Expert Tells of Flammables in Cult Compound
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SAN ANTONIO — Soil, shoes and other debris pulled from the burned rubble of David Koresh’s Branch Davidian compound showed traces of flammable liquids, such as gasoline and kerosene, a chemist testified Wednesday.
The testimony bolstered the government’s contention that members of the religious group started the inferno that ended their 51-day standoff with federal agents.
Eleven Davidians are charged in the deaths of four federal agents killed in the Feb. 28, 1993, shootout that precipitated the siege. Six Davidians are believed to have died in the gun battle.
Dr. Andrew Armstrong, a chemist, testified that tear gas pumped into the compound by the FBI did not spark the flames.
Armstrong specializes in identifying liquids from suspicious fires.
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