📄 Redirect examination of Miguel Terrazas (afternoon) — Monday, October 28, 1996
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1996\OCT\28\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-MIGUEL.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 4 of 57

Redirect examination of Miguel Terrazas (afternoon)

Witness: Officer Miguel Terrazas
Examiner: Edward Medvene
Called by: Plaintiff • Date: Monday, October 28, 1996 • Utterances: 456
Robert Baker cross-examines LAPD Officer Miguel Terrazas about his actions at 875 South Bundy on the night of the murders, focusing on two main areas: a significant discrepancy between the one 'small drop of blood' he documented on the back gate versus the approximately four drops he described in testimony, and the incomplete crime scene log that shows Detective Vannatter checked in at 4:05 AM but was never logged out. Baker also established that Fuhrman, Phillips, and Vannatter all entered the property through the rear garage during Terrazas's security watch.
1 Q:

Officer Terrazas, I think at the noon break, we were talking about you had gone, walked towards the victim westbound, and you had viewed the victim at that point in time, correct?

This is your initial viewing of the victim at around 12:20 in the morning on the 13th?

2 A:

Yes. As I crossed the shrubbery and crossed over the victim, I observed the victim number .

3 Q:

Okay. So now, on June 13, 1994, you made a -- gave a written statement that you signed about :20 in the morning; is that right?

4 A:

Yes, sir.

5 Q:

And you made that, I take it, after the events of the evening were relatively fresh in your mind, correct?

6 A:

Yes.

7 Q:

And let me see if I can -- and we'll substitute -- you've agreed with Mr. Medvene, we'll substitute in a better copy; this one we've marked all up. But for lack of one, that is, in fact, the statement that you gave, is it not, sir?

8 A:

Yes, sir, it's a copy of my statement.

9 Q:

And everything in that statement is true and correct, correct?

10 A:

Yes, sir.

11 Q:

Okay. Now, you say, "I walked to the above address and saw victim number 1 lying at the base of the stairwell, facing northbound. Upon seeing victim number 1, I walked toward her, westbound on the walkway, and observed victim number 2 lying in the bushes, just north of victim No. 1."

12 A:

Yes, sir.

13 Q:

Did you or did you not walk on the walkway?

14 A:

Yes, sir, I walked on the walkway as I crossed over here, sir. That's the walkway.

15 Q:

All right. And then you indicated that after you walked over victim number 1, you saw the door to 875 South Bundy wide open, correct?

16 A:

Yes, sir. As I walked over victim number and I climbed the stairs, I saw the door open, open. Yes, sir.

17 Q:

You climbed the stairs?

18 A:

Well, yes, sir. As I walked on the stairs, onto the base of the stairs to the top of the stairs, I saw --

19 Q:

Let me see if I've got this right:

20 MR. BAKER:

You want to put up here -- I guess I have it.

21 MR. MEDVENE:

If the Court please, may we have an exhibit number for the document that the --

22 MR. BAKER:

Did you get it, 1439?

23 MR. MEDVENE:

Thank you.

24 THE COURT:

Is that the best you can do?

25 MR. BAKER:

That's awful. Try 36.

It's still off. Try 36.

26 (Exhibit 36 being displayed.)
27 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Now, as I understand in your testimony, you walked up westbound -- and we are looking due west -- that picture is looking due west, is it not?

28 A:

Yes, sir.

29 Q:

You walked up westbound to the area where the front gate is; then you crossed over. You say you walk on the walkway by stepping over victim number 1, Ms. Nicole Brown Simpson?

30 A:

I believe there was some grass in the area. I walked over here, crossed over, crossed over the shrubbery over the foliage up to here, and came up westbound on the walkway right here.

31 Q:

So, you went up the steps?

32 A:

Yes, sir.

33 Q:

And how far up the steps did you go?

34 A:

Well, sir, I walked to the front door, so I walked all the way on top of the steps, sir.

35 Q:

And how far was the front door from the top of that landing of the steps that we can see in Exhibit 36?

36 A:

Not very good with measurements. I'd say approximately 10, 15 feet, maybe.

37 Q:

Okay. And was the front door right at the beginning of the house or the condo?

38 A:

To the best of my recollection, it's close to the entrance, sir. It's not that far.

39 Q:

In other words, if you walk up the steps, your recollection is that the front door would be to the left, at the beginning of the building?

40 A:

Approximately about 10 to 15 from the base of the stairwell, sir.

41 Q:

All right. And --

42 A:

To the top.

