Phantom Shot

[Bob Prudhomme]

It only matters if you are interested in the truth.

I am interested in the truth, do you know what it is?

You want the truth??? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!!

But seriously, here is the anatomical truth, as I understand it.

The cervical vertebrae, all seven of them, are neatly stacked in a pile and sit atop of the thoracic vertebrae. Each vertebra has a projection out each side, and these are known as the "transverse processes".

JFK was shot, or so we are told, at the level of the join between cervical vertebra C7 and thoracic vertebra T1. It is an anatomical fact that the right transverse process of the T1 vertebra is longer than the transverse process of the C7 vertebra. We are told that the bullet missed the tip of the C7 transverse process but grazed the upper edge of the T1 transverse process, and that this was what made the downward travelling bullet level out and carry on to Connally's armpit. What made it turn down again at Connally's armpit is something no one has quite been able to figure out. It should be also pointed out that the space between the C7 transverse process and the T1 transverse process is not large enough for a 6.5mm bullet to pass through.

Anyways, for a bullet to enter the upper back (or lower neck, take your pick), miss the tip of the C7 right transverse process and still travel through the right side of the trachea would require that bullet to be travelling a right to left course through the neck at a minimum angle of 23° from a line drawn through the centre of the spine and sternum. As the Sniper's Nest was only 9° laterally from a line drawn longitudinally through the limo, JFK would have had to have his shoulders turned to the right a minimum of 14°, which he did not do.

This would only get the bullet through JFK's neck without hitting vertebrae; how it then found its way to the right again to hit Connally's armpit is another mystery.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...WHD48V.jpg

Below, from Gray's Anatomy, is a cross section of the neck at the C6 vertebra, which is similar in size to C7. The vertebra is shown in speckled. The bullet would have to clear the outside edge of the transverse process, shown here projecting to the left, and go on to hit the outer left portion of the trachea, shown at the top of the drawing. Note the close proximity of the carotid artery to the path of the bullet.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...ray384.png

Cross section of neck at T1. Vertebra shown in light brown, trachea at top of drawing.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...39311W.jpg

Just to break up the monotony, here is one about killing trees.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...de1cdb.jpg

Just to give you some idea of the sea of blood vessels the Magic Bullet had to navigate.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...ages-3.jpg