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Articles » The Psychological Profiles of Killers
Experts Should Not Be Asked Why
Tina Chiu
A shooting reconstruction expert is usually placed on a witness stand to either prove or disprove the intent behind a bullet. In actuality, this expert has no scientific basis on which to declare such a statement. Only psychiatrists and psychologists have the ability to do so. Shooting reconstruction experts can never answer why the incident happened. Attorneys usually present questions in the form of scientific jargon so that the experts can only reply either yes or no. For example, there are the series of "isn't it possible" inquiries which are often cleverly phrased so that the experts can only answer yes. After all, anything's possible. Shooting reconstruction witnesses should not have to answer "intent" questions. Such questions should be left for psychiatrists or the jury to answer.
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Garrison, D.H. Jr,
Intent Behind the Bullet, Association of Firearm & Toolmark Examiners Journal, Oct. 1993.
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