Mexico Presents Flawed Theory in Shooting Death of American Journalist

Cambridge, Mass.) February 4, 2009 - Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) charges that Mexico's investigation into the shooting death of an American video-journalist has presented a scientifically flawed theory that ignores PHR's conclusive findings, including the discovery that one of the bullets was a ricochet.

Brad Will died of gunshot wounds while covering protests in Oaxaca in October 2006.

According to public statements made last December by Mexico's Attorney General (PGR), the PGR rejected PHR's forensic expert findings that one of the bullets that struck Mr. Will in the chest had ricocheted off a red-colored object prior to hitting him.

(snip)


PHR's ricochet theory is also supported by the findings of PHR team member Dr. Robert Bux who concluded that one of the bullets was a ricochet based on the nature of the entrance wound, the damage to the bullet and the victim's shirt. Dr. Bux is the Medical Examiner in El Paso County, Colorado and has 27 years of experience as a forensic pathologist, including work for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the Attorney General of the Republic of Mexico (PGR) on past cases.

The PGR claims that Brad Will was killed by a gunshot originating in his immediate area. A ricochet off an intermediate target supports the hypothesis of longer-range gunshots.

In a continued effort to support its theory of the case, the PGR now claims that the red substance found on the bullet by PHR was put there by one of the Oaxacan forensic examiners as a means of labeling, and the damage was produced by a chisel used during the autopsy.

"The theory presented in this case by the PGR is deeply flawed and falls apart when examined by experienced forensic experts," said PHR-IFP Director Stefan Schmitt. "It is appalling that the PGR's flawed argumentation has led to rejecting our forensic experts' findings."

(more)
http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/news-2009-2-4.html

by the rightwing Governor of Oaxaca, who were raping, beating up, kidnapping, disappearing and murdering dozens of poor people during the long teachers' protest in Oaxaca. Brad Will, an independent journalist covering these events, videotaped his murderers as he fell to the ground, dying from their bullets. They were identified. They were firing at him. But they have been protected, and this ridiculous story cocked up that he was felled by bullets coming from his direction.

Another "magic bullet" theory, it seems. Haven't we had one too many of those?

I've very glad to see the forensic experts fighting back against this lie.

I am reminded of the bald-faced lying and contrivance of RCTV, during the 2002 Bush-supported coup against Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, when they broadcast doctored footage on TV purporting to show Chavez supporters shooting opposition protesters, when the opposite was happening--Chavez supporters were being targeted by a sniper. See, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," the Irish filmmakers' documentary that exposes what RCTV did with that footage--one among many reasons Chavez had for denying RCTV's broadcast license, when it came up for renewal. (They also hosted meetings of the coup leaders--an act of treason--and broke other public broadcasting license rules.)

Corpo/fascists like Calderon, and the coup plotters in Venezuela, and our Bushwhacks, are unabashed LIARS. It's sometimes hard to get that through our heads, if we have any commitment to objectivity, evidence and truth. It continues to shock, even though we see it time and again--and then see it replicated in the corpo/fascist media. I suppose that's good. It means we're not totally cynical and jaded. But this is really dangerous behavior, because its fucks with REALITY so completely, and over time, our society will just fall apart, due to all the lies and the distrust and the delusionary states that constant lying creates.

In Brad Will's case, behind it all, is the oppression against the people of Oaxaca by the rich and the corporate. Calderon is protecting the ruling class' enforcers. It's all about crass profiteering on the backs of the poor. What a disgusting spectacle these corpo/fascists present, whether here or in other countries. They are a shame to the human race.