This article does not say a ballistics expert displayed the shirt. Additionally Ms. Faulkner, contrary to the '95 Post article, the court transcript excerpt cited in your letter does not identify Heftner as a ballistics expert. This excerpt is part of a series of questions where the prosecutor is asking Heftner to identify various articles of clothing worn by your husband that Heftner collected and turned over to homicide detectives. Officer Heftner, under direct questioning from the prosecutor, does not identify himself as a ballistics expert. If so, you failed to note that development in your letter.
Corroboration is a method reporters employ to access credibility.
There was no corroboration in that 1995 article that anyone else in that packed courtroom observed Abu-Jamal smile at you. The 1995 article could have made a tremendous contribution to increasing the credibility of your account of Abu-Jamal smiling by quoting one or both of the two individuals that your letter states also witnessed this heinous act. Another element impacting the credibility of this account is the lack of contemporaneous confirmation of the smiling incident. Yet, this article does not state that the defendant's mean-spirited smile caused your tears. Ms. Faulkner, you criticize critics of Abu-Jamal's conviction for laying blame in improper places.