Cross-examination of Susan Brockbank

📄 Cross-examination of Susan Brockbank — Wednesday, December 11, 1996

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1996\DEC\11\CROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-SUSAN-BRO.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 30 of 57

◀ Redirect examination of Susan Brockbank Direct examination of Stephen Valerie ▶

Witness: Susan Brockbank
Examiner: Robert Blasier
Called by: Plaintiff • Date: Wednesday, December 11, 1996 • Utterances: 31

Defense attorney Blasier concludes his redirect examination of Ms. Brockbank, an SID criminalist, by establishing that box number 2 contained 446 items from multiple crime scenes — including both gloves, the knit cap, and Bronco carpeting all together. The proceeding ends with the admission of two defense exhibits showing the box and its label.

# 1 Q:

So you observed how tight the packages were, but you didn't see much of anything else; is that right?

# 2 MR. GELBLUM:

Objection, Your Honor. Argumentative.

# 3 THE COURT:

Sustained.

# 4 Q:

(BY MR. BLASIER) Now, Mrs. Brockbank, in addition to both gloves, the Bundy glove and the Rockingham glove, the knit cap, and the carpeting from the Bronco, how many other items were in box number 2?

# 5 A:

All the items you see on that number list there at the bottom.

# 6 Q:

Count them up for me (indicating to copy of label, Defendants' Exhibit 2261.)

# 7 A:

Can I have a piece of paper and a pencil so I can kind of tally them all up?

# 8 MR. GELBLUM:

Speaks for itself, Your Honor.

# 9 MR. PETROCELLI:

Speaks for itself.

# 10 THE COURT:

Be nice for the record to have a number.

# 11 MR. BLASIER:

We have 9 here, 3. Here's 14. Here's 2 here.

# 12 SUSAN BROCKBANK:

No. Actually, you're off already. That's why --

# 13 MR. BLASIER:

Okay.

# 14 (Laughter.)

# 15 (Witness performs calculation on a piece of a paper towel off of witness stand.)

# 16 A:

(Continuing.) Okay. 446 by, my count.

KEY QUOTE

# 17 Q:

(BY MR. BLASIER) Is there a shortage of boxes at SID?

# 18 MR. GELBLUM:

Objection.

# 19 THE COURT:

You may answer.

# 20 A:

No.

# 21 Q:

Is it common practice to store items from multiple crime scenes in the same box?

# 22 A:

It does happen pretty often.

KEY QUOTE

# 23 MR. BLASIER:

That's all I have.

# 24 MR. GELBLUM:

Nothing.

# 25 THE COURT:

You are excused.

# 26 SUSAN BROCKBANK:

Okay.

# 27 MR. BLASIER:

I would move in 2260 and 61.

# 28 MR. GELBLUM:

Is that the box and the label?

# 29 MR. BLASIER:

Yes.

# 30 (The document previously marked Defendants' Exhibit 2260 for identification, was received in evidence.)

# 31 (The document previously marked Defendants' Exhibit 2261 for identification, was received in evidence.)

Temperature

light

Key Quotes (2)

Witness

446 by, my count.

Establishes that 446 items from multiple crime scenes were co-mingled in a single box, supporting the defense's evidence contamination narrative.

Witness

It does happen pretty often.

Admission that storing items from multiple crime scenes together is common SID practice, undercutting any suggestion this was exceptional care.

Evidence (3)

Defendants' 2260

The physical box (box number 2) used to store multiple crime scene items

admitted into evidence

Defendants' 2261

The label from box number 2 listing all 446 stored items

admitted into evidence; used during testimony for witness to perform count

Informal

Both gloves (Bundy and Rockingham), knit cap, and Bronco carpeting — all stored together in box number 2

discussed

Notable Exchanges (2)

Robert Blasier•Witness

Blasier tries to count items on the label himself and gets it wrong; the witness corrects him mid-count and asks for paper to do it properly, ultimately arriving at 446 items.

light/revealing

Peter Gelblum•Daniel Petrocelli

Both plaintiff's attorneys simultaneously object that the document 'speaks for itself,' but the judge overrules them and asks for a number on the record.

procedural

Light Moments (2)

Witness

Blasier attempts to tally the items aloud and the witness cuts him off — 'No. Actually, you're off already. That's why --' — prompting laughter in the courtroom.

Witness

The witness performs her calculation on a piece of a paper towel torn from the witness stand.

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ SID / LAPD crime lab

practice elicitation

Blasier establishes that 446 items from multiple crime scenes were stored in the same box, and that this is common SID practice — reinforcing the defense's contamination and sloppiness narrative.

Witness Demeanor

(Laughter.)

(Witness performs calculation on a piece of a paper towel off of witness stand.)

Objections

3 objections (1 sustained, 1 overruled)

Proceeding 8617 • 31 utterances • Plaintiff witness

Civil Trial

Department 103