Cross Examine Dr. Avery Atkinson

NEW* Xanga -- Prosecution: easily available materials contained in bomb
inexperienced bomb maker would be ineffective
would still release irritants into the air
failing chemist would not consider oxygen

Cross for Avery Atkinson
Avery Atkinson – invents explosives, ways to deliver them – but is not a bomb technician
expert in military explosives, chemical agents?

Do you, in your work, have the responsibility to diffuse explosive devices prepared by unknown individuals? (the answer should be “no.”)

Is this the witness statement that you made?
line 25 – “I think Dr. Killian exaggerates the effects of the combination. . . . “
Have you ever in experience had reason to exaggerate the effects of a combination of chemicals? Is there any obvious reason you can think of why an expert such as yourself -- or Dr. Killian -- would exaggerate in a trial such as this the effects of a combination of chemicals? Why would Dr. Killian do that? (But that isn’t a leading question – Could it be included in the closing statement? – if we need rebuttal to what Avery says?

You say that time bombs are complicated and sensitive devices, but in your knowledge, do amateurs ever make time bombs? Could an amateur assemble a dangerous, and even deadly time bomb?

If you were working with a combination of Doxene and Paint thinner, would you feel more comfortable working with it in an airtight room? (trying to get to the idea that it might explode in the presence of oxygen).

You assumed that the bomb was placed in an almost full trash can, correct? Were you there to see the trash can? So do you know how full the trash can was?

You say that claim that we can't know when or if the bomb would have gone off, correct?
You also said that makes it hard to determine who the intended target was, or if there were even a target, correct? When someone assembles or attempts to assemble a time bomb, would you assume that they have some sort of intended target? When someone places an explosive device, or an attempt at an explosive device in a public place, would it be reasonable to assume that that person intends to harm someone? (You may get an objection that Atkinson cannot testify as to anyone's intentions. ) (You could answer: Dr. Atkinson is an expert on the use of explosives. I would assume that she would have an understanding of what they are normally used for.)