15-02-2011, 06:09 PM
Braden's lawyer could resource an easy tactic. He could simply say Braden saw one of the many police shotguns seen in front of the Depository immediately after the assassination. There's no way to disprove this.
If you look at the Purdy questioning of Braden he is very definitely leading Braden with suggestive questioning. He realizes the Carcano doesn't have a rope sling so he immediately asks Braden "Do you remember whether there was a strap on the gun?" Purdy is in on it no doubt whatsoever. If he wasn't they would have called Braden on the timing claim with the Carcano emerging from the Depository. HSCA had a problem with this claim so they dealt with it by ignoring it and hoping no one would notice, and it worked.
If you read the Purdy cross examination Braden is very clearly speaking of seeing the police officers taking the rifle out from the Depository. Since these pictures were also widely available it is possible that is what Braden was referring to. However anyone who has seen the Depository Carcano removal photos would know right away that the thick leather strap sling was clearly visible and in no way could be mistaken as a rope or string on the barrel. That's exactly why Purdy tries to lead Braden by asking him if he saw a strap.
Purdy tries to do damage control by suggesting the rifle "wasn't" one that was being carried as evidence. What he's doing there is trying to get Braden out of his quandary by planting the suggestion that Braden saw a non-evidence rifle being carried. Braden shifts to neutral in response by saying he doesn't know anything about it only that they were carrying the gun abnormally. Braden cannot recover from his mistake because he's committed himself once he determines the gun is being carefully carried by the sling as evidence. Purdy halts all possibility of further damage by stopping the questioning. HSCA then elects not to mention the glaring fact that Braden could not have possibly seen the gun according to the confirmed timing.
If Braden used the photos of the rifle being carried out of the Depository (he must have because he specifically mentions two men) how could he have missed the obvious thick leather sling shown in those same photos?
If you look at the Purdy questioning of Braden he is very definitely leading Braden with suggestive questioning. He realizes the Carcano doesn't have a rope sling so he immediately asks Braden "Do you remember whether there was a strap on the gun?" Purdy is in on it no doubt whatsoever. If he wasn't they would have called Braden on the timing claim with the Carcano emerging from the Depository. HSCA had a problem with this claim so they dealt with it by ignoring it and hoping no one would notice, and it worked.
If you read the Purdy cross examination Braden is very clearly speaking of seeing the police officers taking the rifle out from the Depository. Since these pictures were also widely available it is possible that is what Braden was referring to. However anyone who has seen the Depository Carcano removal photos would know right away that the thick leather strap sling was clearly visible and in no way could be mistaken as a rope or string on the barrel. That's exactly why Purdy tries to lead Braden by asking him if he saw a strap.
Purdy tries to do damage control by suggesting the rifle "wasn't" one that was being carried as evidence. What he's doing there is trying to get Braden out of his quandary by planting the suggestion that Braden saw a non-evidence rifle being carried. Braden shifts to neutral in response by saying he doesn't know anything about it only that they were carrying the gun abnormally. Braden cannot recover from his mistake because he's committed himself once he determines the gun is being carefully carried by the sling as evidence. Purdy halts all possibility of further damage by stopping the questioning. HSCA then elects not to mention the glaring fact that Braden could not have possibly seen the gun according to the confirmed timing.
If Braden used the photos of the rifle being carried out of the Depository (he must have because he specifically mentions two men) how could he have missed the obvious thick leather sling shown in those same photos?