43 Q:

And the entrance, then, is kind of on -- the door is on an angle, as I recall; is that right?

44 A:

As I recall, no; it just sits --

45 Q:

Flush on the front of the --

46 A:

As I recall it, yes, sir.

47 Q:

Okay. And did you go in the house?

48 A:

No, sir.

49 Q:

And was Officer Riske with you at that time?

50 A:

Yes, he was.

51 Q:

And did he go into the house at that time?

52 A:

Yes, he did.

53 Q:

And why is it you didn't go in with him?

54 A:

I was just there -- I wanted to ensure no one came up behind me via the walkway from the west end, or anybody came in from the other side of the house, meaning from the west side, from the inside. I just stood by the doorway, sir.

55 Q:

I see. So, now, the situation that you had when you approached that condominium at about :25, now, is that you have two extremely bloody murders and homicide victims out in the front, correct?

56 A:

Yes.

57 Q:

And you have no idea what's in the house, right?

58 A:

I have no idea.

59 Q:

And your partner has no idea what's in the house, right?

60 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection. Calls for conclusion.

61 THE COURT:

Sustained.

62 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Did you talk to your partner about whether or not he had any idea about what was going on inside there?

63 A:

No, sir.

64 Q:

Did either of you have your service revolvers drawn?

65 A:

Yes.

66 Q:

Did you?

67 A:

Yes.

68 Q:

Did he?

69 A:

I don't remember.

70 Q:

And so you -- he walked into the house and you then returned to your vehicle?

71 A:

He walked into the -- he walked into the house as I stood in doorway. He walked in to use the telephone. He walked right back out. As he walked out, I walked back down the stairwell, observed victim number 2, the male.

I then put my light on the envelope, the glove, and the cap. I continued to put the light back on the walkway, walked on the walkway, and took the same route I pointed out, which would be crossed over here onto the shrubbery, and back out through the foliage.

72 Q:

All right. Now, you didn't actually see your partner use the phone, did you?

73 A:

I believe I did, sir, to the best of my recollection. Yes, I did; I saw him use the phone.

74 Q:

So from the entrance way, in the house, you could visualize him on the phone, and you remember what room he was in when you used the phone?

75 A:

As I poked my head into the door, into the residence, I saw him at the kitchen, sir. I believe he was -- the phone was located near a -- a bar or some kind of table.

76 Q:

Okay. And your recollection is, of course, you never stepped in the house and you had full view of that telephone from the entrance where you were, right?

77 A:

I'm not saying I had a full few, sir. I observed my partner using the phone. I didn't have a full view of the telephone itself.

78 Q:

Let me ask you: When you looked -- when you peeked your head in the door, could you look through into the kitchen area?

79 A:

To the best of my recollection, yes, sir.

80 Q:

Okay. And could you see the instrument called a telephone, Officer Terrazas?

81 A:

I saw the hand portion, where you talk into. That is the portion I saw as he was using it, to the best of my recollection, sir.

82 Q:

So at the time you looked into the front door, your partner was on the phone; is that right?

83 A:

To the best of my recollection, yes, sir.

84 Q:

Now, did you walk up the stairwell -- the stairs onto that landing with him?

85 A:

I don't understand, sir.

86 Q:

Poor question. I apologize. You both walked across, towards where the body of Nicole Brown Simpson was, and went up the stairs?

87 A:

Yes.

88 Q:

He was in the lead?

89 A:

He went ahead of me, sir. Approximately, maybe ten seconds later, I followed, sir, behind him. If that, ten seconds.

90 Q:

And in that ten seconds, what did you do? He led in or was just --

91 A:

I just stood by, sir.

92 Q:

You've got to wait till I finish; and I'll be happy to wait until you finish,

In that ten seconds, did you -- was that just the natural progression of how you went into the -- up the steps and into the area?

93 A:

It was for me, sir.

94 Q:

All right. And then he had -- when you got up to the landing, why did you look in the doorway and not go in?

95 A:

Once again, sir, my concern is, I didn't want nobody to walk up behind me or coming in westbound from the other gate area. I was concerned with that area, as well as I was concerned that someone could walk from inside the house from the other side, which would be the west end of inside the house, sir.

96 Q:

Now, did you look directly in the front door?

Did you look directly into the kitchen?

Was there another room was there, or just the kitchen area?

97 A:

I can't remember, sir.

98 Q:

Okay. And then your partner stayed on the phone. In a few minutes, he came out and you both exited the condominium itself, true?

99 A:

Yes.

