Re-redirect examination of John Gerdes

📄 Re-redirect examination of John Gerdes — Thursday, December 12, 1996

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1996\DEC\12\RE-REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-JOH.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 31 of 57

◀ Redirect examination of John Gerdes (part 2) Redirect examination of John Gerdes (part 3) ▶

Witness: Dr. John Gerdes
Examiner: Robert Blasier
Called by: Defense • Date: Thursday, December 12, 1996 • Utterances: 29

Lambert conducted a brief recross of Dr. Gerdes, establishing that he does not test crime scene evidence himself (unlike Cotton and Sims), and clarifying that control sample 52 showed a 'pink' color consistent with the pink driveway at Bundy. Lambert closed with a pointed question about Dr. Gerdes's compensation, revealing the lab received approximately $40,000 total across both the criminal and civil cases.

# 1 Q:

You will acknowledge that Robin Cotton and Gary Sims are forensic scientists?

# 2 A:

Yes.

# 3 Q:

An they do, every day, test evidence from crime scenes, correct?

# 4 A:

They -- they test the evidence; they don't collect the evidence.

KEY QUOTE

# 5 Q:

They test it?

# 6 A:

Yes.

# 7 Q:

You never test evidence at crime scenes?

# 8 A:

That's true.

# 9 Q:

Now, you were asked by Mr. Blasier whether any of these controls were dirty, and said you didn't know, right?

Let's look at the very first control, the one I've been asking you all the questions about. Number 52 control.

Here's Collin Yamauchi's notes.

Move them over a little bit.

See what it says right there? What's that say?

# 10 A:

Is says "pink."

# 11 Q:

Pink color, right?

# 12 A:

Yes.

# 13 Q:

That was taken from the driveway at the back of the Bundy residence, wasn't it?

# 14 A:

Yes.

# 15 (Plaintiffs' Exhibit 333 displayed on the Elmo screen.)

# 16 Q:

That driveway has got a pink coloration to it, doesn't it, Doctor?

# 17 A:

I believe it does.

# 18 Q:

Dr. Gerdes, how much has Mr. Simpson paid you already, thirty, forty thousand dollars?

# 19 MR. BLASIER:

Objection.

# 20 A:

In this civil case?

# 21 Q:

Total.

# 22 A:

For both cases?

# 23 Q:

Yeah.

# 24 MR. BLASIER:

Objection. Irrelevant; outside the scope.

# 25 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 26 A:

I am not -- my laboratory has a policy of basically any consulting fees go to the laboratory. I've received zero.

KEY QUOTE

# 27 Q:

How much has the lab received?

# 28 A:

Somewhere around forty thousand, probably.

# 29 MR. LAMBERT:

No further questions, Doctor.

FURTHER REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. BLASIER:

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (3)

Witness

I am not -- my laboratory has a policy of basically any consulting fees go to the laboratory. I've received zero.

Gerdes distances himself personally from the money while still acknowledging his lab received ~$40,000 from Simpson's defense.

Witness

They -- they test the evidence; they don't collect the evidence.

Gerdes draws a distinction to deflect the comparison to Cotton and Sims, but it implicitly concedes they are legitimate forensic scientists.

Witness

Is says 'pink.'

Gerdes confirms Yamauchi's notes show the control sample was pink, consistent with the Bundy driveway — undermining his own contamination narrative for that control.

Evidence (1)

Plaintiffs' Exhibit 333

Collin Yamauchi's lab notes showing control sample 52 labeled 'pink', taken from the Bundy driveway

displayed on Elmo screen to impeach Gerdes's contamination claims about the control

Notable Exchanges (2)

Tom Lambert•Dr. Gerdes

Lambert forces Gerdes to read Yamauchi's own notes confirming the control sample was pink — matching the pink Bundy driveway — neutralizing the contamination argument for that sample.

strategic

Tom Lambert•Dr. Gerdes

Lambert asks point-blank how much Simpson has paid Gerdes; Gerdes splits hairs by saying he personally received zero but his lab received ~$40,000.

pointed

Credibility Attacks (2)

⚔ Dr. Gerdes

bias/financial interest

Lambert reveals Gerdes's lab received approximately $40,000 from the Simpson defense across both trials, implying financial motivation for his contamination testimony.

⚔ Dr. Gerdes

prior inconsistent position / concession

Lambert uses Yamauchi's own notes (Exhibit 333) to show control 52 was pink — consistent with the pink Bundy driveway — undermining Gerdes's suggestion the control was dirty or anomalous.

Objections

2 objections (0 sustained, 1 overruled)

Proceeding 8644 • 29 utterances • Defense witness

Civil Trial

Department 103