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Show The Salt Lake Tribune NATION Saturday, July 12, 1997 Ballistics ‘Differ’ on King Rifle Specifications Test bullets fired froma Caliber 30.06 Capacity 4 in-clip magazine Remingtonrifle Ray had characteristics Barrel length different than the slug Overall length that killed Martin Luther said he doesn’t believe the recent tests are any different from previous tests that were inconclusive “They can look at it from now until the year 2050, and it won't change," said George Wilson, a former president of the Associa- tion of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners. Anda former FBI crime-lab di- rector said that the techniques to analyzefirearms evidence haven't changed significantly over the decades. “I'd be skeptical of any report which implies they have come to any conclusion different from the early FBI work,” said John Hicks, who ran the FBI crime lab from 1989 to 1994, and was not involved in the FBI's 1969 analysis of the King bullet. Theissue camein a Tennessee courtroom Friday when an expert hired by Ray's defense attorneys testified that markings unlike any found on the bullet that killed King turned up on many bullets recently fired from Ray’s rifle. The gunis believed to havekilled 22" | 42" Stock and fore-end American walnut | 7 1/2 pounds @ Navy Hazing CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C, — A Marine general rec: ommendedFriday that a sergeant be dischargedfor a videotaped 1993ritual in which uniform pins were poundedinto paratroopers’ chests as they grimaced Twelvesailors were disciplined for taking part in a hazing incident in which a sailor's chest wa aved and he was smeared with food, t Navy said Friday Thehazing took place June 16 aboard the USSPrinceton in a ceremonycalled “Crossing the Line,” a rite of passagefor sailors and bled The practice of “blood pinning" at Camp Lejeune was brought to light in January by a “Dateline NBC” broadcast. Maj. Gen. Patrick Howard, base commander, recommended the discharge of a gunnery sergeant who was the highest-ranking Marine videotaped beating 760 “Gamemaster” pump-actionrifle Jr.: A judge declared Friday that But a respected firearms expert whotested the gun for a House investigative committee in 1978 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS plus one in chamber Average weight WASHINGTON — It seemed to mark a major turn in the assassination case of Martin Luther King test bullets recently fired from James Earl Ray'srifle had marks different from the slugthatkilled thecivil-rights leader. General: Discharge Sergeantin Ritual The Rifle belonging to James Earl A3 AP King on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. Ray, 69, is serving a 99-year sentence in a Nashville prison Rayconfessed to the murder but recanted dayslater, saying he was only trying to avoid the death penalty. State and federal courts have upheld his guilty plea eight times. Ray's defense attorneys who hope the tests will help their client win a newtrial, In recent months, the King family has added to the controversy. Dexter King surprised some of his father's friends when he declared on national television recently the single bullet that killed King that his family believes Ray was “innocent” in the assassination and that President Lyndon Johnson must have been partof a gov- which brokeinto several pieces, did have similar markingsto tes ernment plot to kill King, The younger King even visited Ray in prison, wherehe is dying of liver Firearms expert Wilson said had hit a bone and was “deformed and mutilated.” The death bullet, bullets, but not enough for examinersto state definitively thatthis gun had killed King, he said. Thus, examiners for the 1978 House Select Committee on Assassinations, as well as previous FBI examiners nearly a decade before,ruled it inconclusive. “You have had five, eight, 10 expertsin the firearms field look atit since the shooting, and noone has called it,” Wilson said in a cancer, According to Shelby County Judge Joe Brown, ‘a comparison revealed that the gross and unique characteristic signature left on 12 test bullets by the James Earl Ray rifle was not pre- sent on the death bullet.” The new evidence prompted Brownto order Ray's lawyers and Tennessee prosecutors to ask the latest examination oftherifle. An conducted in 1969 sealed for 50 years. are being Mistrial Sought in Case Dating Back 26 Years ‘THR ASSOCIATED PRESS trying to bring her fatherto trial for allegedly killing herlittle brother 26 years ago and framing her for the crime whenshewasonly 2. Now, she may havedestroyed her chance. Rhame admitted Friday that she violated the judge’s instructions in watchinga live TV broadcast of her mother testifying Thursday in the murder trial of Jan Barry Sandlin. “T have waited my wholelife to hear this testimo- ny,” the 28-year-old Rhame explained. As a result, Sandlin’s attorneys asked for a mistrial with prejudice, which would mean Sandlin could not be retried. Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller will decide Monday whetherto grant the request Sandlin, 46, is on trial in the 1971 death of 4-month-old Matthew Golder. The death was ruled corporal andonesailor Nonewere identified by name Thenine otherservicemen who participated in the pinnings or watched andarestill onactive duty got of the 1991 and 1993bloodpinnings wereapparently madeby other Marines er-than-honorabie. off easier, Howard earlier recommended discharging two leaders of a base platoon that held the 1991 blood pinning. An administrative board has not yet others — onestaff sergeant, three sergeants, one basespokesman cords. He ordered counseling for them and for the on that recommendation, said Maj. Ralph Mills Air Force Officer Resigns To Avoid Court-Martial listed womanhelater married is being allowedto resign rath- er than face a court-martial, the servicesaid Friday. It was the secondtimein recent monthsthat the Air Force has allowed anindividual to leave rather than facea courtmartial on charges that put the service under scrutiny for its approach to relations be- tween membersoftheenlisted man Air Force Base, Mo. He mother. “T would be a fool to put her up,” defense attorney Corinne Mull complained, “We don’t knowwhat she “Dateline NBC” aireda videotapeof a 1991 blood pinning, prompting an investigation. The videotapes Howard recommended threestaff sergeants have details of the incident placed in their military re- Rhamehad testified Wednesday for the prosecution, but the defense had planned to put her back between her earlier testimony and that of her uador onanti-drug duty at thetime Anadministrative board can reject Howard's ree ommendation or hand the gunnery sergeant one of three types of discharge: honorable, general or oth ranks andtheofficer corps. Air Force Secretary Sheila on the stand to confront her over inconsistencies 12 sailors were reduced in rank, Howardsaidin a statement. an accident at the time, but prosecutors now contend Sandlin beat the baby to death and placed young ‘Tracy in the boy’s crib to make it appear as if she had thrown him to his death. The the guided-missilecruiser is in port, Gorham said. The Princeton was off the coast of Ee- ing less than thetotal commitment of every leader is acceptable. Leaders must be held responsible. Therefore, they received the most severe sanctions,” ing a relationship with an en- clear how the bureau would respond. Notes from the FBI tests DECATUR, Ga. — Tracy Rhame spent a decade dockedpay or orderedto stay on board when “Wherethe welfareof Marinesis concerned, noth- FBI spokesman said it was un- ed by a team of firearms investigators led by University of Rhode Island criminologist Robert Hathaway. The team was working for ‘The recent tests were conduct- ‘The pins are awarded when a Marine makes10 para chute jumps. let experts compare themto the FBIto unsealthe test results and up as King Neptune and the mariner Davy Jones and crawled around ontheship. ‘THEASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — An Air Force officer accused of hav- telephone interview. “It's just been inconclusive. You can’t say yes, and you can't say no,” whocross the equator. Sailors also dressed the golden jumpwingsinto the paratroopers’chests. Widnall madethe decision on 2nd Lt. William Kite, security police supervisor at White- will receive a general dis- charge under honorable conditions, an Air Force statementsaid. Kite hadfaced the possibili- ty of a court-martial for two counts of fraternizing with an enlisted person and denying his relationshipwith her. He is now married to the woman, whohasleft the Air Force. Kite’s attorney, seph Cazenavetie, Capt. Johad appealed to Widnall earlier to dismiss the chargesagainst his client, but she had declined Neither the attorneynor Kite wasavailable for comment. The Air Force has made headlines recently forits en- forcement in certain cases of the policy that bars relation- ships between enlisted personnel and officers. ‘TheKite casereceived special attention after moves by the Air Force to court-martial Ist Lt. Kelly Flinn, the service’s first female B-52 pilot, on charges of adultery, lying and disobeying an order. Simpson Claims Judge Manipulated Jury Pool ASSOCIA ANGELES — PRESS s the judgeinhiscivil trial O.J, Simp- manipulated the jury pool to ensure an all-white jury anda ver- dict holding him responsible for theslayingsof his ex-wife and her friend. “Theyput it in Santa Monica,” Simpson said of thecivil trial. “I knew they would get the jury they wanted. When the jury pool cameback 38 or 40 percentblack, [JudgeHiroshi] Fujisaki sawtoit that noneof those blacks were on the jury,” he told CNN Portions of the interview were broadcast Friday. The rest was scheduled to be aired Monday. Fujisaki retired last month. Attempts to contact him through the court were unsuccessful Simpsonsaid blacks were eliminated from the jury pool if they said he had not been convicted of anything and if they assumed he wasinnocentuntil provenguilty The juryin the wrongful-death caseconsisted of nine whites, one Latino, one Asian and one person of black and Asian ancestry. saw or how long she saw it.” EE.Ao er SAVE 25% ENTIRE STOCK OF MEN’S & CHILDREN’S SWIMWEAR Men’s swimwearfrom your favorite makers Does notincludeactive swimwear, Children’s swimwear: INFANT * TODDLER GIRLS 4-14 * BOYS4-20 Selection variesby store. Limited to stock on hand. Basic, non-keasonal merchandise is not included. Sorry, we Cannot accept phoneor mail orders on clearance merchandise. Visit our Web Site: hiip//www dillards.com Shop Monday-Saturday 10: and Gunday 12-6 at ail Dillard's locations We welcome your Dillard's Creda Card, The American & Le Card, Diners Club International, Mastercard? Visa® and The Discover Card 4 A |