100 Q:

And you walked down the stairs and viewed the evidence that you told us about?

101 A:

Yes.

102 Q:

And you viewed that same evidence, you told us when Mr. Medvene questioned you, when you were going up there, correct?

103 A:

Yes.

104 Q:

So you viewed it twice?

105 A:

Yes.

106 Q:

All right. Then you came back and you got -- did you go to your vehicle after that?

107 A:

I walked up onto the shrubbery where, to the best of my recollection, I met -- we both met with Sergeant Coon, as Sergeant Coon arrived. He then directed me to walk to the rear of the 875 South Bundy.

108 Q:

Did you see your partner go around to the north side of the property of 875 South Bundy?

109 A:

To the north side, sir.

110 Q:

Yes.

111 A:

I don't understand your question as to --

112 Q:

When you and Officer Riske exited the condominium and you walked out towards Bundy, did you -- first of all, let me ask you this: Did you go to your vehicle, or did you -- were you intercepted by Sergeant Coon?

113 A:

To the best of my recollection, sir, we were intercepted by Sergeant Coon.

114 Q:

Then you went directly to the back of 875 South Bundy?

115 A:

Yes, sir.

116 Q:

Did you watch your partner go around to the north side of 875 South Bundy?

117 A:

No, sir, not that I can remember, no.

118 Q:

Okay. Excuse me. Let me just show you what you wrote at 4:20 in the morning on the 13th. See if I'm' reading it accurately.

"Walked over victim 2 and saw the door to South Bundy Drive wide open.

"I returned to my vehicle, where I met Sergeant" -- "met with Sergeant Coon, and was assigned to cover the rear of the residence." Is that correct?

119 A:

If I walked to the vehicle, yes, sir.

120 Q:

Well, I'm asking you, is that what you wrote in the morning hours, 4:20, on the 13th?

121 A:

Yes, that's what I wrote, sir.

122 Q:

Okay. And as you sit here now, you don't have any recollection of going to your vehicle, correct?

123 A:

I don't remember, no, sir.

124 Q:

Okay. Fair enough. Now, you went down south on Bundy, turned right on Dorothy, and right back up the alley?

125 A:

Yes, sir.

126 Q:

Had it been taped by then?

127 A:

No.

128 Q:

And you maintained your vigil outside the rear of 875 South Bundy in the alley, correct?

129 A:

Yes.

130 Q:

And you did that till 4:20 in the morning, when you signed and wrote this report, true?

131 A:

Yes.

132 Q:

All right. And during that period of time, you saw various people go in and out of 875 South Bundy from the rear, did you not?

133 A:

Yes.

134 Q:

All right. Now, first of all, when you got there, had anybody, to your knowledge, go in 875 South Bundy from the alleyway?

135 A:

Not from the alley, sir.

136 Q:

All right. Now, you got there, I assume, what, about 12:40?

137 A:

12:35.

138 Q:

Okay.

139 A:

12:40-ish. That's a good -- approximately.

140 Q:

So you were there for three hours and 40 or so minutes, correct?

141 A:

Approximately, sir.

142 Q:

All right. Now, during that period of time, who was the first person that came around to the back that you allowed to go into 875 South Bundy?

143 A:

Through the rear, sir?

144 Q:

Yes.

145 A:

Believe it was Sergeant Rossi. It was Sergeant Rossi.

146 Q:

And was Sergeant Rossi with anybody?

147 A:

To the best of my recollection, he was -- would be my partner, Officer Riske.

148 Q:

Anybody else?

149 A:

No, sir.

150 Q:

Did anybody come out of the rear of 875 South Bundy before you allowed Rossi and Riske to go in that --

151 A:

Yes.

152 Q:

-- area?

153 A:

Yes.

154 Q:

Who?

155 A:

There was a -- there were the two children -- I believe it was Officer Vasquez, if my memory serves me right, and some other officers that had cleared the residence and found the children inside. They walked up through the rear and put the children inside a car and into a patrol car.

156 Q:

That was the patrol car in the alley?

157 A:

Yes, it was.

158 Q:

And Officer Vasquez an the two children were the first people that came out of that garage, correct?

159 A:

Yes.

160 Q:

All right. And there is a door that leads from the garage into the condominium -- the living area of the condominium, correct?

161 A:

Can you repeat that, sir?

162 Q:

Be happy to. There is a door in the garage that leads into the living area of the condominium, right?

163 A:

I never went inside the garage, but there must be, sir.

164 Q:

Well, I mean you saw --

165 A:

I saw.

