📄 Redirect examination of Herbert Leon MacDonell — Monday, December 16, 1996
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1996\DEC\16\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-HERBER.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 32 of 57

Redirect examination of Herbert Leon MacDonell

Witness: Prof. Herbert MacDonell
Examiner: Robert Baker
Called by: Defense • Date: Monday, December 16, 1996 • Utterances: 455
Plaintiffs' attorney Medvene methodically dismantled defense forensic expert Herbert MacDonell's testimony about 'little red balls' on OJ Simpson's sock, exposing that MacDonell took no useful notes, didn't take the photographs he showed the jury, never tested the spots for blood, never examined the cut-out he theorized about, and couldn't even keep his count of the balls consistent (saying 6-7 at the criminal trial, 12 at this trial, and eventually 'maybe 30'). The cross also attacked MacDonell's credentials — his lab is uncertified, in his home — and closed by undermining his glove shrinkage experiments, which used new gloves rather than ones with years of wear.
1 THE COURT:

Cross-examine.

CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. MEDVENE:

2 Q:

Morning, sir.

3 A:

Good morning.

4 Q:

Would you like me to call you Mr. MacDonell or Professor?

5 A:

Call me Herb if you want to. My friends do.

KEY QUOTE
6 Q:

Okay, Herb.

7 (Laughter)
8 Q:

You testified you were the director of a laboratory of forensic science; is that correct?

9 A:

Yeah, independent laboratory, correct.

10 Q:

And that laboratory is located?

11 A:

Corning, New York.

12 Q:

In your house?

13 A:

Yes. Or I live in my laboratory. Either way.

14 Q:

And do you have any full-time scientists that work with you there?

15 A:

Yes. I have one, Paul Kisch, who works with me full-time.

And others come in part-time as needed, and other people come in to use the facilities, which I make available.

16 Q:

My question was do you have any full-time, and your answer is Mr. Kisch?

17 A:

Yes, one.

18 Q:

Are there any licensing requirements for your laboratory, sir?

19 A:

Not that I'm aware of, no.

20 Q:

Is your laboratory certified by any agency, sir?

21 A:

No.

22 Q:

Now, you make your living in large part testifying; is that correct?

23 A:

No, that's not correct at all. I've only testified, I think, once this year before this. I testify rarely, but I do a lot of experimentation and examination of evidence. That's the bulk of my income.

24 Q:

Sir, have you previously, in testifying under oath in response to a question, said whether you were entitled to be -- strike that.

In response to a question, you once told the reporter that you probably were entitled to be included in the Guiness Book of World Records because you testified in more courts, on more subjects, than any other human being. You said I think that is still true. But I don't think I'll do it. It's -- it's just an interesting comment I made after something about the Guiness Book of World Records was quoted to me and I think I made that remark.

Was that a truthful remark, sir?

25 A:

That sounds like something I would have said, yes. I've testified in a variety of --

26 Q:

I asked you if that was a truthful remark, and you said it was, sir?

27 A:

I said I believe it is.

28 Q:

Thank you, sir.

Now, in testifying possibly in more courts, on more subjects than any other human being, could you list for us all the subjects that you've testified as an expert on; just the subjects?

29 A:

Well, generally, by discipline I've testified in forensic science and specifically criminalistics, which includes photography, physics, and chemistry. If you want to list those separately, which is what I think I did when I made that remark --

30 Q:

Let me ask you about that.

You said photography --

31 MR. BAKER:

I'd like him to finish his answer. He's asking to list the subjects and he cut him off.

32 THE COURT:

Did you finish your answer, sir?

33 A:

Yes. And also such things as photography and microscopy which are tools of forensic science. And in the area of blood alcohol and breathalyzer, I was certified as an expert in that area and testified many times on DWI cases in New York State.

I've testified, in one instance, in the case of psychiatry where no one else understood the phenomenon and later it was confirmed by other witnesses.

So I have testified in a variety of courtrooms, from county court and civil court and town court and justice court, up to the Supreme Court in Canada, and the Court of Appeals in Quebec. And I think since only two people have ever testified in the supreme court in Canada as a witness before an appellate decision was made, that limits my remark to two people, and I don't know who the other one was.

34 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Among your areas of expertise, you told us, is photography, and you hold yourself out as somebody that is an expert in taking pictures, particularly when precision is needed; is that correct?

35 A:

I'm experienced and I think -- I've taught forensic photography many semesters. I know the subject quite well.

36 Q:

Is it true, sir, that you -- that the photograph you put up here for the jury to see, you did not take?

37 A:

I'm not sure if Dr. Lee took it or I took it. I really don't know. We both took some. I think that's one he took, but I don't know.

38 Q:

Did you previously testify in this case, sir, that you didn't take the photographs, that Dr. Lee took them?

39 A:

If I did, then Dr. Lee took it. I'm sure the record is better than my memory.

40 Q:

And you didn't take them, did you, sir?

41 A:

Not that particular one.

I took others.

42 Q:

You didn't take any photographs as an expert -- world renowned expert, that you could show this jury to support your opinion, is that true, sir, yes or no?

43 A:

No, I didn't take any of the pictures you saw -- that one that you saw. I think I took the second one.

44 Q:

Sir, my question to you is, is it true you took no pictures of any kind that you showed this jury and said that's the basis for my opinion; is that true? Yes or no, sir?

45 A:

Those pictures. That is true. I didn't take those.

46 Q:

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Now, you talked about, in your qualifications, the typing of blood and that sort of thing.

47 A:

No, I didn't mention typing of blood.

48 Q:

Mentioned some work that you had done with a French --

49 A:

Oh, all right. I developed a method that can be used --

50 Q:

Yes?

51 A:

-- for typing of blood.

52 Q:

What I want to ask you, sir, is this: You've told this jury about something you saw, some speck, some dot on wall 3, and implied it was blood.

Is it true, sir, you never tested whatever you saw to see if it was blood? Yes or no, sir, is that true?

53 A:

It's true that it could not be tested.

54 Q:

Thank you, sir.

You did not test it for blood?

55 A:

No, I did not.

56 Q:

Nor did anyone to your knowledge; is that correct, sir?

