Photographing a print before you lift it may be standard procedure but it's got nothing to do with chain of custody. Day did not lie about anything. He was very busy all day. When Doughty came and told him to get the items of evidence packed up to be handed over to the FBI, Day had yet to around to photographing the print. He was rushed.
Yeah, that was the excuse, but Day's testimony belies that excuse.
Mr. BELIN. At what time did these same photographs which are the same as Commission Exhibit 720 and 721 of this print----
Mr. DAY.
About 8 o'clock, somewhere around 8 o'clock, in that neighborhood.
So he took the photos of the trigger guard prints around 8 PM....
When was he instructed by Curry to turn over the evidence to the FBI? Shortly before midnight. (CE 3145, p. 832)