166 Q:

-- various people in three hours and forty minutes. You saw five or ten people going in and out of there?

167 A:

Yes, sir.

168 Q:

You saw the entrance to the residence?

169 A:

All I knew, there was a door there. Where it went, I didn't know.

170 Q:

Did you think it was the residence?

171 A:

Yes, sir.

172 Q:

Now, in terms of when you got there at :35 or so in the morning, that is back by the garage and the alley area, did you inspect the area with your flashlight?

173 A:

When I arrived to the rear of the alley, Yes, I did, sir.

174 Q:

And you then noted some blood that you documented in your report, correct?

175 A:

Correct.

176 Q:

And all the evidence that you noted, you documented in your report because it was important; isn't that true?

177 A:

Not all the evidence. I didn't annotate all the evidence in my report.

178 Q:

What was your report for if it was not to, number 1, indicate your whereabouts from the time you got there, 12:35 and 2:00, to enable you to document the evidence that you had seen?

179 A:

Sir, my report was just a brief overview of what I had done and what I had seen, sir.

180 Q:

Well, did you -- you told us about some blood drops on the back gate.

181 MR. BAKER:

You want to put up Exhibit 82? Okay. Then you can't put it up.

182 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Now, you indicated when you were being examined this morning by Mr. Medvene, that the drop there, No. 115, you circled that drop, did you not?

183 A:

Yes, sir.

184 Q:

And that's this area, correct?

185 A:

That would be this area here, sir.

186 Q:

And 116?

187 A:

116 would be this area here, sir.

188 Q:

This morning you also indicated those two dots right by the rung, did you not?

189 A:

Are you saying these right here, sir?

190 Q:

Yeah.

191 A:

I don't remember, sir.

192 Q:

Okay. Now, do you have a recollection, as you sit her now, whether that is looking westward or eastward on the gate. And I understand it's a couple years ago.

193 A:

I'm looking, I believe, at what would be looking -- as the gate lay shut, it would be looking westward, sir.

194 Q:

And how many drops of blood did you visualize when you were looking for evidence at 12:35 on the evening of June 13, 1994?

195 A:

At the gate itself, sir?

196 Q:

Yeah, let's just keep it to the gate.

197 A:

Overall, the total on the gate, meaning the top, the mesh, and the bottom bar?

198 Q:

Everything.

199 A:

Well, the top bar had a smudge -- I consider that one smudge of blood.

200 Q:

Okay.

201 A:

The lower portion on the mesh appeared to be another -- appeared to be smudges or right in here, drops. I don't know what you want to call it.

202 Q:

Is that rust, Officer Terrazas, that you just put your pointer?

203 A:

To the best of my recollection, no, sir.

204 Q:

That's blood drops, right?

205 A:

Yes, sir.

206 Q:

All right. Go ahead.

207 A:

Another one here.

208 Q:

All right.

209 A:

That would be one, two, three, four -- approximately four, sir.

210 Q:

Okay. You want to read to the jury what you put in your report at 4:20 on the 13th relative to blood drops?

211 A:

Yes, sir.

212 (Witness reviews documents.)
213 Q:

Right at the bottom.

214 A:

Says, "I then walked towards the" -- "towards the side gate of the residence and observed a small blood trail leading into the residence side walkway and a small drop of blood on the bottom portion of the gate, facing westbound."

215 Q:

So what you wrote on your report after you had been at the scene for three hours and forty minutes was one small drop of blood, a small drop of blood on the bottom portion of the gate, facing westbound correct?

KEY QUOTE
216 A:

Sir, there was a trail of blood, meaning, i.e., the bottom, the top, and a drop of blood on the gate itself, too sir, on the other side, facing westbound.

217 Q:

On the gate, Officer Terrazas, you observed and wrote on June 13, 1994, "one small drop of blood on the bottom portion of the gate facing westbound." Yes or no?

218 A:

Yes.

219 Q:

Thank you. And what you say -- well, strike that.

Now, in terms of your being behind the garage and in charge of access, that is, security to anyone entering or leaving the condominium, you were in charge of ensuring that nobody who wasn't authorized got into the structure, correct?

220 A:

That's correct.

221 Q:

And so, all police officers were authorized to get into the structure, correct?

222 A:

Not all police officers, sir.

223 Q:

Now, if in fact the robbery/homicide division had taken over at 1:30 or so in the morning, then no one from West L.A. should be allowed into the condominium from your vantage point; isn't that true --

224 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection.

225 Q:

(Continuing.) -- unless they were with robbery/homicide?