57 A:

To --

58 Q:

To the best of your knowledge?

59 A:

To the best of my knowledge, it was tested when it was swabbed.

60 Q:

Sir, I'm asking you if what you claimed you saw on Wall 3, that you talked to this jury about, is it true you certainly did not test it for blood?

61 A:

It was swabbed by Dr. Lee.

62 Q:

Dr. Lee did not test it for blood, did he, sir?

63 A:

He did a presumptive test with a positive result, yes, he tested it.

64 Q:

Sir, you know the difference between a presumptive test and a test that confirms it's blood, as a world renowned expert, don't you, sir?

65 A:

Of course. I know whether it's renowned or not.

66 Q:

My question, sir, is whatever you claim you saw, this speck, it was not tested to see if it was blood; is that correct? Yes or no, please, sir?

67 A:

It couldn't --

68 Q:

Please, sir.

69 A:

Yes, it was not tested, if you want a double negative.

70 Q:

Thank you.

I don't want to be cute, sir.

My point is it was not tested and proven to be blood, whatever it was you saw; is that a correct statement?

71 A:

That is correct.

72 Q:

Thank you, sir.

Now, on April 2, when Dr. Lee and you did the examination, or whatever you did, of the sock, that was the first time you saw the sock; is that correct, sir?

73 A:

That's correct.

74 Q:

You're opening something in front of you. I wonder if you can close that, sir, and when you -- close your book if you don't mind. Then when you have a need to open it, just ask and we'll let you open it.

What I want to do --

75 A:

I was checking the date.

76 MR. BAKER:

Wait a minute, Your Honor. I object. He is entitled to use his notes to refresh his recollection. He can't be ordered to close a book by cross-examining counsel.

77 THE COURT:

Leave it closed, Doctor.

78 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) And if there comes a time, Mr. MacDonell, when you want to look at it, tell us and we'll let you look at it.

79 A:

I was checking the date. I wanted -- you gave me a date. I wanted to check if it was correct.

80 Q:

It's okay, sir. I want to see what you remember. If you want to look at your notes, then we'll look at those together.

Is that okay?

81 A:

Fair enough.

82 Q:

Okay.

Now, April 2 was your first and only examination of the sock; is that correct?

83 A:

That sounds like the right date. I have it in my book. If you have my records then you know it's correct. I'll agree it's the right time. Seems like the right date.

84 Q:

And it was the one time is what I'm trying to establish?

85 A:

Yes, only one, correct.

86 Q:

Now, the socks were referred to, so we're talking the same language, as 13-A and B or 42-A and B; is that correct?

87 A:

Yes. I remember 42-A and B.

88 Q:

And prior to your examination you had read and were familiar with Mr. Gary Sims's notes from the Department of Justice; is that correct?

89 A:

I was, yes, at that time.

90 Q:

Right.

And you were familiar with the fact that on sock A, the one you've testified about, Mr. Simpson's blood was found at the toe of the sock and at the top of the sock; you were aware of that when you conducted your exam, correct?

91 A:

I believe I was. I have not reviewed it. I think so, yes.

92 Q:

And you were also aware while you testified about the sock we're going to call A -- let's call it 42-A.

Is that okay?

93 A:

Yeah.

94 Q:

You're also aware that on 42-B, there was Ms. Nicole Brown's blood found around the ankle area; is that correct?

95 A:

I believe so, yes.

96 Q:

All right.

Now, you made no determination at the time of your examination that any of Mr. Simpson's blood found at the toe of that same sock soaked through and created any little red balls on side 3, did you?

97 A:

Of the other sock, you're talking about?

98 Q:

I'm talking about the same sock you tested. You tested what we're going to call 42-A.

Is that okay?

99 A:

Is that the one that had his blood in the toe.

100 Q:

Yes, sir?

101 A:

I misunderstood that.

No, I did not.

102 Q:

Okay.

And you conducted no test to determine that any of Mr. Simpson's blood at the top of that sock soaked through and created any of these little red balls you say you found on side 3, isn't that true?

103 A:

Well, the word "tested" I'm concerned about. Testing means you're doing something. Examination means you're merely examining.

So I did no testing of that type, no.

104 Q:

You have no evidence of any kind -- strike that.

You have no scientific basis to say that any of Mr. Simpson's blood that was found at the toe and the heel made its way through to side 3; isn't that correct?

105 MR. BAKER:

That misstates the evidence.

106 A:

If it was wet it supposedly could have transferred blood. If it was dry it couldn't have. That's as scientific as I can get.

If it was dry, it's impossible. If it was wet, it is theoretically possible.

107 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Mr. MacDonell, Mr. Simpson's blood was tested -- strike that.

Blood identified as Mr. Simpson's, you've told us it was your understanding, was found at the toe and the top portion of the 42-A sock.

Is it correct, sir, that you have no scientific evidence to indicate that that blood created any little balls on side 3; isn't that correct?

108 A:

If it did, it would have to be wet. That's the only answer I can give you.

109 Q:

Sir, I'm asking you not if it did or not.

But you found no little red balls on side 3 in the toe area where Mr. Simpson's blood was found; is that correct?

110 A:

That is correct.

111 Q:

And you found none of these little red balls up on the top of the sock where Mr. Simpson's blood was found; is that correct?

112 A:

That is correct, to the best of my memory.

113 Q:

And then certainly, sir, it's true, is it not, that Mr. Simpson's blood being on the toe and the top of his sock when it was found June 13 at the foot of his bed, got there by Mr. Simpson putting a bloody hand or a hand that dropped some blood on the toe and the heel; isn't that correct?

114 MR. BAKER:

I'm going to object to that entire question, Your Honor. There are presumptions, that's argumentative, and it assumes facts not in evidence. To the contrary --

115 THE COURT:

Sustained.

116 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Isn't Mr. Simpson's blood being found on the sock -- at the top of the sock consistent with his touching the sock when he took it off, sir?

117 MR. BAKER:

Your Honor, this is outside the scope. If they are going to open that up, I think we're entitled to go into other areas.

118 THE COURT:

Sustained.

119 MR. MEDVENE:

Counsel asked him about the examination of his socks.

