📄 Re-redirect examination of Miguel Terrazas (part 2) — Monday, October 28, 1996
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1996\OCT\28\RE-REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-MIG.DOC
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▲ Day 4 of 57

Re-redirect examination of Miguel Terrazas (part 2)

Witness: Officer Miguel Terrazas
Examiner: Edward Medvene
Called by: Plaintiff • Date: Monday, October 28, 1996 • Utterances: 50
Baker briefly recrossed Officer Terrazas on the narrow issue of how and when he observed the blood drops (exhibits 115, 116, and an unlabeled spot on the mesh) near the Rockingham gate. The examination clarified that Terrazas's partner Riske opened the gate, Terrazas entered and then turned to examine the gate from inside, and that he communicated his findings to Riske at the time.
1 Q:

Now, did you find the blood drops that you, circled at 115 and 116 initially, when you got back there, and you opened the gate and you went into the walkway to the north of the house?

2 A:

I didn't open the gate, sir.

3 Q:

Well, who opened the gate?

4 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection. Outside the scope of redirect.

5 THE COURT:

You may reopen.

6 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Who opened the gate?

7 A:

My partner, Officer Riske.

8 Q:

Then you went inside the gate, into the walkway with him, correct?

9 A:

That's correct.

10 Q:

And was it at that time that you saw the blood drops?

11 A:

Yes, sir. Yes, as I walked in there, sir.

12 Q:

As you walked in, you saw the blood drops, correct?

13 A:

As I walked in, in the inside portion, yes, sir. I examined the gate and I examined where I was walking, yes, sir.

14 Q:

All right. So that I'm clear, we'll use Mr. Medvene's example. And you're walking west. The gate, if you're walking west, opens towards you, does it not?

15 A:

To the best of my recollection, it would open in a westerly motion, sir.

16 Q:

When you went through gate, did you push it open, or did it come towards you?

17 A:

I never pushed it open, sir.

18 Q:

Regardless of who moved it, did it go towards you, or what?

19 A:

It would come towards me, going westbound, sir.

20 Q:

Did you -- as you got inside the gate, did you then turn around and take a couple of feet and look at the gate?

21 A:

Yes, sir.

22 Q:

Is that when you examined and found all three blood spots?

23 A:

Yes, sir.

24 Q:

Okay. And so when you examined and found all three blood spots, you're looking from east to west, correct?

25 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection. Vague and ambiguous. What all three blood spots?

26 MR. BAKER:

115, 116, 117.

27 MR. MEDVENE:

He also mentioned one on top, Your Honor.

28 THE COURT:

This is Mr. Baker's question. Overruled.

29 MR. BAKER:

I need help, but not yours.

KEY QUOTE
30 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Now, you understand the question?

31 A:

Can you repeat it? It's the one with the three circles, 115, 116. 117 is 2.

32 Q:

Okay. Now, 115, 116, and the bloody spot on the mesh --

33 A:

Correct.

34 Q:

-- those you observed, sir, by being inside, if you will, between the west gate and the east gate, correct?

35 A:

To the best of my recollection, yes, sir.

36 Q:

All right. And after you had observed all three of those blood spots, sir, you didn't relate those to anybody, correct --

37 A:

I --

38 Q:

-- at the time, I mean.

39 A:

Officer Riske knew about them, sir.

40 Q:

He knew about them or didn't know about them?

41 A:

I told him about them.

42 Q:

You told him about all three of the blood spots: The one you circled 115, 116, and then the one which doesn't have a label on it, which would be 117, up here?

43 A:

To the best of my recollection, yes, sir.

44 Q:

All right.

45 MR. BAKER:

Do I don't have anything further.

46 MR. MEDVENE:

If the Court please, I believe that's 208.

47 THE COURT:

Okay.

48 MR. MEDVENE:

One second, Your Honor.

(Referring to photos that were marked by

counsel.)

49 MR. MEDVENE:

If you'll indulge me one moment, Your Honor. I apologize.

50 (Pause in proceedings.)

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (1)

Robert Baker
I need help, but not yours.
Sharp aside directed at opposing counsel Medvene after he interjected a clarification during Baker's question — rare moment of courtroom candor.

Evidence (2)

Informal
Blood drops circled and labeled 115, 116, and a third unlabeled spot on the mesh (referred to as 117) near the Rockingham gate walkway
discussed
208
Photo marked by counsel, referenced by Medvene at close of examination
referenced

Notable Exchanges (2)

Robert BakerEdward Medvene
Medvene interjected mid-question to clarify which blood spots Baker meant; Baker snapped 'I need help, but not yours.'
tense
Robert BakerTerrazas
Baker pinned down that Terrazas told Riske about all three blood spots at the time — establishing the observations were contemporaneously communicated.
strategic

Light Moments (1)

Robert Baker
Baker's aside 'I need help, but not yours' after Medvene tried to assist with his own question

Witness Demeanor

(Pause in proceedings.)

Objections

2 objections (0 sustained, 1 overruled)
Proceeding 8058 • 50 utterances • Plaintiff witness
Civil Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 OCT 28, 1996 📄 Re-redirect examination of Mig
OCT 28, 1996 KRT DvH TD