Direct examination of Robert Lerner

📄 Direct examination of Robert Lerner — Tuesday, November 19, 1996

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1996\NOV\19\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-ROBERT-L.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 18 of 57

◀ Morning session opening Redirect examination of Robert Lerner ▶

Witness: Sgt. Robert Lerner
Examiner: John Kelly
Called by: Plaintiff • Date: Tuesday, November 19, 1996 • Utterances: 31

Continuation of direct examination of Sergeant Robert Lerner, during which an audio tape (Exhibit 757) was played in open court. Kelly walked Lerner through key statements on the tape, having him identify the voices of Officer Cheryl Kent and Nicole Brown, including Nicole's chilling statements about fearing OJ's 'animalistic look.'

# 1 MR. KELLY:

I believe it is 2195.

# 2 MR. FOSTER:

757.

# 3 (Exhibit 757 an audio tape of 30 minutes' duration was played in open court, commencing at 8:56 a.m.)

# 4 THE CLERK:

You are still under oath.

Would you state are name again for the record.

# 5 SGT. ROBERT LERNER:

It's Robert Lerner.

# 6 THE CLERK:

Thank you.

DIRECT EXAMINATION (Continued) BY MR. KELLY:

# 7 Q:

Sergeant Lerner, on the tape, a high female voice stated, "I don't think you need us anymore. Good luck."

Did you recognize that voice?

# 8 A:

Yes.

# 9 Q:

Who was that?

# 10 A:

That was officer Cheryl Kent.

# 11 Q:

That was another officer that responded to the scene?

# 12 A:

Yes. There were several officers.

# 13 Q:

Okay.

"I also felt that if it happened one more time, that it would be the last time."

Do you recall hearing a female voice saying that?

KEY QUOTE

# 14 A:

Yes.

# 15 Q:

Were you able to identify that voice?

# 16 A:

Yes.

# 17 Q:

Who was that?

# 18 A:

That was Nicole Brown.

# 19 Q:

"He gets this animalistic look to him."

KEY QUOTE

# 20 MR. BAKER:

I'm going to object. This is cumulative of what was already on the tape.

# 21 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 22 Q:

(BY MR. KELLY) "He gets this animalistic look to him."

Did you hear that statement by a female voice?

KEY QUOTE

# 23 A:

Yes.

# 24 Q:

Who was that voice?

# 25 A:

That was also Nicole Brown.

# 26 Q:

Okay.

"And I get scared when he looks like that."

Did you hear that statement by a female voice?

KEY QUOTE

# 27 A:

Yes.

# 28 Q:

And can you identify that voice for us, please.

# 29 A:

Nicole Brown.

# 30 Q:

Okay.

# 31 MR. KELLY:

I have no further questions.

Temperature

emotional

Key Quotes (3)

Nicole Brown

I also felt that if it happened one more time, that it would be the last time.

Nicole's own words expressing fear that domestic violence would escalate to her death — devastating foreshadowing.

Nicole Brown

He gets this animalistic look to him.

Nicole's description of OJ during violent episodes, lending visceral detail to the abuse pattern.

Nicole Brown

And I get scared when he looks like that.

Directly establishes Nicole's fear of OJ, relevant to the plaintiffs' domestic violence narrative.

Evidence (1)

757

Audio tape of approximately 30 minutes' duration, containing voices of Nicole Brown and Officer Cheryl Kent

played in open court

Notable Exchanges (1)

Robert Baker•Hiroshi Fujisaki

Baker objected that Kelly's questioning about specific quotes was cumulative of the tape already played; Fujisaki overruled.

procedural

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 1 overruled)

Proceeding 8325 • 31 utterances • Plaintiff witness

Civil Trial

Department 103