Fort Pierce (US): An FBI sniper on Thursday testified about the effectiveness of a hiding place chosen by a man accused of attempting to assassinate former US President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course last year.

Sniper testimony on distance and rifle

FBI Special Agent Nicholas Schnelle said the sniper position along the fence of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach was about 126 feet (38 metres) away from the sixth hole and was concealed by vegetation.

"It's close and unobstructed," Schnelle said.

Schnelle told the court that the SKS rifle recovered from the scene had an effective range of about 350 metres (1,150 feet), nearly ten times the distance from the hiding spot to the green. He added that any competent marksman could have hit a human-sized target with iron sights, and the scope found at the scene would have made the task easier.

Sixth day of trial proceedings

Thursday marked the sixth day of the trial of Ryan Routh, who prosecutors allege spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf on September 15, 2024, at the West Palm Beach club.

Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and multiple firearm offences.

US District Judge Aileen Cannon initially set aside more than three weeks for the trial at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse. However, prosecutors said they expect to conclude their case on Friday. Routh, representing himself, is expected to begin presenting his defence on Monday. He has indicated he will call a firearms expert and two character witnesses, though it remains unclear if he will testify.

Testimony on airport visit

Also on Thursday, Detective Kenny Smith of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said a man resembling Routh had visited Palm Beach International Airport about a week before the alleged attempt. Smith testified he saw security videos showing the man entering the parking garage, moving to an atrium to watch Trump’s plane take off, and then leaving.

During cross-examination, Routh asked, “Is it illegal to go to the airport and take pictures of airplanes?”

Smith replied it was legal.

Routh further questioned Smith about a video showing the man speaking to a security guard about an unattended bag later retrieved. Smith confirmed he had seen that footage, though it had not been shown in the prosecution’s questioning.

Earlier Secret Service account

A Secret Service agent testified last week that he had spotted Routh before Trump came into view. The agent said Routh aimed his rifle at him, prompting the agent to open fire. Routh allegedly dropped the weapon and fled without firing.

A witness later told the court he saw a person running from the area after hearing gunshots. The witness was flown by police helicopter to a nearby interstate, where Routh was arrested, and confirmed it was the same individual.

Context of previous attack

Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived another attempt on his life during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. In that incident, the gunman fired eight shots, one grazing Trump’s ear, before being fatally shot by a Secret Service counter-sniper.