Calling On All Firearms History Buffs?

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Ladies & Gentlemen:

The subject of infamous guns used in major crimes was brought up at work
today; and no one could say for sure what type of .22 caliber handgun
was used by Sirhan Sirhan to assassinate 1968 Presidential hopeful, the
late Robert Kennedy? Wasn't it an el-chepo, like an RG or a Clerke? Lots
on inquiring minds want too know~!

 

[Kruzr]

It was an Iver Johnson 8-shot revolver.

 

[Onmilo]

Yep, Iver Johnson.
California Department of Justice still holds that revolver in their evidence locker.

 

[RPCVYemen]

California Department of Justice still holds that revolver in their evidence locker.

That piqued my curiosity - how long will they likely hold that gun in their evidence locker? If an gun had been used to commit a crime, do the police have to hold onto it as long as there is any chance that an appeal could result in a re-trial? I am guessing that would mean until the felon dies or is released. Does anyone know the law on this?

Mike

 

[44AMP]

Most Depts. will hold until final case disposition

However, some guns, like Sirhan's revolver or Oswald's rifle will never be let go.

 

[Logan5]

how long will they likely hold that gun in their evidence locker? If an gun had been used to commit a crime, do the police have to hold onto it as long as there is any chance that an appeal could result in a re-trial? I am guessing that would mean until the felon dies or is released.

It varies by state... Generally yes, someone stores the evidence until a decision is administratively final.

Long story short, in the event of a conviction, it probably goes in a box on a shelf in a lock up, and then no one thinks about it ever again unless they want to scare the interns. 3-5 years later someone in the prosecutor's appellate division might request the box, but if not it will probably be there until they run low on space or there's a fire.

It works fine with your typical things, but one time I had an apple core that was a semi-crucial piece of evidence in a murder trial. It sat in a ziploc in various evidence lockers for close to three years before the case came to trial, when I was introduced to it. Couldn't see the probative value... plus it was just nasty.

I'm pretty confident that they are holding this one for the obvious reasons, and normal procedure does not apply.

 

[tincat2]

Famous guns

i remember reading somewhere that the gun used by Jack Ruby to shoot Oswald was auctioned for a goodly sum and then the purchaser went waving it around in D.C. to show it off and was arrested with the gun being promptly confiscated in the process. wonder if the guy got his purchase back out of the deal?