120 THE COURT:

That's all he asked him about. He didn't ask about Mr. Simpson taking socks off.

121 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Now, you've also told us, sir, that Ms. Brown's blood -- strike that.

Ms. Brown's blood, to your knowledge, when you performed your examination, was found on the ankle area of what we'll call 42-B, the second sock; is that correct?

122 A:

I believe it was, yes, purported to be.

123 Q:

And you found no evidence that any of Ms. Brown's blood that was reportedly found on the ankle area of the second sock created any of these little red balls on side 3, did you?

END SECTION O1216-2A BEGIN SECTION O1216-2B

124 A:

It couldn't have. Per my recollection, the spots were too small to have sufficient volume to soak through.

125 Q:

Sir, my question is, do you -- and you're an experienced witness -- Guiness Book of Records.

My question is --

126 A:

Thank you.

127 Q:

Did you see any of the little red balls that you claim could have been made when no ankle was in the foot on the second sock, of Ms. Brown's, on side 3?

128 A:

No, for the reason --

129 Q:

Thank you.

130 A:

-- stated.

131 Q:

So that we're clear then, sir, while -- strike that.

Is it true also, sir, that on the side -- the second sock, 42-B, first one with the cut-out that you've told us about with the little red balls and the Simpson blood, second sock, Nicole Brown's blood at the ankle, around the ankle stain, isn't it true that you also saw about 12 to 14 other separate little stains?

132 MR. BAKER:

I object. This is outside the scope, Your Honor.

133 THE COURT:

Overruled.

134 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Yes or no, sir, did you see 12 to 14 other little stains?

135 A:

You said a specific blood type. I don't remember whose blood. I saw some smaller stains, yes. I don't know whose they were.

136 Q:

Now, those stains were consistent with -- strike that.

Is it true, sir, that in a stabbing or cutting of a victim, that can generally result in a -- well, strike that.

Did you attempt to determine whether or not, with respect to these 12 or 14 other blood stains that were found, if any of them created any little red balls on side 3?

137 MR. BAKER:

Outside the scope.

138 THE COURT:

Overruled.

139 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Yes or no, sir?

140 A:

No, I don't recall.

141 Q:

Now, where we are then is, and correct me if I'm wrong, we have two socks, A sock and a B sock.

On the A sock we have Mr. Simpson's blood at the top and the bottom, and Ms. Brown's blood in the center.

On the B sock we have Ms. Brown's blood.

What you're talking to the jury about is only -- I'm not seeking to minimize it, but only the A sock and a particular dot or ball that you claim you saw on side 3 that has some significance from a -- the ankle cut out; is that correct?

142 A:

Yes.

143 MR. BAKER:

I'm going to object. That misstates the evidence. He said a dozen balls at least.

144 THE COURT:

Sustained.

145 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Now, you've realized before your April 2 examination that it was an important examination, did you not?

146 A:

No, not really. I was asked do examine the sock. I didn't know what I'd find at that time. The red balls had not been seen, so that to me seemed significant, but I didn't anticipate it.

147 Q:

Well, as a scientist it would be fair to say, would it not, sir, that you would customarily take detailed notes of your observations?

148 A:

If I were the only one doing the examination, yes, I would.

149 Q:

And you knew at the time of your examination that you might be a witness in connection with whether or not Mr. Simpson committed the murders we're here discussing today; isn't that true?

150 A:

I anticipated that, yes.

151 Q:

And you knew since that time might be very far off, as you have to look at your red notebook to see what date the meeting was, you would want to have detailed notes so you could tell the jury exactly what you saw with the help of your contemporaneous notes; isn't that true?

152 A:

No. I was relying on the photograph to show anyone who was interested in what I saw.

153 Q:

So is it your practice, then, sir, not to take detailed notes if somebody else with you is taking a photograph?

154 A:

Depends on who it is. In Dr. Lee's case I have no problem.

155 Q:

So did you make a conscious determination not to take any notes or very many notes?

156 A:

I took a few notes, made a few sketches, but I did not take copious notes, no.

157 Q:

Now, you said a few moments ago that, you know, nobody had seen these little red balls you claim you saw and you know that was significant.

That's not in your notes, is it, sir, yes or no?

158 A:

No, it's not in my notes.

Yes, it's not in my notes, no.

159 Q:

In fact, you don't have in your notes not only that you didn't see any little red balls, you don't have the number of these little red balls you claim you saw, do you?

160 MR. BAKER:

Argumentative.

161 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Yes or no.

162 THE COURT:

Overruled.

163 A:

No, I do not have notes to that effect.

164 Q:

You don't have anything about the size of these little red balls, do you?

165 A:

I just said small I think. No, I didn't measure them. They're microscopic.

166 Q:

You didn't say small, did you, sir?

167 A:

Small.

168 Q:

You didn't say small in your notes, did you?

169 A:

No, I just said it now.

170 Q:

Oh. We can say a lot of things now.

What I'm worried about and wondering about is when you tell the jury what you said then, when you saw what you claim you saw.

And I -- what mean, sir, is we know you didn't write red balls, we know you didn't write the number. Did you write small?

171 A:

No.

172 Q:

Thank you.

173 A:

Took a photograph.

174 Q:

Thank you, sir.

You didn't take the photograph, you told us that already.

175 A:

No, the one shown today I did not take.

176 Q:

Yes, sir.

177 A:

I took my own photographs.

178 Q:

Whatever you took, you haven't shown us; is that right?

179 A:

That's correct.

180 Q:

Now, today you told us about 12 of these balls. At the trial you talked about 6 or 7; is that right? Not 12? 6 or 7?

181 A:

I don't remember what I said then. I don't have a copy of my transcript. If I said 6 or 7 I'll go with 6 or 7. I saw quite a few.

As I said today, I don't know if I saw the same ones twice.

182 Q:

Sir, you say 12 today under oath to this jury.

Are you now saying if you said 6 or 7, you'll buy into that, and maybe it wasn't 6 or 7, maybe it was 12 'cause maybe you saw 6 or 7 twice and that got up to 12, and maybe that's where the 12 is?

183 MR. BAKER:

I have no idea if that's a question or if he's trying to make a speech, but --

184 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Did you say 6 or 7?