226 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection. Calls for conclusion.

227 THE COURT:

Sustained.

228 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Officer Terrazas, the minute robbery/homicide division takes over the crime scene, then all of West L.A. detectives and West L.A. police are supposed to remain clear of the crime scene and let robbery/homicide do it; isn't that true?

229 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection. Calls for conclusion; assumes facts not in evidence; outside the scope.

230 THE COURT:

Without foundation. Sustained.

231 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Do you know whether or not when the robbery/homicide division takes over a crime scene, or says that they are taking over authority, if that precludes West L.A. or any other unit in the valley from exercising any authority over the crime scene?

232 A:

At the time no one -- no one advised me that robbery/homicide had taken over the scene, sir.

233 Q:

Regardless of what -- I'm talking now in the abstract.

You knew on June 13, 1994, that if, in fact, robbery/homicide takes over a crime scene, that that would then limit access to people from robbery/homicide or whoever they desire to get into the house, true?

234 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection. Argumentative; assumes facts not in evidence; lack of foundation.

235 THE COURT:

Sustained. If he didn't know, it's irrelevant.

236 MR. BAKER:

I think he --

237 THE COURT:

He said he didn't know.

238 MR. BAKER:

I'm sorry.

239 THE COURT:

He said he did not know whether they took over; therefore, what he thinks is irrelevant.

240 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Officer Terrazas, are you telling us that you didn't know in the time between :30 or 12:35, when you were put back behind the alley, and 4:20 in the morning, when you were relieved of your security post, you didn't know if robbery/homicide had taken over at any time during that period of time?

241 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection. Argumentative. Asked and answered.

242 THE COURT:

Overruled.

243 A:

Sir, the only thing I was told was that robbery/homicide had arrived, and also West L.A. homicide had arrived. I was never told who had taken over the crime scene, sir.

244 Q:

When robbery/homicide takes it at a crime scene --

245 THE COURT:

Mr. Baker, I'm going to sustain my own objection.

I think that -- let's establish that this is not the witness from which we're going to get this information. You've got other witnesses you can ask that of.

KEY QUOTE
246 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Now, after you saw Officer Riske and Officer Rossi come in to the back alleyway portion of 875 South Bundy -- well, strike that.

What time did they get there?

247 THE COURT:

Who?

248 MR. BAKER:

Riske and Rossi.

249 OFFICER MIGUEL TERRAZAS:

Maybe 20 to 30 minutes later, after I had arrived from the rear area.

250 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Okay, sometime shortly after 1 o'clock, around there?

251 A:

Approximately, sir.

252 Q:

Okay. And tell me what you observed Officer Rossi and Officer Riske do.

253 A:

I believe I walked -- to the best of my recollection, I walked with them and Sergeant -- I mean my partner, Officer Riske, told Sergeant Rossi what I had been in that rear area. So Sergeant Rossi then walked with us. And to the best of my recollection, me and Riske showed him what we had seen.

254 Q:

And what you had seen, you walked down the walkway on the north side of the house, correct?

255 A:

No, sir, I didn't walk -- are you saying I walked -- if I walked westbound on the north walkway, sir?

256 Q:

No. I apologize. Another poor question.

Did you or Officer Riske take Officer Rossi and go eastbound on the walkway that borders the northern portion of the condominium?

257 A:

Yes. As the gate was open, sir, we did walk into the walkway, eastbound, sir, onto the north walkway, eastbound, sir.

258 Q:

And how far did you walk, approximately?

259 A:

Two, three feet, approximately.

260 Q:

That's beyond the gate?

261 A:

Two, three feet, approximately.

262 Q:

Didn't see any footprints, did you?

263 A:

Sir, the only footprints I saw was would be at the far east end of the walkway, near victim number 1, which would be the female, sir. I saw the footprints there.

264 Q:

Did you see any footprints in the entrance by the west gate when you were going east?

265 A:

No, sir.

266 Q:

Okay. And you only went a couple feet in and turned around and came back out; is that correct?

267 A:

That's correct.

268 Q:

And then what did Officers Riske and Rossi do, if anything?

269 A:

They put their flashlights on the gate and the actual walkway, the driveway, which would be where the glove was located, also, and walked on the side and then walked out of it.

270 Q:

Did you see Officers Rossi and Riske go into the condominium?

271 A:

I did not see -- I did not see Sergeant Rossi walk into the condominium.

272 Q:

Did you see Officer Riske walk into the condominium at or about 1:00 to 1:10 in the morning?

