jfk

[JOEYSHABADO]

Did Lee Harvey Oswald kill JFK? Did he do it off his own bat?

[andy hughes]

This is the all-time great 'conspiracy' theory. Frankly, no-one is really sure, but there is some strong evidence that Kenedy was not, and indeed could not have been, shot from the Book Depository where Oswald's gun was found. I honestly don't think we will ever know the truth - too may important people have too much to loose, even now.

[Philtaz]

I think Oswald did it beyond all reasonable doubt.  The programmes recently shown by the BBC showed irefutably that he acted alone.  Many of the myths were de-bunked by the programme.  People have a distorted view of events even further as a result of the Oliver Stone film which was riddled with lies and inaccuracies.

Oswald was a highly skilled marksman.  You had to see his used targets from his time in the US Marines to see just how good he was.  I'd go so far as to say he was nothing short of phenomonal on the target range.  He had also taken a shot at the Texas governor one year before.  The programme showed a man aged about 70 simulating the firing and reloading of the bolt action rifle 3 times, which he did in about 8 seconds.  To a skilled marksman like Oswald this would have been nothing more than a drill and he would have done it as second nature.

As for the mythical 'magic bullet' from the Stone film this too was proven wrong.  The bullet did not deviate from its path as shown in a diagram, it was because the person sitting in front of Kennedy was in a lower seat and slightly to his right.  Apparently Kennedy remained straight-backed even after being shot(i.e. did not slump forward) because he was wearing a support brace/girdle as a result of years of chronic back pain and thus was unable to move freely.

The BBC programme was thorough and painstakingly re-enacted the scenario with unerring accuracy and left one in no doubt as to the certainty of a lone marksman working alone who shot with a high degree of accuracy.

[hugnie21]

Agree with the above. There are always conspiracy theories surrounding deaths. Surely some of them must be as simple as they seem!

[bernardo]

I agree with Philtaz.  The recent TV documentary was merely a brief overview of more detailed research.  I strongly recommend "Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK" by Gerald Posner, which explains all the main aspects of the evidence in far greater detail than can be done in a TV programme.

Unfortunately In A Pickle is obviously muddled, because the autopsy showed no such thing.  The forensic evidence is clear and overwhelming that the fatal headshot was from the back and exited at the front.

I could go on about this subject for several pages, but I don't want to bore myself.  But anyway, the short answer is (as far as we can be sure according to the evidence) yes he did do it, and yes he did act alone.