Direct examination of Bernie Douroux

📄 Direct examination of Bernie Douroux — Monday, November 4, 1996

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1996\NOV\4\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-BERNIE-D.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 8 of 57

◀ Jury instruction: prior trial testimony Redirect examination of Bernie Douroux ▶

Witness: Bernie Douroux
Examiner: Peter Gelblum
Called by: Plaintiff • Date: Monday, November 4, 1996 • Utterances: 57

Deposition testimony of Bernie Douroux, a tow truck driver for Rheuban Motors, was read into the record. Douroux testified that he was dispatched by LAPD on June 13, 1994, to 360 N. Rockingham, where he was instructed not to touch or open the Ford Bronco and to transport it to Parker Center. He confirmed the Bronco was locked when he arrived and that he towed it to the print shed at Parker Center, arriving around 4:30–4:40 PM.

# 1 (The following testimony of Bernie Douroux was read into the record, with Mr. Gelblum reading the questions, and Mr. Foster reading the answers.)

# 2 A:

Bernie Douroux, B-E-R-N-I-E D-O-U-R-O-U-X.

# 3 Q:

Mr. Douroux, who were you working for on June 13, 1994?

# 4 A:

Rheuban Motors.

# 5 Q:

And Rheuban Motors is a towing -- automobile towing company?

# 6 A:

It's a police impound, yes.

# 7 Q:

And what do you do for Rheuban Motors?

# 8 A:

Impound vehicles at LAPD, to request have impounded or private towing.

# 9 Q:

On the afternoon of June 13, at around 3:06 p.m., did you receive a radio call from your dispatcher?

# 10 A:

Yes, we did.

# 11 Q:

And after receiving that radio call, did you go somewhere?

# 12 A:

Yes, I did.

# 13 Q:

Where did you go?

# 14 A:

360 Rockingham.

# 15 Q:

Why did you go to 360 Rockingham?

# 16 A:

We were asked by LAPD to pick up a vehicle.

# 17 Q:

And what time did you arrive at 360 North Rockingham?

# 18 A:

Approximately 3:30.

# 19 Q:

And did you speak to a police officer at that location?

# 20 A:

I spoke to a couple of them, yes.

# 21 Q:

Were you given any instructions?

# 22 A:

Yes, I did. Yes, I was.

# 23 Q:

What instructions were you given by the officers?

# 24 A:

Not to touch the vehicle, not to open it, and to take it downtown.

KEY QUOTE

# 25 Q:

And were you directed toward a certain vehicle?

# 26 A:

Yes.

# 27 Q:

To a certain vehicle?

# 28 A:

Yes, I was.

# 29 Q:

And what vehicle was that?

# 30 A:

Ford Bronco.

# 31 Q:

Okay. The Ford Bronco that's been on --

# 32 A:

Yes.

# 33 Q:

Mr. Simpson's Ford Bronco?

# 34 A:

Yes, sir.

# 35 Q:

And did you tow that Ford Bronco?

# 36 A:

Yes, I did.

# 37 Q:

Did you touch it prior to hooking it up to your tow truck?

# 38 A:

Not prior, but after I hooked it up, I did touch the front right tire, to make sure it was locked -- the steering column was locked.

# 39 Q:

Can you tell whether or not the Ford Bronco was locked?

# 40 A:

Yes, it was locked, because it had little -- the buttons were down on the Bronco.

KEY QUOTE

# 41 Q:

It was locked when you first saw it?

# 42 A:

Yes, sir.

# 43 Q:

Did you unlock that vehicle?

# 44 A:

No, sir.

# 45 Q:

And did you tow that vehicle?

# 46 A:

Yes, sir, I did.

# 47 Q:

Where did you tow the Ford Bronco to?

# 48 A:

To Parker Center, to the print shed, over here.

# 49 Q:

To Parker Center, over here on Los Angeles Street?

# 50 A:

Yes, sir.

# 51 Q:

To the print shed?

# 52 A:

Yes, sir.

# 53 Q:

What time, sir, did you leave Rockingham with the Bronco?

# 54 A:

Approximately 3:40.

# 55 Q:

And what time did you arrive downtown at Parker Center, if you know?

# 56 A:

Took me about an hour to get there. To probably -- probably about 4:40, 4:30."

# 57 MR. GELBLUM:

I have nothing further.

Temperature

routine

Key Quotes (2)

Bernie Douroux

Not to touch the vehicle, not to open it, and to take it downtown.

Establishes LAPD's chain-of-custody instructions for the Bronco, relevant to evidence integrity arguments.

Bernie Douroux

Yes, it was locked, because it had little -- the buttons were down on the Bronco.

Confirms the Bronco was locked when seized, relevant to access and contamination questions.

Evidence (1)

Informal

OJ Simpson's Ford Bronco, towed from 360 N. Rockingham to Parker Center print shed

chain of custody established

Witness Demeanor

(Testimony read into the record by Mr. Gelblum asking questions and Mr. Foster reading answers)

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 8127 • 57 utterances • Plaintiff witness

Civil Trial

Department 103