273 A:

No, sir.

274 Q:

Thereafter, when did you next see an officer go into the condominium from the door that is at the garage and goes into, we believe, into the house?

275 A:

I don't remember seeing any, sir.

276 Q:

Let me see if I can get this straight.

Between the time that you arrived there, that would be 12:35, until you were relieved of the security at 4:20, you didn't see any officer go into the door that goes from the garage into the living structure?

277 A:

Sir, I saw, I believe it was Detective Fuhrman, I believe it was Detective Phillips and Vannatter walk in, sir.

KEY QUOTE
278 Q:

All together?

279 A:

No, sir; throughout that time frame, sir.

280 Q:

What time did you see Detective Fuhrman go into the property?

281 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection, Your Honor. Vague and ambiguous in terms of "go into the property."

282 THE COURT:

Sustained.

283 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) What time did you see Mark Fuhrman from your vantage point at the rear of the property in the alley, and in the driveway towards the garage, enter through the garage area and go into the door that leads from the garage into the house?

284 A:

I didn't happen to see my watch at the time. I really wouldn't know what time it was, sir.

285 Q:

Approximately?

286 A:

From the time I arrived, approximately maybe 1:30, 1:45, maybe.

287 Q:

All right. And who did Fuhrman go into the structure with, that you visualized?

288 A:

I can't remember, sir.

289 Q:

Do you remember if he went in with anybody?

290 A:

I don't remember, sir.

291 Q:

It was important for you to know who went in and exited the house, because you were the security in the back of the house; isn't that true?

292 A:

That's correct, sir.

293 Q:

Did you see him go into the property with Ron Phillips, Detective Phillips?

294 A:

I remember seeing Detective Phillips at the scene, sir. I believe he walked in, sir, because I -- but I don't remember if he walked in with Detective Fuhrman, sir.

295 Q:

All right. Did you ever see Officer Riske walk in from your vantage point, from the alleyway into the door and into the living structure?

296 A:

From the front door or from the garage, sir.

297 Q:

It's true you never saw Riske enter from the back door and go into the living structure; is that true?

298 A:

Not that I can remember, sir.

299 Q:

You have no recollection of Riske entering from the back?

300 A:

I don't remember, sir.

301 Q:

Now, Phillips, when -- do you remember who he entered with, if anybody?

302 A:

I don't remember, sir.

303 Q:

You don't remember what time?

304 A:

I don't, sir.

305 Q:

Do you remember if Frank Spangler ever went in the rear entrance?

306 A:

Who?

307 Q:

Lieutenant Spangler.

Do you know who he is?

308 A:

I don't remember him, sir.

309 Q:

Now, do you remember anybody -- well, strike that.

When did you see Detective Vannatter enter the house from your vantage point?

310 A:

I don't remember the time. I would have to speculate, sir.

311 Q:

And did you illuminate the surrounding area, also?

312 A:

It would be a really rough estimate. I don't remember looking at my watch.

313 MR. MEDVENE:

If the Court please, if the witness has a memory, he can so state, but he's not to guess.

314 THE COURT:

Excuse me?

315 MR. MEDVENE:

We'd like some foundation, Your Honor, whether the witness has a memory or he's just guessing on the time --

316 THE COURT:

-- own statement.

317 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) How many hours did you spend with Mr. Medvene before you got on the stand here, after Mr. Simpson was acquitted?

318 A:

After Mr. Simpson was acquitted?

319 Q:

Yeah. How many hours did you spend with Mr. Medvene?

320 A:

Maybe an hour, total.

321 Q:

Who else did you spend time with to prepare yourself to testify today, if anybody?

322 A:

Who I spoke with? Just Mr. Medvene and the gentleman in the red hair, standing directly behind Mr. Medvene.

323 Q:

Okay. Okay. You never talked to anyone from the defense side, did you?

324 A:

No, sir.

325 Q:

Now, what's your best estimate, sir, as to when Mr. Phillip Vannatter entered the house from the rear?

326 A:

I would be -- strictly guessing, it would be sometime between maybe 2:00 and 3:00, sir.

327 Q:

Well, do you have a sense, as you sit here now, since it was your job to ensure the security of that area, whether Detective Vannatter entered the property with anybody else?

328 A:

Yes, sir. If I saw identification on the individual, sir. And with Detective Vannatter, I assume he was to go inside, sir.

329 Q:

Had you ever met Detective Vannatter before this time?

330 A:

No, sir.

331 Q:

So Detective Vannatter showed you I.D.; then you let anybody he wanted, or anybody who had I.D., in with him?

