Sheehan shooting: Experts say second bullet hit the car from 40 metres away

The compilation of evidence against 40 year-old former ministerial driver and policeman Paul Sheehan continued before magistrate Aaron Bugeja today, with a ballistics expert testifying that second of the two shots fired at the car had been taken at a distance of approximately 40 metres. 

A bullet was recovered from the car's fuel pipe, they added.

Sheehan is accused of the attempted murder of motorist Stephen Smith, who had clipped the parked ministerial BMW Sheehan had been in charge of, on 19 November last year.

Today ballistics experts John Casha and Jesmond Cassar testified that from their investigations into the bullet trajectories, the first bullet had penetrated the rear bumper and the second round hit the door while it was turning the corner into Edgar Bernard street, some 40 metres away.

While the first shot was low and could not have hit anyone, the second had ricocheted several times, said the experts, adding that a bullet wound from that distance could still result in death if a vital organ was struck.

However Sheehan’ lawyer, Edward Gatt contested the evidence, telling the court that case-law had established that court experts were precluded from giving an opinion if they were members of the police force.