Opinion ID: 770943
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Police Investigation and Physical Evidence

Text: 17 The prosecution also offered evidence obtained during the police investigation. Police followed up on the information provided by a witness who followed the gunmen and watched them run down the street, discard their guns in a hedge, and drive away in a grey car with a license plate of 534 TER. The police searched the hedge and retrieved a.45 caliber pistol and a 9 millimeter pistol. They matched the license plate to a grey Chevrolet registered to Sassounian at his residence in Pasadena. The police also observed Krikor Saliba, who was identified as the other gunman, at Sassounian's home, but failed to apprehend him. The police arrested Sassounian after finding him driving the grey Chevrolet near his home. 18 That evening, police searched Sassounian's home and retrieved clothing and additional guns. The police also spoke with Sassounian's brother, who gave them the blue vest. A police officer later testified that Sassounian's brother told him that both he and his brother had bad feelings toward the Turkish people. At trial, the brother denied making this statement. 19 The police performed gunshot residue tests on Sassounian and found residue on his left hand, a finding consistent with having recently fired a gun. Hydroxy guinoline tests were negative, indicating only that Sassounian could have been holding a metal object. Experts found no fingerprints on the guns. However, tests of the Chevrolet produced fingerprints of both Sassounian and Saliba. 20 A firearms expert testified that the bullets found in Arikan' body were consistent with those test-fired from the recovered guns, that the.45 caliber pistol was fired from the passenger side of the car and that the 9 millimeter pistol from the driver's side. Over the defense's objection, the expert expressed his opinion that the assassins had used a stall man tactic, in which one person stands in front of the victim's car to slow it down and allow for more accurate shooting.