Following a meeting with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) at the Presidential Office yesterday morning, the US-based forensic specialist Dr. Henry Lee (
"Our conversation lasted for half an hour and I confirmed that he got a fresh wound on his stomach and the wound was caused by a gunshot," Lee said at a press conference at the National Police Administration's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday afternoon.
PHOTO: CNA
Lee said that he spent almost all day yesterday in the bureau's laboratory, inspecting, reviewing and examining the evidence collected by CIB officers. He established that the jacket Chen wore during the shooting incident bore no sign of gunshot residue.
"The reasons why there was no explosive reaction on his clothes could be various, and I would not presume [to guess] at this moment," Lee said.
During his conversations with reporters, the retired commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Public Safety emphasized again that he would not lead the investigation of the case.
"I only came back to provide forensic analysis to assist local investigators. That is all," said Lee, who grew up in Taiwan.
In response to questions about the latest developments in the investigation, Lee said he could not make more facts public due to a gag order.
When asked whether he has been working on the case under any political pressure and how much he was paid to do the job, Lee said that pressure cannot be avoided. He said he was conducting his investigation for free, because he simply wants to help.
"I am not involved in any political tug of war while I am doing this," Lee said.
He said that he had cancelled two speaking engagements in the US to come to Taiwan.
"That was US$5,000 for each speech," Lee said with a smile.
He then turned to CIB Commissioner Hou You-yi (
After the 15-minute press conference, Lee flew to Tainan to conduct further research.
Accompanied by his aide Dr. Jacob Loke, retired West Valley police officer Charles Illsley, forensic photographer Calvin Ostler and Connecticut lawyer Austin McGuigan, Lee arrived in Taiwan at 5am to begin his forensic analysis of the assassination attempt on Chen and Vice President Annette Lu (
They brought along a state-of-the-art device called an "Ultralight" to help analyze potential evidence that might have been missed.
The Ultralight was invented by Illsley and Ostler. According to Illsley, it uses a special light source to illuminate trace elements and other chemical properties that are invisible to the human eye. Remains of blood stains can be detected on a wall, even under a coat of paint. Subcutaneous bruises, bite marks, residue from drugs or firearms, bodily fluids, bone fragments and even inks that have been washed away with acetone can also be detected.
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
CHIPS AND DEFENSE: Trump said the US had lost its chip business and Taipei should pay it for defense, and added that ‘we’re no different than an insurance company’ Taiwan-US relations are solid, and both sides are in agreement that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region are everyone’s concern, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday following comments by former US president Donald Trump that Taiwan “should pay” for US defense. Taiwan is thankful to the US for supporting Taiwan’s bid to participate in international organizations, Cho told a news conference in Taipei. “I know the people very well, respect them greatly. They did take about 100 percent of our chip business,” Trump told Bloomberg on June 25 in an interview that was published on Tuesday. “I think
SHOW OF SUPPORT: Taiwan has been one of the largest buyers of US defense equipment, supporting American businesses and jobs, US lawmakers said Taiwan has been paying for its own defense, a US Department of State official said on Wednesday, adding that purchases of military equipment are important to the US economy and for ensuring regional security. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was asked at a news conference about comments by former US president Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in November’s US presidential election, who said during an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek that Taiwan should pay Washington for its defense needs. “The purchases that they [Taiwan] have made not only are important, we believe, to regional security, but are important to the United States economy,”