332 A:

Yes, if he was a detective; yes, sir.

333 Q:

Do you know who went in with Detective Vannatter?

334 A:

I have no idea, sir.

335 Q:

Do you have a recollection, as you sit here now, of anybody else other than Detectives Vannatter, Fuhrman, and Phillips going in the back of the house and entering the structure from your vantage point?

336 A:

From what I can remember, sir, no, sir.

337 Q:

All right. Now, did you -- when you viewed the gloves, did you note their location?

338 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection, Your Honor. Misstates the testimony. The witness said -- the witness said he saw one glove.

339 MR. BAKER:

I apologize. He saw it twice. I didn't mean -- I apologize. I didn't mean --

Can you put up Exhibit 89.

340 (Steve complies.)
341 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Let me show you Exhibit , and ask you to take a look at that.

342 (The instrument herein described was marked for identification as Plaintiffs' Exhibit No. 101.)
343 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Can you see that, Officer?

344 A:

Yes, sir.

345 Q:

And is that approximately where you saw the glove when you first visualized it?

346 A:

It was under some foliage, like that, sir; yes, sir.

347 Q:

Okay. And to your knowledge, was that glove moved?

348 A:

When I arrived, sir?

349 Q:

Yeah.

350 A:

No, sir; it was never moved when I was there.

351 Q:

Now, this is Exhibit 1327. That glove has now been moved, has it not?

352 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection, Your Honor. Lack of foundation. Mr. Baker was showing him two different photos, taken at two different times: One before the coroner moved the bodies, and one after.

353 MR. BAKER:

I'm going to object, too. There has been no evidence that the coroner moved the bodies.

354 MR. MEDVENE:

Mr. Baker knows those two pictures were taken at different times.

355 THE COURT:

Excuse me, Counsel. If you have an objection, I want you to approach the bench; I don't want speaking objections.

356 MR. BAKER:

May we approach the bench?

357 THE COURT:

You may.

358 (The following proceedings were held at the bench, with the reporter.)
359 MR. MEDVENE:

If the Court please, Mr. Baker showed this witness two photos: One photo that was taken, and which Mr. Baker knows the evidence will show, was taken at sometime after 9 o'clock in the morning, and another photo that Mr. Baker knows was taken before the bodies were moved. We believe that's the one.

And there is no foundation established as to when these photographs were taken. And if the witness knows when they were taken -- the witness has testified that one picture was how he saw it at the time.

And what my objection is, is that Mr. Baker, knowingly, I think, has shown this witness a picture after this witness left the scene. The witness testified he left the scene, was off duty at :10.

I'll represent to Your Honor that the coroner didn't get there until after 9:10. The photo that was taken, the photo we showed was taken before :00 a.m. We think it was taken about 6:30.

Mr. Baker's theory is, it was taken a little before. But the other photo that Mr. Baker put up and asked him about was taken after the bodies were moved; that's what the testimony is going to show. And there's no other evidence that's going to be introduced that wasn't taken after the bodies were moved.

I guess all I'm saying, Your Honor, is --

360 THE COURT:

What's the foundation for that second photo?

361 MR. MEDVENE:

The photo that we asked about on direct.

362 THE COURT:

What's the foundation for the second photo?

363 MR. MEDVENE:

When you say the second photo, you mean the one --

364 THE COURT:

What is the foundation for the second photo?

365 MR. BAKER:

Your Honor, the one they already put up, the other photo was taken before.

366 THE COURT:

What is that one right there?

367 MR. MEDVENE:

Detective --

368 THE COURT:

Mr. Baker, you walked away. What is the foundation for that photo right there?

369 MR. BAKER:

That photo right there? Well, the photograph was taken before dawn, and the coroner didn't get there until 9 o'clock.

370 THE COURT:

When was the other photograph taken?

371 MR. BAKER:

Before dawn, as well.

372 MR. MEDVENE:

Detective Lange will say the first photo that Mr. Baker showed was taken after the coroner moved the bodies; that the first photo which we've talked about isn't the first.

373 THE COURT:

Excuse me. I'm going sustain the objection of that photograph. That photograph is without foundation. You can lay a foundation with the photographer.

374 MR. BAKER:

All right.

375 (The following proceedings were held in open court, in the presence of the jury.)
376 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Now, after -- strike that.

Did you leave after 4:20 in the morning?

377 (No verbal response.)
378 Q:

The crime scene?

379 A:

No, sir.

