By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — Dr. Randeep Mann, accused in the 2009 bombing that critically injured the chairman of the Arkansas Medical Board, said on more than one occasion that he wished he could kill members of the board, a friend of Mann testified at his federal trial today.

During emotional testimony, a sometimes tearful Gerald Riley of Russellville said Mann was upset with the board, which had revoked his license to prescribe narcotics, and said that “they need to suffer like I’m suffering.”

“He never mentioned any particular person to me,” said Riley, adding that Mann said “he wished he could kill those (expletive).”

Riley also testified that a week after the bombing that wounded Medical Board chairman Dr. Trent Pierce, Mann asked him if he felt the bombing was justified.

“Doc said, ‘Gerald, did you ever think the explosion … did exactly what it was supposed to? It was supposed to make the person suffer.’”

Riley testified he told Mann “Nobody needs to suffer that way.” He said Mann did not respond to his answer.

Riley testified on the seventh day of the Russellville physician’s trial on charges of using a weapon of mass destruction against a person or property. Mann also faces illegal weapons charges and his wife, Sangeeta, is being tried with him on obstruction charges.

Pierce was critically injured in February 2009 when a grenade exploded in the driveway of his West Memphis home. He has since returned to his medical practice and his position on the state Medical Board.

Prosecutors allege Mann conspired in the bombing out of revenge for what he expected would be the board’s move to strip him of his medical license after suspending his license to prescribe painkillers. A Medical Board investigation found Mann over-prescribed drugs and that 10 of his patients died as a result.

Riley, a patient of Mann’s, said he and the doctor shared an interest in guns. He testified he purchased weapons from Mann, a federally licensed weapons dealer, and that they sometimes traveled to gun shows together.

During cross examination by Mann’s defense attorney, Riley described Mann as “a good man” and said he believed that Mann was frustrated when he threatened the board.

“I took it as venting, venting his frustration,” Riley said.

Riley also testified that after he was interviewed by Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosive agents, Sangeeta Mann urged him to get an attorney and said that she and her husband would pay for one if he wished.

She also urged him not to cooperate with authorities, Riley testified.

Also today, Gary Schiable, a manager in the Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives’ National Firearms Act Branch, testified that two grenade launchers found in Mann’s home were properly registered with the federal government, but that 98 grenades authorities found buried not far from Mann’s home in London were not registered.

The grenades were not of the same type as the one used in the Pierce bombing, and scientists testified Tuesday that tests for DNA and fingerprints turned up nothing to link the weapons to Mann.

Schiable said 114 rifles and automatic weapons found in Mann’s residence were registered with the NFAB. A .12 gauge shotgun and a machine guns were not properly registered, he said.

Mann lawyer Blake Hendrix of Little Rock argued his client possessed the shotgun and machine gun legally and that the national weapons registration database may have been in error.