185 MR. BAKER:

I move to strike his entire colloquy with himself.

186 MR. MEDVENE:

It's very cute.

187 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) But do you know --

188 THE COURT:

Overruled.

189 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Do you know, putting aside the objection --

190 A:

Over a year ago if I said 6 or 7, I probably meant 6 or 7. Today I thought about it and I said 12 because I --

191 Q:

Okay, sir.

192 A:

-- I don't know how many I saw, but I saw quite a few.

193 THE COURT:

Mr. Medvene, let the witness finish speaking before you start speaking.

194 MR. MEDVENE:

Yes, sir.

195 A:

I don't know. There might have been 30, but I saw 10 or 12 or 6, whatever, I recall at the time. My memory was better a year ago than it is now. I'll go with 6.

KEY QUOTE
196 Q:

And of these 6 or 7 or 12 or 30, we have a photo of one of the balls.

Now, do you have photos that you can show us of the other 6 or 7 or 12 or 30 balls that you claim have some significance?

197 A:

Well, there in the photographs that were taken at lower magnification, but to isolate them and show this magnification, no, we don't -- I don't have those. I've seen others, but I don't have them.

198 Q:

Now, as a world renowned photographer, and knowing the importance of seeing these little red balls which nobody else had seen -- in fact, let me step back for a minute.

You knew at the time of your examination that the place where you claim, on side 3, you saw these tiny little red balls, Gary Sims from the California Department of Justice had previously looked at that area and not seen any such phenomenon, you knew that, did you not? Yes or no?

199 MR. BAKER:

I'm going to object. There's no foundation.

200 THE COURT:

Sustained.

201 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Did you know that, sir?

202 MR. BAKER:

I --

203 THE COURT:

Sustained, Mr. Medvene.

204 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Is it true that you were aware, sir, that Mr. Sims had previously examined this very sock and this very spot?

205 MR. BAKER:

Same objection, Your Honor.

206 THE COURT:

You can answer if you knew or not.

207 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Did you know, sir?

208 A:

I possibly did. I do not specifically remember, but if he didn't he should have. I would have concluded he probably did.

209 Q:

And you reviewed his notes, did you not, sir?

210 A:

I'm sure I did.

211 Q:

And you knew, did you not, that it would be important to document any claimed little red balls which you knew Mr. Sims said he had not seen them; isn't that true, sir?

212 A:

That's why we took the pictures, yes.

213 Q:

Now, when you say that's why we took the pictures, we were shown one picture which we'll talk about.

But these other 5 or 6 or 12 or 30 of these little red balls, since you knew Mr. Sims had previously examined the same place and seen no such phenomenon, didn't you believe, as a scientist, it was important to take pictures with sufficient magnification so you could show them to some jury and say this is what I rely on?

214 MR. BAKER:

You know, Your Honor, I'm going to object. There's no evidence that Sims examined this with a microscope, these socks. He's just keeps throwing it in like he did the same thing this witness did.

215 THE COURT:

Overruled.

Overruled. If you understand the question you may answer.

216 A:

I don't know how he examined them, but he missed them, they were there.

217 THE COURT:

Excuse me. That's not the question.

218 MR. MEDVENE:

With the Court's permission, Ms. Reporter, can you repeat the question, please.

219 (Reading:)
220 Q:

Now, when you say that's why we took the pictures, we were shown one picture which we'll talk about.

But these other 5 or 6 or 12 or 30 of these little red balls, since you knew Mr. Sims had previously examined the same place and seen no such phenomenon, didn't you believe as a scientist it was important to take pictures with sufficient magnification so you could show them to some jury and say this is what I rely on?

221 A:

Yes.

222 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Now, you knew in Mr. Sims's notes that he said he examined this area under his stereomicroscope?

223 MR. BAKER:

I'm going to object to this, Your Honor. This is -- has got to come in from Sims.

224 MR. MEDVENE:

He said he read the notes.

225 MR. BAKER:

He said I may have read the notes and he doesn't recall. To put them in is improper.

226 THE COURT:

Overruled.

You may inquire whether or not those are the notes he saw. A. You answered the question. He used a stereomicroscope, and we used a high power microscope. He could not have seen these at the magnification of a stereomicroscope assuming it is 25 diameter maximum. That's -- most of them are 20, 25.

227 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Understanding the importance of what you claim you saw, it's true that you have no picture to show of any other of these balls; isn't that right?

228 A:

I do not have them, no.

229 Q:

Now, is it also true, sir -- well, let's move to another area.

And what you did do on April 2 --

230 MR. BAKER:

April 2 of '95?

231 MR. MEDVENE:

Yes.

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Is it true, Mr. MacDonell, that on your April 2 examination, and at no time up to the present, did you ever look at the cut-out that you spoke to the jury about?

232 A:

That's correct.

233 Q:

And you never asked to see the cut-out?

234 A:

That's correct.

235 Q:

And this cut-out is, so we're picturing it, it's a piece of the sock, side 1 and 2 of the sock, the furthest away, the side you touch putting on, and the inside of that, side 1 and 2 of the sock?

236 A:

I think it's lower than that, but it's on that side, the left side.

237 Q:

Okay.

Now, you don't know then, from your own personal observation that Ms. Brown's, whatever, blood of herself was on side 1 of Mr. Simpson's sock? You don't know from your own personal knowledge, from the cut-out, whether that blood soaked through to side 2 'cause you never examined the cut-out; is that correct?

238 A:

Well, I know it did because it's there. Something soaked through and if you --

239 Q:

Excuse me.

240 A:

-- go around the lake, you don't have to go to the middle to know there's water there.

241 Q:

Sir, I'm not good on those kind of explanations. I just want to stay with the basics with you.

We have a cut-out that there was a stain on side 1, and you showed that stain to the jury, and I think that was what, 1239 or whatever; is that correct?

242 A:

I don't know the number.

243 Q:

A cut-out was taken of that stain, correct?

244 A:

Yes. A cut-out was taken out of the center of the stain.

245 Q:

What you then did was look through that cut-out to what we're calling side 3 of the sock, right?

246 A:

Correct.

