Ed Graf; Texas; Day 8 of testimony; Defence fire expert Doug Carpenter says shed fire was not only accidental - but the doors were open. Carpenter contradicts testimony from several firefighters who testified that the shed doors were closed and locked. KXXV;

STORY: "Fire expert: Shed fire was accidental, contradicts previous testimony," by reporter Adam Hammons, published by KXXV on October 16, 2014.

GIST: A fire investigator says the shed fire in 1986 was not only accidental but the doors were open. The defense brought in Thursday Doug Carpenter from Maryland who is a fire investigator and studies the behavior of fires. This is the eighth day of testimony in the capital murder retrial of Ed Graf Jr. Carpenter says he looked at all the evidence from the 1986 fire including pictures and witness statements. He also explained fire science topics to the jury to help them understand how he came to his conclusions. That includes flashover, which is the point when smoke from a singular fire builds smoke and enough heat for it to burn the entire room without the immediate transfer of the first fire. Carpenter also explained how fires can be limited by how much oxygen they receive. He also explained how certain objects burn at different temperatures, meaning a couch can catch fire at a lower temperature than possibly a metal material.

Carpenter said he examined the materials and assumed the fire could not have gotten hot enough without the air flow of the doors being open. He says there was a sky light made out of fiber glass, but with the doors closed the fire could not have gotten hot enough to melt it. So he says he believes the doors to the shed were open. This contradicts what several firemen testified about the doors being closed and locked......... Later the defense called on Katie Britt, a local clinical psychologist. She looked at previous testimony and overheard most of the witnesses testify in this trial. She said Graf's actions after the funeral where people said he was unemotional were consistent with someone in shock. The state, though, asked Britt if those actions were those of a sociopath and she could not rule that out. The defense expects to continue to call witnesses Friday and expect to have closing arguments Monday. "

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.kxxv.com/story/26808285/fire-expert-shed-fire-was-accidental-contradicts-previous-testimony

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Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;