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Fire science investigator Timothy Hattwick told jurors he disagreed with the fire marshal's initial report that the fire inside the rowhouse was intentionally set in three locations: the sofa, loveseat and under a table.
An outside investigator retained by the prosecution, Thomas Schneiders, previously testified and confirmed they could tell it was arson, because of the V-shaped burn patterns in those three spots.
Hattwick countered by saying it's common to see those patterns in a "full-room involvement" when everything burns. He also said the fire science in 1985 lacked documentation on those fuel packages, the pieces of furniture, and the cause of the fire should have been "undetermined."
Hattwick contends there's no firm evidence of multiple points of origin. During cross-examination, prosecutors pressed Hattwick on his credentials, suggesting that he inflated his resume and experience.
Daniel Dougherty, 59, is accused of intentionally setting the fire that killed his 3- and 4-year-old sons. His two previous convictions were overturned on appeals.