Expert can’t link fragments to rifle, inquest hears
Mar 04, 2011
Bullet fragments found in the bodies of five of the eight hostages killed in the Manila bus tragedy last August could not be matched to any specific M16 rifle, an inquest heard yesterday.
The Coroner’s Court also heard that the eight hostages were shot at a distance of no less than 41 centimeters.
Ballistics expert Superintendent Raymond Chan Siu-kei testified on the 14th day of the Hong Kong inquest into the deaths. He said he tried to identify 23 bullet fragments and 86 cartridge cases collected at the scene. However, some fragments were either too small or did not contain rifling marks for analysis.
Sacked police officer Rolando Mendoza, armed with an M16 rifle and a 45 calibre pistol, hijacked a bus carrying 21 Hongkongers on August 23. Six were released before the shootings and seven who remained on the bus were injured.
Bullet fragments found in the bodies of Ken Leung Kam-wing, 58, Fu Cheuk- yan, 39, Yeung Yee-wa, 44, Yeung Yee-kam, 46, and Wong Tze-lam, 51, could not be specifically matched to Mendoza’s rifle or any other, the court heard.
Chan also confirmed that two cartridge cases and four bullet fragments fired from a 45 calibre pistol did not come from Mendoza’s gun. They could not be matched to any other specific gun.
“The Philippine police did not provide information that they used this [type of gun],” he said. Asked whether the Philippine police were co-operative, Chan hesitated and said that working together was “mostly smooth”.
Chan concluded that the deceased were shot from at least 41 centimetres away as there were no burn marks on the skin. But that rested on the assumption that nothing, such as clothes or hair, was in the way of the bullet entering the body, he said.
Questioned by Coroner Michael Chan Pik-kiu, Raymond Chan said: “We usually inspect people’s clothes … but in the case, the incident did not happen in Hong Kong and the evidence was incomplete.” He said he could not find most of the clothing from the eight dead.
“You don’t have the most important information … How can you then say that it matches with being shot from more than 16 inches [41 centimetres] away?” the coroner asked. Raymond Chan said some victims were hit on uncovered parts of their bodies. Tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn, 31, was shot in the neck, and Yeung Yee-kam near her ear.
Chan found 53 cartridge cases from Mendoza’s rifle and one from his pistol on the bus. He also found nine cartridge cases from unidentified M16 rifles. None of the fragments found on the bus could be matched.
A government spokesman said Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen had urged the Philippine government to take all necessary action to assist the Hong Kong coroner’s inquest into the incident during a meeting with Philippine consul general Claro Cristobal yesterday.
The spokesman said the Philippine president had assured Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen that the Philippine government would render assistance to facilitate the inquest in November, but none of the 116 Philippine witnesses had confirmed they would attend the inquest.
Source: http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=2af07e0b5ab7e210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong+Kong&s=News
SCMP
Maggie Ng
Manila residents and tourists spending a vacation in Philippines prefer to travel out of town from Manila to the north to visit Subic, Pampanga, Angeles City and Clark Philippines. While many areas of the Philippines are plagued by crime and security concerns, Clark continues to impress the travel and tourism observers with its immaculately low crime records. Other features of Clark that attract family tourists and those visitors that are health sensitive include low pollution, peace and quiet ambiance and a most welcome absence of traffic congestion.
Many are selling off their assets to start a new life in Philippines, taking advantage of the standard-of-living differential to start a business or just enjoy living in a tropical country. With careful planning, the move to Philippines can work out brilliantly or it can be a painful mistake.
This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon.
For assistance with organizing and planning weddings and garden receptions, log on to http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com
For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
If this article about Clark is useful to you, please click here to contact us to tell us what more you wish to know about this article or Clark Philippines, which can be something about Clark investment, about Clark resorts, about Clark Swimming and Leisure or simply general news about Clark.
Please send questions to Editor@ClarkPhilippines.com. Leave your name, email address, contact numbers and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Information received will not be disclosed.
Random
Search
Contact Clark Philippines
Delectable Executive Meals
Philippine Peso Exchange Rate