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Expert Witness assist in Raoul Moat news analysis

Expert Witness analysis of audio recorded during the Raoul Moat stand-off has suggested three shots were fired in the space of around three seconds. The sounds are consistent with the XREP tasers discharged by two police officers, and the shotgun fired by Moat.

The audio footage captured by a Sky News, was examined by two leading forensic consultants, firearms expert David Dyson, and audio analyst expert Iain McArthur.

Although the order in which the weapons were fired remains unclear, this analysis gives an indication of the frantic few seconds which led to the fugitive's death.

The recording was enhanced so the experts were able to isolate three separate sounds, all of which were consistent with either a shotgun or a shotgun-based taser.

The quality of the tape is not perfect due to the increase in noise coming from the police, their dogs and the noise among journalists nearby.

Despite one of the shots sounding louder than the other two, the experts warned it would be unwise to use this to differentiate between the tasers and Moat's shotgun. As the sound of the shots can be affected by the direction of the camera's microphone, the surrounding trees and foilage and weather comditions.

The rapid succession with which the shot sounds appear to follow each other will raise questions about whether a spasm induced by the taser caused Moat to pull the trigger and kill himself.