Robert Cottage trial 2.
The trial of former BNP activist Robert Cottage on offences under the Explosives Acts has been continuing at Manchester Crown Court. Lawyers and experts have been arguing over whether Cottage had the correct ingredients to make a worthwhile bomb or if he only had sufficient household materials to scare intruders away with thunderflashes. The Lancashire Telegraph reports that Cottage's defence lawyer, Andrew Nuttall, told the court that
...key ingredients for making explosives were not found at Cottage's house, including charcoal to make gunpowder and sulphuric acid.Some forensic expert countered that it was possible to make weaker bombs using other acids.The solicitor said: "If someone had it in their mind to make an explosive they would order sulphuric acid - that is one of the key ones they would really go for."
Talk about counting angels on pinheads.
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4 comments:
It's not angels on pinheads. If they have only half the ingredients needed to make an explosion it rather undermines the prosecution! Let's see what the jury thinks when they've heard all the evidence.
I'm always sceptical of arguments about people having bomb making ingredients. I reckon a minimum of 99% of households contain enough components of a crude explosive device, so simply having these things isn't much of a claim. Having enough quantity to make something significant is a different matter.
Agreed, John. I remember Clarkson making big bangs with custard powder; with a microwave he was deadly.
I'm half tempted to rustle something up using what's under my kitchen sink, just to prove the point...
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