighbour heard a single shotgun shot during the evening, and that a spent Raker 12 bore cartridge case was found either in or near the shotgun, this may be significant.

 

[grahameb]

You have made a good point Lookout.  I have thought about this in the past.  For those experienced with shotguns and rifles a rifle would not normally be referred to as a gun.  Coupled with the fact that  Sheila's fingerprint was found on the 12 bore shotgun, and the fact that a neighbour heard a single shotgun shot during the evening, and that a spent Raker 12 bore cartridge case was found either in or near the shotgun, this may be significant.

 

If a single shot was heard plus a spent shotgun cartridge found, was there any damage within the house to indicate this?

[ngb1066]

If a single shot was heard plus a spent shotgun cartridge found, was there any damage within the house to indicate this?

There is no evidence of any damage as far as I know.

[lookout]

A shattered ceiling light bulb,Grahame ?
I don't expect for a minute, that the farmhouse had been scrutinised to the extent that the police would have been looking for bullet holes anywhere within the place,,as they wouldn't have taken into consideration the single shot that had been fired earlier in the evening.
It would have appeared that the shotgun hadn't formed part of the case,,,but in my estimation,because it would have been easier for Sheila to have handled,,it has one of the most important issues in this case.

[nugnug]

If a single shot was heard plus a spent shotgun cartridge found, was there any damage within the house to indicate this?

well that's a bit of a mystery itself then a spent cartridge then gun had been fired but no bullet hole.