The victims were shot at close range, and in the case of the twins and June (initially) whilst in bed and NB (latterly) while seated so it is difficult to see how the perpetrator could miss? The only shot that seems to have a sort of missed was the shot fired at NB whilst he was going downstairs.
JB is described in the CoA document as a "good shot". He was also described as a "marksman" when in the cadets. Surely he would be aware of the limitations of the weaponry/ammo? Is it possible to have expert precision with an owned rifle and yet be amateurish when it comes to appreciating its (rifle and ammo) capabilities?
If the shots were likely to be heard by neighbours then I struggle to understand how SC was not alerted to the commotion?
I just don't know 8-)(--) All I can be certain of is that psychologically SC fits the profile and JB does not.
A marksman means simply that he hit enough stationary targets with an air rifle to win a marksman badge. Scores are calculated by how many targets you hit out of aset number of shots. Each target is worth a certain amount of points. That has nothing at all to do with understanding the effect of 22 caliber shots on the body. People who use 22s to kill humans know their optimal utility is in the head though a lucky shot in the chest could kill.
Being a marksman years earlier with an air rifle doesn't necessarily translate into being a good shot with other weapons. I am a much better shot with an M-16 than an AKM (the military version of the Ak-47). There is a difference between shooting stationary targets and people who move around.
The interesting thing is that he wanted a semiautomatic gun for the murders. He wanted a semiautomatic shotgun. That is only used for game. Isn't it interesting that he supposedly needed a gun for shooting vermin and targets but wanted a gun no good for either... Since he didn't want to go game hunting and a semi-auto shotgun is for game but is not considered sporting he had to accept a 22. That is the only semi-auto with a sizable magazine his father would agree to buy. Since he wasn't paying for it he had to settle for it.
If he had bouht the gun Jeremy wanted then what?
1) Nevill probably would have died in the bedroom so no struggle to mess things up
2) Jeremy would not have been able to come up with the stupid lie about taking the gun out and leaving it out because the shot he would have loaded to kill a rabbit would not be the same choice he would use for killing his family.
So the ironic thing is that some of the things that tripped him up probably would not have happened. On the flip side the louder sound might have woken up the kids and have made his life harder in that regard.