247 Q:

And the issue we're discussing is not only what, if anything, did you see on side 3, but how did it get there, correct?

248 A:

Yes.

249 Q:

Now, you don't know because you never observed it that -- the cut-out portion, I take it, was above where you claim you saw the little red balls, whether blood soaked through from side 1 to side 2 of that cut-out portion; isn't that correct?

250 A:

No. It soaked through to the periphery, and when you cut out a section it saturated through, it saturated in the center, too.

251 Q:

We'll deal with the periphery in a minute.

I'm talking now about the cut-out itself.

And I'm saying on the cut-out itself, isn't it true since you never saw it, you don't know whether blood went from side 1 to side 2 of the cut-out; is that correct?

252 A:

I never physically seen it and I cannot say that I saw it saturated with blood.

253 Q:

You cannot say that it was -- it went from side 1 to side 2; is that correct, sir?

254 A:

Yes, that's what I'm saying, it did because it's on side 3.

255 Q:

Sir, that's your conclusion, not only that it's blood but what's on side 3 -- but what I'm asking you is on the cut-out -- it's a pretty straightforward question.

256 A:

I did not examine the cut-out. I've testified to that.

KEY QUOTE
257 Q:

So, I want you to tell this jury, is it true that you cannot state, under oath, that on side 2 of the cut-out there was any blood; isn't that true?

258 A:

Within a reasonable degree of scientific certainty I can conclude that, and that is my opinion, yes, it's so true.

259 Q:

Sir, you've never looked at side 2; isn't that correct?

260 A:

That's correct.

It was in the center of the cut-out.

261 Q:

You've mentioned the periphery.

When we say periphery, that's a fancy word for what's around the cut-out?

262 A:

It's an English word.

263 Q:

Not minimizing the word.

It's what's around the cut-out?

264 A:

Yes.

265 Q:

Now, you examined the periphery portion around the cut-out?

266 A:

That's correct.

267 Q:

And isn't it true, sir, that the side 2 of the periphery did not show any blood -- any blood soak through?

268 A:

No, it was on both side 1 and side 2. It -- as you get further from the center it's on side 1 only.

269 Q:

Excuse me. The question is, sir, were you asked the following question --

270 MR. MEDVENE:

I'm at page 39,581 of the transcript.

271 MR. BLASIER:

Line.

272 MR. MEDVENE:

Starting at line 16.

273 (Reading:)
274 Q:

Without limitation, sir,

but you cannot tell us what portion of

this stain contributed to the little

balls on surface 3, whether it was the

periphery on the center of the stain,

can you? A. Yes. I can eliminate the

periphery because it did not soak

through the fabric.

275 MR. MEDVENE:

I've stopped reading.

276 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) It did not soak through the fabric, only the center area, which, I take it, means the cut-out, only the center area soaked through, so that is the only area that could have caused the staining on the third side.

Now I go back again, Mr. MacDonell, isn't it true, that the periphery -- the area around the cut-out did not have blood soak through from side 1 to 2 of the periphery; isn't that what you said?

277 A:

No, I'm trying to interpret what you read.

278 Q:

Sir?

279 A:

The periphery does not lie over the area we found the balls, so even though it had soaked through in the periphery it would not stain that area.

280 Q:

I understand that, sir, I'm taking it a step at a time, and I'm saying does this refresh you?

281 A:

It does but --

282 Q:

Excuse me, sir.

Does this refresh you, 'cause you don't have any notes that --

283 A:

I have them, but you won't let me look at them.

284 Q:

You can look at them, sir.

285 A:

My recollection is it soaked through the periphery, but the answer given there would indicate it did not -- my meaning is that if it soaked through the periphery it's not over the area, so it is not the area that caused the stain.

286 Q:

I understand that.

And feel free to look the your notes.

287 A:

Not all of it went through.

288 Q:

Sir, there's no question.

And feel free to look at your notes, if you have to, and if there's anything there -- would you look through and see if there's anything to show that it -- contrary to your testimony under oath, that it soaked through from side 1 to 2 of the periphery.

289 MR. BAKER:

Your Honor, that's argumentative. I object to that.

290 THE COURT:

Overruled. Witness is arguing with the answer he gave at the trial.

291 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Now, do you have anything in any notes or any records of any kind, Mr. MacDonell, before you, anywhere, to indicate that the statement you gave under oath at the prior proceeding, that there was no soak-through of blood on -- on the periphery area from side 1 to 2 is not accurate, any notes of any kind?

292 A:

Not in notes, no.

293 Q:

All right.

Now, is it fair that what you've now told us is there's -- there's little red balls on side 3, you've never looked at the cut-out to see if there's any soak-through from side 1 and 2, and you did look at the periphery, and there's no soak-through from side 1 or 2?

Is that fair as to where we are now?

294 A:

That's right. I had a periphery. I didn't have a center.

295 Q:

Thank you.

Is it true, sir, that you never conducted any experiments of any kind to determine the amount of blood on the periphery?

296 A:

No, that's not true. I duplicated it with one drop of blood, but depending on how much you smear it around you could cover a bigger area.

297 Q:

When you say you duplicated, you don't know how much blood was on the periphery because you didn't scientifically examine it, isn't that true, yes or no?

298 A:

Yes, I scientifically measured it.

299 Q:

Okay.

How much blood was on the peripheral area, and where in your notes does it say that that's the amount of blood that was on the peripheral area of the sock surrounding the cut-out that you've talked to the jury about? Show me in your notes.

300 MR. BAKER:

Argumentative, compound.

301 THE COURT:

Overruled.

302 A:

I don't have --

303 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Please show me.

304 A:

-- the periphery.

305 Q:

Sir --

306 A:

I measured the total stain, that includes the periphery.

307 Q:

Sir, is there any indication in your notes of what the volume of blood was in the so-called peripheral area? And if there is, show us.

308 A:

Less than one drop.

309 Q:

You have anything there?

310 A:

No. My knowledge of the subject is it was a 1 by 1-1/2 inch stain, total. You can do that easily with one drop, so if you cut some out it's less than one drop.

311 Q:

I'm asking you around the periphery area?

