For Mon, Dec 05 2005 CST6CDT (GMT-6)
Local time (above TZ):09:27
Midday at: 12:11
Length of day: 09:34

Astro Twilight Start: 05:49
Naut Twilight Start: 06:21
Civil Twilight Start: 06:55
Sunrise: 07:24
(from http://www.cmpsolv.com/cgi-bin/sunset?page=bob&exper=new99&loctype=City&loc=Lawrence%2C+KS&date=12%2F05&tz=Central&tzcustom=&q=&aviation=yes&astro=yes&day1=yes&colors=white&datefmt=0

According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, civil twilight is defined to begin in the morning, and to end in the evening when the center of the Sun is geometrically 6 degrees below the horizon. This is the limit at which twilight illumination is sufficient, under good weather conditions, for terrestrial objects to be clearly distinguished; at the beginning of morning civil twilight … the horizon is clearly defined and the brightest stars are visible under good atmospheric conditions in the absence of moonlight or other illumination. In the morning before the beginning of civil twilight … artificial illumination is normally required to carry on ordinary outdoor activities. Complete darkness, however, ends sometime prior to the beginning of morning civil twilight and begins sometime after the end of evening civil twilight.
Nautical twilight is defined to begin in the morning, and to end in the evening, when the center of the sun is geometrically 12 degrees below the horizon. At the beginning or end of nautical twilight, under good atmospheric conditions and in the absence of other illumination, general outlines of ground objects may be distinguishable, but detailed outdoor operations are not possible, and the horizon is indistinct.
(from http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/RST_defs.html)

1. Given that the attack took place at between 6:20 am and 6:40 am on December 5, 2005, it would have been dark enough so that potential attackers would have had to know Prof Mirecki’s route in advance, since only the general outline of his car would have been visible given that there are no streetlights or other illumination on either road (1400 E or 1500 E) in the locations south of Lawrence where the attack was alleged to have taken place.

2. The place which the attack took place was not on Prof Mirecki’s route to his office, and he did state that he was driving around somewhat randomly “thinking about things”. This would make it impossible for potential attackers to prepare an ambush along a regular travel route.

3. There’s nothing in evidence to show that the attackers followed Prof Mirecki from his home to the place of the attack. If this had in fact happened, why did he head out to a deserted country road instead of into a well-populated well-lit area where if an attack occurred, there would be good illumination and the possibility of witnesses?

4. If the attack took place as described, how did the attackers know that it was Prof Mirecki’s car and that Prof Mirecki was inside? They would have had to have observed the car in daylight, they would have had to see the license plate in daylight, and they would have had to have known what Prof Mirecki looks like.

Not that Mirecki would do something like that.

I’m not ready to call “bullshit” on this story, but it’s certainly starting to smell like it. Again, there are precious few facts supporting either conclusion, so I think we should be circumspect.

Steven: What made me think of it — Google the name “Kerri Drum”.

An obvious question then is, if Mirecki wanted to fake an attack, why wouldn’t he pick a more plausible setting for an ambush, like his driveway, or his parking space? Because these are populated areas surrounded by potential witnesses, who could have said, “well, I was right there and didn’t see any attacks going on.” The unnamed country lane story canot be so easily falsified.