Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns,alt.politics.org.batf,alt.politics.usa.misc From: [w--g--s] at [lonestar.utsa.edu] (William W. Hughes) Subject: Branch Davidian Trial - 14 Jan 94 Date: Sat, 15 Jan 1994 04:07:03 GMT Branch Davidian Trial Update - Friday, 14 Jan 94 Page 1A Headline - TESTIMONY FOCUSES ON WEAPONS, PARTS Prosecutors display "dozens" of fire-damaged weapons and parts in an attempt to prove that the Davidians were "war-ready" and had a "huge arsenal." Prosecution has an FBI firearms expert scheduled to testify Friday. Defense, on cross-examination, were able to show that "many of the more than 200 weapons ... or parts ... were legal to own in Texas." Some of the weapons/parts were introduced in photos, rather than being physical- ly present. [continued page 9A] Subhead - Bunker contents main focus of testimony Page 9A photo caption : "Officials carry a huge wooden box that contains a model of the Mount Carmel compound toward the entrance of the federal courthouse in San Antonio, where 11 Branch Davidian members are on trial." [The box appears to be about 5' wide, 6' long and about 18" high.] Defense is attempting to show that few of the Branch Davidians had access to weapons. Defense did show that about half of the weapons entered into evidence by the prosecution were found in one small area, and that most of those were found "stored." Texas Ranger Ray Coffman said that 43 bodies and 133 weapons were found in the above-ground concrete room, but that 111 of the weapons were rifles stored in wooden racks. Coffman said that the bodies of 27 chil- dren and 16 adults were found in the room; medical examiner reports say 27 adults and 16 children. "Attorneys said later it appeared the officer had 'misspoken.'" Coffman was asked if he smelled any gas in the room, which would strengthen the prosecution claims that the fire was set by the Davidians; "'All I smelled was rotten bodies. It was a horrible smell.'" Five other Texas Rangers testified Thursday. Prosecutors had each Ranger testify about the "violence-oriented materi- al" introduced as evidence. Defense countered by having the officers identify other items found -- Bibles, jewelery, photos, baseball card collection, a calendar with birthdays marked, etc. "Asked whether any juice was found in the bunker, one officer" said cases and bottles (and "'a case of Olympia beer'" Coffman) were found in a walk-in cooler in the bunker. [The following section is important enough, in my opinion, to be quoted verbatim.] "Among the weapons identified by the Rangers were AK-47 assault rifles, pistols, grenades, shotguns and numerous rifles. Initially, the officers identified some of the rifles as legal AR- 15s and illegal M-16s, a military version of AR-15s. However, officers admitted that despite extensive law-enforcement training, and in some cases military and combat experience, it is diffi- cult or impossible to tell the difference between the two weapons with- out intense scrutiny. Rangers also testified they recovered 400,000 rounds of ammunition, both spent and live, including hundred of rounds of .50-caliber ammuni- tion." = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Page 9A Headline - SAN ANTONIANS HELP IOWAN WHOSE MOM DIED AT COMPLEX [Portrait (passport) type photo of Darren Borst, taken from an approxi- mately 2 o'clock position] Darren arrived in San Antonio with little money, and no arrangements for quarters. "He couldn't even get into the courtroom, because he did not have the required coat and tie." Borst was able to get some clothing at Goodwill using $25 of $40 given him by a stranger. Borst is sleeping on the sofa of one of the protesters whom he met when he arrived. After his story appeared on local TV, he received "'at least 20'" offers of places to stay. He has also been fed by people who are interested in hearing his side of the story. "'People have been great.'" Borst Marylin and Virgil Sebelien, both formerly from Iowa, have offered "'a hot bath and a warm bed'". Marylin said they invited Borst because he "'is lonely and, under the circumstances, I don't think it's a happy trip for him.'" Borst thanked the Sebeliens for their offer, but had already linked up with Marion Thompson [male]. "'I'm sympathetic to the Davidian cause,'" says Thompson, who is inter- ested in citizen's rights. [Who says Texans ain't friendly?] ======================================================================== Administrivia This section will include corrections, personal observations & comments, and pointers to known cross-postings and archives. It will become short- er (I hope) as time goes by. - * - POSTING Posted to Usenet newsgroups talk.politics.guns, alt.politics.org.batf, and alt.politics.usa.misc, with Distribution set to "world." Please feel free to forward to other groups that you feel may be interested. Default follow-ups set to talk.politics.guns, alt.politics.org.batf and alt.politics.usa.misc. Sent to mailing list info.firearms.politics. If anybody is archiving these updates, and/or making them available for ftp, gopher, or other access, please let me know and I will include that information in further Administrivia sections. - * - I am maintaining a hardcopy file of the articles on which these updates are based. If there are any questions about my summaries, I am prepared to quote verbatim the section in question. I am not prepared to quote entire articles. In the first place, that would be a violation of the Express-News's copyright, and in the second place I do not have a scan- ner and I do not touch-type -- I hunt and peck very fast. :-) - * - DELAY - This edition of the Branch Davidian Trial Update was delayed due to the necessity of conducting a complete inventory of my backyard storage room/workshop after a burglary. Over $400 worth of tools and supplies were stolen. It has _not_ been a good week. On the other hand, the baby is doing much better; the fever broke yesterday. Turns out it was not a cold or flu; she has developed an infection in both ears. Again, thanks are extended to those who expressed their concern. I would also like to thank those who have sent notes of encouragement to me for posting these updates. - * - Summarizer comments - All personal comments, clarifications or explana- tions within the text of the Update will be bounded by brackets []. The Administrivia section is all personal comments. Double-quoted ("...") sections are taken directly from newspaper re- ports. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This summary of the Branch Davidian trial is based on articles published in the San Antonio Express-News. The original articles, and any sections quoted herein are copyrighted by the Express-News. The remainder of the summary is copyright 1994 by William W. Hughes. Copying of these sum- maries, either by hardcopy or electronic means, is authorized and en- couraged, as long as this notice remains attached and intact. "I do not work for or represent the San Antonio Express-News" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -- [w--g--s] at [lonestar.utsa.edu] (William Hughes) | In memory of 85 un-charged, UTSA doesn't agree with me. They're wrong. | un-convicted victims of the U.S. Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants | government in Waco, Texas - Politically Incorrect and proud of it! | including over 20 children.