312 A:

That's what I'm talking about.

313 Q:

Yeah. So you made a judgment by visualizing what it was, and your experience how much blood you thought it was, is that --

314 A:

That is correct.

315 Q:

So the nature of this experiment you did was looking at it, and seeing a blood stain around a hole, and saying in your mind, well, that must be a drop, is that fair?

316 A:

No, I added a drop -- I knew I added 50 microliters, a drop, to reproduce it, and I said it could be as little as one drop. That includes the center.

317 Q:

Now, sir, you don't know who might have touched or manipulated this sock in any way prior to the time you first saw it on April 2 of 1995, so as to possibly account for these little red balls you say you saw; is that correct?

318 A:

That is correct.

319 Q:

And you, other than knowing you claim you saw them on April 2, you have no idea if they got there in April, if they got there March '92, or '94 or '95, or when or how?

320 A:

No, nor on April 1.

321 Q:

Okay.

And you know from your -- would it have been -- strike that.

It would have been of some importance, would it not, sir, to know who had handled the socks and manipulated them, touched them, prior to your examining them, in terms of possibly explaining how the blood got from side -- the alleged -- what you claim is blood, these red balls, from side 2 to 3?

322 A:

Not at all. I don't know how it got there. I know the mechanism.

323 Q:

Would you agree, sir, with the gentleman that was with you at the examination, Mr. Lee, that there is no scientific evidence to support any statement that law enforcement officers planted any evidence in this case?

324 MR. BAKER:

Your Honor, I object.

325 THE COURT:

Sustained.

326 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Did you ever discuss with Dr. Lee his testimony that he has no scientific evidence to support any statement that any law enforcement officer planted evidence in this case?

327 MR. BAKER:

I move to strike and have the jury admonished relative to that statement, Your Honor.

328 THE COURT:

Sustained.

I sustained the first one and the second one is exactly the repeat of the first one. I admonish you not to do that.

329 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Now, there are -- is it correct, sir, that these little red balls you say you saw are extremely small?

330 A:

That is correct.

331 Q:

How small are they, could you describe it for the jury?

332 A:

I do not recall the diameter. I just don't know. They're extremely small, down in the micron range, smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

333 Q:

Now, is it true, sir, that because you were dealing with something so small, you did not do any testing to try to abrade it or move these little balls? That's true, isn't it, yes or no, sir?

334 A:

No, that's not true.

335 Q:

All right, sir.

I'll read you, sir, what's -- strike that.

Is it true, sir, that you did -- they were so small that you were afraid of fracturing them, and because of that you did no actual testing, only observation; is that true, yes or no?

336 A:

Yes, that's what I did.

337 Q:

So it's true you did not touch the balls?

338 A:

I did not, no.

339 Q:

Nor did Dr. Lee, according to your testimony?

340 A:

Not touching them in that sense, as I --

341 Q:

No manipulation of them of any kind?

342 A:

Dissolved them, he took a sample with a swab in that area. I'm sure he touched this one as well as others.

343 Q:

You didn't see him touch this one, did you?

344 A:

No, I couldn't resolve that one, no.

345 Q:

Okay.

And in terms of you, sir, is it a correct statement that you did no testing to try to move the ball in any way, all you did was look at it; isn't that true?

346 A:

That's correct.

347 Q:

And if you were looking -- if these balls, sir, were sitting on this table, and one of them was this bottle and one was this black box, without -- and they're sitting on the fiber --

348 A:

They're bonded there, not just sitting.

349 Q:

Unless you raise this, you don't know if that's stuck to the fiber, did you, sir, from observing this tiny, tiny, tiny, little red ball?

350 A:

Yeah. It's bonded, it's wrapped around it.

351 Q:

Isn't the way to find out, sir, by moving it to see if it stuck, or to see if you can raise it off of the fiber?

352 A:

That would be a way, if it were possible.

353 Q:

That would be a good way, wouldn't it?

354 A:

If you can manipulate it microscopically, yes.

355 Q:

That would tell you, definitely, how deeply embedded in the fibers the so-called little red ball was?

356 A:

It's not embedded in, it's wrapped around fibers, plastic.

357 Q:

Now, sir, did you quantify any of these little red balls, whether it's 6 or 7 or 12 or 30, did you quantify any as to volume?

358 A:

No.

359 Q:

To give us an idea of the size, if you took 6 or 7 of them and put them in a test tube and set them on top of each other, could we see them?

360 A:

I doubt it very seriously, without optical assistance.

361 Q:

Now, the socks of Mr. Simpson, they were elastic socks that stretched; is that correct?

362 A:

They were synthetic, yes, in a weave that did give to it, had give to it.

363 Q:

Now, blood, when it dries, is not elastic, is it?

364 A:

No.

365 Q:

And if blood were dried on the sock, and you stretched the sock, that blood could flake off to the other side of the sock; isn't that true?

366 A:

A large volume, yes. Not those tiny red spots that are on an individual fiber, but a larger volume.

367 Q:

Could flake?

368 A:

It could flake off, could break.

369 Q:

Now, you knew that there was certain presumptive testing done for blood, you've told us about that?

370 A:

Yes, I did.

371 Q:

And if a little too much solvent was put on the Q-tip, that could hydrate the blood that was on the sock, couldn't it?

372 A:

Certainly.

373 Q:

And it's possible if that were done, that could be another explanation of whatever you saw on side 3, isn't that correct, a possible explanation? Yes or no, sir?

374 A:

In theory, yes.

375 Q:

But -- That's what I want, sir.

Now, how about if they were new, these socks.

376 MR. BAKER:

Could he be given time to finish his answer.

377 THE COURT:

You can do it on redirect, Mr. Baker.

378 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Now, you know that socks are preserved, the blood frozen and unfrozen; isn't that true?

379 A:

Yes, it's preserved whether it's frozen or not, if it's dry.

380 Q:

These socks, you were advised, were frozen and unfrozen?

381 A:

That's what I understand.

382 Q:

And during the course of freezing and unfreezing, it's at least possible that that could have caused the phenomenon with the drop of moisture that would account for what you claim you saw; isn't that correct?

