If we believe the claim that the murderer fired 20 shots that afternoon, with Robert struck 11 times and Linda 9, it would mean that all 15 shots aimed at the couple hit their target as they ran northwards. If the killer achieved an even spread of shots, hitting one victim 8 times and the other 7, what are the chances that both managed this 75 feet journey? If the spread of shots was more unequal, such as 9 and 6, or 10 and 5, then there must be serious doubts that one of the victims could achieve this distance. Whatever the case, the shooter has a clear line of sight from this position.
If newspaper reports of 26 casings being found that day were true (and the killer was unlikely to miss as he approached the stricken couple where they fell and fired at point blank range), it would make the shooter less of an "expert marksman", striking the couple 9 times from the 15 shots as they ran for their lives. An even spread of 5 and 4 hits (depending on the part of the body struck) would give Robert and Linda a greater chance of achieving 75 feet in distance than all 15 shots hitting their mark as previously discussed.
In absence of certainty that any fists were exchanged that afternoon (despite the autopsy making this an option), one possibility is that Robert got into a verbal confrontation with the killer which put a severe dampener on the couple's day out. Deciding that it was probably best to head home after this unsavoury encounter, they may have opted to walk away from the beach, but the third party, devoid of any anger control, chose to escalate the matter into unwarranted territory and started firing at the couple. Even if some blows were traded between Robert and the unknown individual on the beach, maybe Robert didn't believe the man would resort to the level of firing his weapon at them. Any number of scenarios could have occurred on June 4th 1963, but the notion of a man firing 15 shots at Robert and Linda the moment they started running away from him, which all hit their mark, appears like the least likeliest option based on the 75 feet distance they both managed to achieve.
Autopsy surgeon, Dr. John Blanchard, said there were some powder burns on the bodies and estimated that the couple had been dead for at least 24 hours at the time of their discovery, implying that the killer fired the initial 15 shots from a fixed position and then moved to the location where the couple fell, stood over them, and ruthlessly shot them from near touching distance. He then chose to drag both bodies approximately 30 feet northwards into a nearby shack, effectively removing the victims from sight. There could have been any number of reasons behind this unusual decision.
Six in depth articles examining the murders of Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards.
The Ballistics. The Shack. The Rope. The Beach. The Ammo. Pistol or Rifle?