Final thoughts on Vincent Guinn and his 1978 testimony

[Andric Perez]

Wait a second. Until now I had been assuming (without watching the video) that it was true that Guinn's opinions were based on the firearms ID panel; but the video shows no such thing.

The only thing Bugliosi asked Guinn about the Firearms Panel's findings was if he was aware of those findings, and Guinn answered "yes." Being aware of something is not an opinion. Then Bugliosi immediately asked him whether based on his NAA analysis (at the 2:41 mark in the video below) only bullets fired from the MC hit Oswald, to which Guinn said yes.

I am "aware" of the conclusions on the HSCA and in the OJ case, for example; doesn't mean I'm an expert on DNA or nay other forensics field. Now we know with the benefit of the video that Bugliosi made sure he didn't elicit an opinion on a field outside Guinn's domain.

Therefore, no one in this thread has effectively attacked Speer's assertion that Guinn lied.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFAvJaMYbuU

Edited July 9, 2011 by Andric Perez

[Pat Speer]

The more I look at this so-called trial, the worse it gets.

That anyone could take such a thing seriously is really something.

Beyond the fact that so many key witnesses were not there e.g. Sylvia Odio, Jim Humes, Malcolm Perry etc., its very clear that somehow, some way--as Rodger Remington clearly implies in his book, BIting the Elephant-the production was designed to favor the prosecution.

In any real trial with an actually honest and prepared defense lawyer, Guinn would have been ripped open on cross examination. Or the judge would have never allowed the question.

I think Spence meant well. His cross-examination did dull the effectiveness of Guinn's testimony. But I don't think he came to the case with guns blazing, a la Bugliosi. And I doubt he knew enough about Guinn's HSCA testimony to know that Guinn had reversed himself...

There is another problem, of which DVP is more than aware. The trial originally lasted something like 21 hours. The full trial was shown in England--if I recall it was even broadcast live, spread out over 4 or 5 days. When shown in the U.S. however it had been edited down to what? 5 hours? Clearly, much of it was edited out and considered not fit for American consumption.

Making matters worse, however, is that Bugliosi, in Reclaiming History, routinely quotes the unedited transcript for which he, apparently, is the only source. I've been asking about this for years, and have found NO ONE besides Bugliosi with access to either the unedited transcript or the original broadcast.

If you know anyone with access to Spence, Jim, it might prove interesting to have them contact Spence, and see if HE was ever given a transcript, a la Bugliosi. And, if so, put it up online.

Edited July 12, 2011 by Pat Speer

[David Von Pein]

Pat,

A few years ago, I contacted Jack Duffy (Bugliosi's lawyer friend in Fort Worth) and asked him if he could possibly provide copies of the whole 21-hour 1986 docu-trial on VHS or DVD. I never received a reply from Mr. Duffy.

The reason I asked Duffy is because I was told to ask him by Vince Bugliosi himself. Vince said that Jack might have the full trial on tape.

As for Gerry Spence, you can reach him through his website, located here:

http://GerrySpence.com

He's also got a blog:

http://GerrySpence.wordpress.com

Here's a direct contact link:

http://GerrySpence.com/contact.html

Edited July 12, 2011 by David Von Pein

[Pat Speer]

Pat,

A few years ago, I contacted Jack Duffy (Bugliosi's lawyer friend in Fort Worth) and asked him if he could possibly provide copies of the whole 21-hour 1986 docu-trial on VHS or DVD. I never received a reply from Mr. Duffy.

The reason I asked Duffy is because I was told to ask him by Vince Bugliosi himself. Vince said that Jack might have the full trial on tape.

As for Gerry Spence, you can reach him through his website, located here:

http://GerrySpence.com

He's also got a blog:

http://GerrySpence.wordpress.com

Here's a direct contact link:

http://GerrySpence.com/contact.html

I contacted Spence. He told me it was too long ago for him to recall anything with accuracy. I assume from this he has no records pertaining to the mock trial, on which he can rely.

Geez, someone's gotta have the full 21 hours...