383 A:

No. The sock material has such a low thermal capacity it couldn't be at a temperature gradient enough to cause significant condensation, so I would say that would be almost a physical impossibility.

Theoretically it would be, but practically it would not happen.

384 Q:

Now, you talked about -- you talked about a drying experience, but it's possible, is it not, that if someone was wearing those socks, that had been involved in a quick, violent murder, and was rushing, that their foot would perspire, isn't it?

385 A:

Certainly possible.

386 Q:

And that the perspiration on that person's foot could moisten the blood that was on the sock; isn't that true?

387 A:

It could retard the evaporation in drying, yes.

388 Q:

And it would be possible, then, if that blood was moist, for it to be transferred from side 2 to 3 if they were taken off and inside out, it's possible, is it not, sir?

389 A:

I don't think so, not damp. Wet, yes, but damp, I really don't believe it could happen.

390 Q:

You didn't conduct -- you said you conducted some experiments but that's not --

391 A:

That was wet, that was wet blood.

392 Q:

But you didn't conduct the experiments we just talked about, did you?

393 A:

No.

394 Q:

And in the experiments we talked about, and the drying, you didn't know the amount of blood that was on Mr. Simpson's socks before you did the experiments because you never quantified the volume of blood on A and the volume of blood on B; is that correct?

395 A:

No. I did the experiments after I'd examined the sock, and I had the measurements of the size, and that's the experiments I did afterwards.

396 Q:

My question, sir, is if you put a lot of blood -- we're talking a lot -- a few drops of blood on the sock or a lesser amount of blood on the sock, that can control the drying time, can't it?

397 A:

The variations in volume will control drying time, and the thickness of the material, certainly.

398 Q:

So the first thing we want to know is, in terms of duplicating conditions, you never determined with any scientific accuracy the volume of blood found on Mr. Simpson's socks, so you could duplicate it on these other socks; is that correct, sir, yes or no?

399 A:

That is not correct.

I did it in reverse. I added a drop of blood to see if I could produce a stain anywhere near the size of the stain I'd examined on the sock. And when I added one drop and teased it around a little, it soaked in, it appeared about the same.

My conclusion that it was one drop is an approximation. It certainly wasn't two or three or a tenth of a drop, but it was about a drop.

That's as scientific as I can make it.

400 Q:

That's not very scientific, is it?

401 MR. BAKER:

Argumentative.

402 A:

It's not a guess.

403 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Now, in the experiments -- one that you did that I don't think you told us about, the blood completely dried in an hour and 35 minutes; isn't that right?

404 A:

Approximately, yes.

405 Q:

Now, you didn't -- when you're talking to the jury about 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes, you didn't tell them about the experiment where human blood was added to this fabric from a medicine dropper, teased into the fabric, and it took an hour and 35 minutes, you didn't tell them about that one, did you?

406 A:

Yeah, that was 2 or 3 drops.

407 Q:

It took an hour and 35 minutes?

408 A:

Correct.

409 Q:

And you didn't do that experiment with someone's ankle in the sock, did you?

410 A:

No, it was just lying flat, and it had more volume, and it soaked into a larger area.

411 Q:

And in terms of your observation of whatever it was you saw, what you were able to see was something that -- it appeared to do something, but from the degree of magnification you were looking at it from, and because you weren't able to touch it, you don't really know if it surrounded or didn't surround the fabric; isn't that true?

412 MR. BAKER:

Well, I object. That question is vague, Your Honor.

413 THE COURT:

I can't make it out either.

Sustained.

414 (Court reviews realtime computer screen.)
415 A:

That is correct, they appeared new.

416 Q:

They appeared to you to be brand new?

417 A:

Brand new, yes.

418 Q:

And you're saying that they hadn't been worn for years, and in wet weather, snow or sleet or whatever, is that true?

419 A:

Apparently not. No, they were new.

420 Q:

And in terms of what we're talking about here is not what shrinkage happened afterwards, but what shrinkage happened before June 12, and is it true that you weren't able, 'cause you weren't there, to conduct any experiment to determine what would happen to those gloves if over a two- or three-year period they were worn during the winter in sleet and snow, you couldn't perform such an experiment, could you?

421 MR. BAKER:

Your Honor, this is argument, this is not a question. There's no probative value. He wasn't there before 1994.

422 THE COURT:

Sustained.

(BY MR. MEDVENE) You were not -- strike that.

You didn't know under what conditions, how many times in the rain, how many times in the snow Mr. Simpson were those gloves prior to June 12 of 1994; is that true?

423 MR. BAKER:

Well, wait a minute. That assumes that Mr. Simpson ever were those gloves and --

424 THE COURT:

Sustained.

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Whoever wore those gloves prior to June 12, 1994, you have no idea how often they were worn, the weather conditions, how much rain, sleet or snow they were subjected to, do you?

425 A:

They didn't leave Los Angeles. They didn't see much snow.

426 Q:

But if they left Los Angeles on the hands of somebody that was a TV commentator at football games in Buffalo in the snow, in New York's Shea Stadium in the snow, let's assume they saw a lot of snow, you don't know --

427 MR. BAKER:

Your Honor --

(BY MR. MEDVENE) -- do you, sir, how much adverse weather conditions those gloves saw before June 12; is that correct, sir?

428 MR. BAKER:

I object to his arguing the case.

429 THE COURT:

Overruled. The testimony appears to be that the experiment conducted by this witness was on new gloves, and plaintiffs' contention is that the gloves that were recovered were not new gloves.

430 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Would you answer, sir?

431 A:

The answer is that I grew up in snow.

432 Q:

Excuse me?

433 A:

I've never seen snow on my gloves outdoors. It doesn't accumulate on your gloves.

434 THE COURT:

Mr. Witness, that wasn't the question.

435 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Would you answer the question, sir?

436 A:

Is this under the assumption there's snow on the gloves?

437 Q:

Sir, you've made --

438 A:

Would you read the question back.

439 Q:

Sir, you've made whatever point you're trying to make, sir.

440 MR. MEDVENE:

We're going to ask the court reporter, with the Court's permission, to repeat the question.

441 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) I wonder if you can answer it, sir.

442 (The court reporter read the question as follows:)
443 A:

The --

444 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) That's correct?

