Expert witness firearms identification?

Grizzly 45

Folks,
A question for the more academically qualified amongst youse.
Am thinking and it was suggested to me that I should try to set up as an expert witness for firearms related matters here,as it seems there isnt anyone who is qualified or known,apart from the Garda tech dept.
So does anyone know what the academic qualifications are here?[apart from a good knowledge on firearms],what "piece of paper" do you need to be recognised as as qualified expert witness??Or what would be a good starting point?
TIA

rrpc

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Folks,
A question for the more academically qualified amongst youse.
Am thinking and it was suggested to me that I should try to set up as an expert witness for firearms related matters here,as it seems there isnt anyone who is qualified or known,apart from the Garda tech dept.
So does anyone know what the academic qualifications are here?[apart from a good knowledge on firearms],what "piece of paper" do you need to be recognised as as qualified expert witness??Or what would be a good starting point?
TIA

I don't think I've ever heard of such a piece of paper in this country. Mostly expert witnesses have their expertise vouched by (a) their qualifications and (b) their experience.

You may be entering into the realms of forensic science with a firearms specialisation which would be a rare enough beast here.

You may have to think of the kind of questions you would be asked in a court on firearms matters that would be answered by your expertise and work backwards.

My sis-in-law is a forensic psychiatrist and that's a *highly* specialised area. I think she was one of only three or four in the UK when she lived there and she absolutely hated going to court. Imagine being asked stupid questions by lawyers with only a rudimentary knowledge of psychiatry and who don't listen to the answers?

My idea of hell! :eek:

bunny shooter

Tom Clonan ? He'd be your man

Grizzly 45

So become a journalist then???:D:D:D
Might be Hell,but the $$$ are good.

rrpc

bunny shooter wrote: »

Tom Clonan ? He'd be your man

You're back!! :eek:

What happened? get lonely?






I had the flowers bought and all....

bunny shooter

rrpc wrote: »

You're back!! :eek:

What happened? get lonely?






I had the flowers bought and all....

Flowers :eek: aw, how sweet ! Ya missed ye all

Kryten

The only known qualification in this state is the Fitter Armourers qualification in the Defence Forces. More specifically the Instructors in the Army Ordnance School.

They have a comprehensive syllabus which covers most firearms and firearm types, not just what the Defence forces use. They cover everyting from bolt actions, pistols right up to Mortars. The fitter armourer course alone takes 3 years.

I cannot comment on any equivelent qualifications in the Gardai, as I have not served in the Gardai.

Vegeta

Well a lot of the questions would be the following surely

"How can you say for certain, the bullet found in that body/house wall/car, came from that gun?"

They wont be asking what era the gun came from or when it was made and for who. They will want to link the gun to the crime. period.

That means doing experiments with guns. So you'd need all the equipment and the space for it and more than likely being certified to do so.

Jonty

Vegeta wrote: »

Well a lot of the questions would be the following surely

"How can you say for certain, the bullet found in that body/house wall/car, came from that gun?"

They wont be asking what era the gun came from or when it was made and for who. They will want to link the gun to the crime. period.

That means doing experiments with guns. So you'd need all the equipment and the space for it and more than likely being certified to do so.

Isn't that the job of the Garda Lab???

Grizzly 45

Vegeta wrote: »

Well a lot of the questions would be the following surely

"How can you say for certain, the bullet found in that body/house wall/car, came from that gun?"

They wont be asking what era the gun came from or when it was made and for who. They will want to link the gun to the crime. period.

That means doing experiments with guns. So you'd need all the equipment and the space for it and more than likely being certified to do so.

Yes,that is more ballistics a science in itself.
I'm talking more on the line of; "In your expert opinion could this firearm been used in the manner described by the prosecution's case?" Or "could this firearm have been "readily converted " to fire modern day ammo??
IOW somone who could dispute /affirm paticular evidence on technical grounds or knowledge??

meathstevie

I think the Garda Lab's role is being expert witness for the prosecution. Grizzly might be thinking of being the opposite, an expert acting on behalf of the defence trying to rebuke the prosecutions expert evidence.

For the practicalities I think you should be looking at the likes of gunsmiths' qualifications, a degree in forensic sciences maybe...

Vegeta

Jonty wrote: »

Isn't that the job of the Garda Lab???

I would think so yes

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Yes,that is more ballistics a science in itself.
I'm talking more on the line of; "In your expert opinion could this firearm been used in the manner described by the prosecution's case?" Or "could this firearm have been "readily converted " to fire modern day ammo??
IOW somone who could dispute /affirm paticular evidence on technical grounds or knowledge??

So the Garda Lab would be the expert witness for the prosecutors case and you'd be on the defence side of things. Ohhhh ok I see it a bit clearer now.

Still don't know how many cases you'd get. If the Garda Lab say it was used, providing results from experiments and lab analysis, then how will you refute that?

If the Garda Lab say they cant determine if it was used then you're not needed as the prosecutor cant link the firearm and the crime.

While it would be a sweet job I would do some digging to see what kind of market is there for it before I spend money on some courses.

cavan shooter

Expert and calling oneself an expert is a rock I have seen many a so called expert founder on.

As with any argument the court will rely on you having a knowledge of something above and beyond what the normal "professional" and lay person might have on the chosen topic.

As an expert, you can give "opinion" but you need to be able to back the opinion up with hard evidence on your topic. Now what topic to go for:

Ballistics
Chemistry
Wound profile
Firearms handling
et etc

When an expert is introduced a lot of time is spent on his/her qualifications background experience etc etc, prior to evidence being heard, and then you get grilled by the other side on your "expertise".

When it comes down to it expert vs expert is what it is all about " Who is the better,(in the eyes of the court) so the more experience you have in the chosen field the better because you'll have to trump the other expert

chem

Look for a job with myth busters:pac:;)