Nine holes were from outgoing and four were from incoming shots, she said. Earlier, a military official testified that three surveillance helicopters were shot at as they approached the compound during the raid. It took me by surprise because we were not anticipating any fire from the compound. Government lawyers presented jurors with a gashed metal panel from the rear of Petit's helicopter that supposedly was caused by a bullet shot from the compound. Under cross-examination Petit conceded he could not tell whether the gunfire came from sect members or from friendly fire from other agents.
Plaintiffs claim that during the initial raid federal agents fired indiscriminately.
They also allege that on the day the siege ended, federal agents violated an approved plan when they had tanks punch holes in the building to spray tear gas, contributed to or caused at least some of the three fires that engulfed the compound, and failed to have firefighting equipment at the scene. To Dismiss Denied After plaintiffs rested their case, U.S. district Judge Walter Smith without comment denied government attorneys' request to dismiss the case. U.S. Attorney Michael Bradford claimed that evidence presented since June 19 when the trial began failed to prove the government shares responsibility for the deaths of more than 80 people killed in the raid and seven weeks later on the final day of the sect's standoff with the government. Bradford estimated the government could wrap up its case in two weeks. A five-member jury will act only as an advisory panel to Smith, who will deliver the verdict.