445 A:

The last part is.

446 Q:

And, sir, isn't it true that the gloves you tested had not lost their waterproof protection? That's true, isn't it?

447 A:

There was none on that leather. That's my understanding of it. It's not leather that has a treatment. It's naked leather.

448 Q:

Sir, do you know if they're waterproof or not? The gloves you examined, you didn't check them to see if they're waterproof?

449 A:

I don't know how to check them.

450 Q:

You don't know if they were or not?

451 A:

That's true.

452 Q:

If there was waterproofing on the gloves that you checked, and no waterproofing on the other gloves, you would have no way of --

453 MR. BAKER:

There's no evidence of any waterproofing on those gloves. It's improper to ask these questions.

454 THE COURT:

Sustained as to the last question.

455 MR. MEDVENE:

I have nothing further. Thank you.

REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. BAKER:

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (5)

MacDonell
I don't know. There might have been 30, but I saw 10 or 12 or 6, whatever, I recall at the time. My memory was better a year ago than it is now. I'll go with 6.
Devastating credibility moment — the defense's key forensic witness cannot keep his count consistent on the central physical observation underlying his testimony.
MacDonell
I did not examine the cut-out. I've testified to that.
MacDonell admitted he never looked at the cut-out itself — the very piece of fabric central to his blood-transfer theory.
MacDonell
Call me Herb if you want to. My friends do.
Sets up a genial rapport immediately undermined by the methodical cross that followed; the laughter here contrasts with the grinding examination to come.
Medvene (reading prior testimony)
I can eliminate the periphery because it did not soak through the fabric.
Prior testimony impeaching MacDonell's current claim that blood soaked through the periphery — forced him to acknowledge the only possible soak-through source was the cut-out he never examined.
MacDonell
That's as scientific as I can make it.
Self-description of his methodology after admitting he estimated blood volume by eyeballing a stain and adding one drop to see if it 'looked about the same.'

Evidence (5)

42-A
OJ Simpson's sock, side A — Simpson's blood at toe and top, Nicole Brown's blood in center; MacDonell claimed to see 'little red balls' on side 3 through the cut-out
discussed, challenged
42-B
OJ Simpson's sock, side B — Nicole Brown's blood at ankle area; 12-14 other small stains noted
discussed
Informal
Photograph of one red ball on sock side 3 — taken by Dr. Lee, not MacDonell; the only magnified photo shown to jury
challenged — MacDonell admitted he took no photographs presented to the jury
Informal
Gary Sims (CA Dept. of Justice) notes from prior sock examination — MacDonell had reviewed them; Sims used stereomicroscope and reportedly did not see the red balls
discussed, used to impeach
Informal
MacDonell's trial testimony transcript (criminal trial) — page 39,581, line 16 — used to impeach his claim about periphery soak-through
impeachment via prior inconsistent statement

Notable Exchanges (4)

MedveneMacDonell
Extended battle over whether 6, 7, 12, or 30 red balls were seen — MacDonell finally said 'I'll go with 6' after cycling through every number
devastating
MedveneMacDonellBaker
Medvene tried twice to get MacDonell to agree with Dr. Lee's statement that there is 'no scientific evidence to support any statement that law enforcement officers planted evidence' — both times Baker objected and Fujisaki sustained, then admonished Medvene not to repeat it
strategic/blocked
MedveneMacDonell
MacDonell claimed he could not 'physically see' if blood soaked through the cut-out because he never examined it, yet maintained as his scientific conclusion that it did — Medvene forced him to acknowledge this circular reasoning
revealing
MedveneMacDonell
Glove shrinkage segment: MacDonell testified his experiments used new gloves; Medvene pressed that he had no knowledge of how often or in what weather the actual recovered gloves had been worn; MacDonell deflected with 'I grew up in snow' before Fujisaki told him that wasn't the question
tense/evasive

Light Moments (3)

MacDonell
MacDonell invited Medvene to call him 'Herb' like his friends do — drew laughter from the courtroom
Baker / Medvene
Baker objected that he had 'no idea if that's a question or if he's trying to make a speech'; Medvene responded 'It's very cute'
MacDonell
MacDonell, pressed on the glove-and-snow question, answered 'I grew up in snow. I've never seen snow on my gloves outdoors. It doesn't accumulate on your gloves.' — Fujisaki had to redirect him that it wasn't the question

Credibility Attacks (5)

⚔ MacDonell
credential attack
Lab is uncertified, in his home, with one full-time employee; no licensing requirements; prior Guinness Book boast about testifying on more subjects than anyone — used to undercut 'world renowned expert' framing
⚔ MacDonell
prior inconsistent statement
Criminal trial testimony (p. 39,581): MacDonell said the periphery 'did not soak through the fabric'; at civil trial he claimed it did — forced to retreat to a reconciling interpretation under pressure
⚔ MacDonell
internal inconsistency
Counted 6-7 red balls at criminal trial; testified to 12 at civil trial; when pressed offered 'maybe 30' and ultimately 'I'll go with 6' — all under oath
⚔ MacDonell
methodology attack
Never tested the spots for blood (only a presumptive test by Lee); never examined the cut-out central to his theory; took no meaningful notes; did not take the photographs shown to the jury; couldn't quantify volume of balls or blood on periphery
⚔ MacDonell
undisclosed contrary experiment
MacDonell did not tell the jury about an experiment where blood took 1 hour 35 minutes to dry on the fabric — relevant to his 3-5 minute drying time testimony

Witness Demeanor

(Laughter) — after MacDonell invited examiner to call him 'Herb'
(Court reviews realtime computer screen.) — during glove/sock confusion mid-examination
(The court reporter read the question as follows:) — MacDonell asked question be re-read during glove weather-wear section
MacDonell argued with examiner repeatedly, volunteering explanations when Medvene sought yes/no answers; Fujisaki reminded him multiple times to let the examiner finish before speaking

Objections

22 objections (9 sustained, 9 overruled)
Proceeding 8653 • 455 utterances • Defense witness
Civil Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 DEC 16, 1996 📄 Redirect examination of Herber
DEC 16, 1996 KRT DvH TD