380 Q:

What did you do after you signed off your witness statement at 0420 hours on the 13th?

381 A:

I walked to Dorothy and Bundy and was assigned to continue the crime-scene log, sir.

382 Q:

And did you then continue the crime-scene log until when?

383 A:

I continued it approximately, maybe an hour, I believe.

384 Q:

To about 5:20?

385 A:

Approximately, sir.

386 Q:

As the keeper of crime-scene log, you were to log in and out every LAPD or law enforcement officer who comes to the scene or leaves the scene, correct?

387 A:

Any LAPD, yes, sir, or any other officers. Yes, sir.

388 Q:

Did you do that, Officer Terrazas?

389 A:

To the best of my ability, yes, sir.

390 Q:

Did you log out officers when they left the scene?

391 A:

To the best of my ability, yes.

392 Q:

And did you log out Detective Vannatter when he left the scene?

393 A:

If he left when I was there, yes, sir.

394 Q:

All right. See where it says Detective Vannatter, his badge -- I guess his badge number, is it?

395 A:

I believe that to be a serial number.

396 Q:

14877?

397 A:

Yes, sir.

398 Q:

Okay. You see what time he checked in over there, 0405, on the left?

399 A:

Yes, sir.

400 Q:

You see what time he checked out?

401 A:

There is none, sir.

402 Q:

Do you know what time he left?

403 A:

No, sir, I don't.

404 Q:

And you were in charge of the crime log from at least 4:20 to 5:20, correct?

405 A:

Yes, sir. Approximately 5:20, sir.

406 Q:

5:20. That's not --

407 A:

Till approximately 5:20 sir, in the morning.

408 Q:

That's not the time you have Vannatter check out of there?

409 A:

No, sir.

410 Q:

Move it up, see what time you have. We have -- you have Detective Lange -- it's two more down.

Well, see, so you've got Detective Lange checking in 0425 in the morning, and out at 12:15. Is that p.m.? Is that the next day, or was that your entry at all?

411 A:

That's not my entry, sir.

412 Q:

Okay. Now, if Detective Vannatter left the crime scene at 5 o'clock to go to Rockingham, you had an obligation to ensure that you logged him out?

413 A:

It was at approximately 0520 hours. Yes, sir, I had an obligation.

414 Q:

It was at 5 o'clock you had an obligation, as well?

415 A:

That's correct, sir.

416 Q:

And to look at that log, he's still there, right?

417 A:

Yes, sir.

418 Q:

Okay. Now, one of the things that you need a crime-scene log to be accurate for is so that if you have to go back and reconstruct, you can reconstruct who's been in and out of the crime scene, correct?

419 A:

Can you repeat it once more, sir?

420 Q:

One of the reasons you need an accurate crime-scene log is, if in fact you have to reconstruct who was at the accident, the crime scene, you have a log to determine who came, when they came, who exited and when they exited, true?

421 A:

That's correct.

422 Q:

And can you tell me what time in that log entry, what time Rokahr got there? Is that 0240?

423 (No verbal response.)
424 Q:

See 3 above Vannatter? I know it's difficult to see there.

425 MR. MEDVENE:

If the Court please, the exhibit speaks for itself. The witness said he didn't take over the log until 4:00. I think it shows 3:25, Your Honor.

426 THE COURT:

I guess that was -- I can't tell what it says.

427 MR. BAKER:

That's why I was asking.

428 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) In any event, do you know who photographer Rokahr is?

429 A:

I remember seeing a photographer there. I don't know who he is.

430 Q:

Did you see, while you were on your post between 12:35 and 420, anybody take any pictures?

431 MR. BAKER:

You can turn it off.

432 A:

To the best of my recollection, no, sir. I don't remember.

433 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) Did you log out Detectives Phillips and Fuhrman, assuming that they left the scene at 0500 hours, when it was your duty to do so?

434 A:

Did I log them out, sir?

435 Q:

Yeah.

436 A:

If they left between that time, I was supposed to, sir.

437 Q:

I didn't ask you if you were supposed to. I think we established that. Did you?

438 A:

I don't believe I logged him out because I had already gone home, sir.

439 Q:

You had gone home at 0500 hours?

440 A:

No, no, sir. I left at 5 o'clock.

441 Q:

You didn't go home until 7:15, did you?

442 A:

Approximately.

443 Q:

Now, did you see Rokahr or any police photographer, regardless of their name, taking any pictures from where you were in back of the garage on Bundy?

444 A:

From the rear? I don't remember.

445 Q:

You don't recall a photographer?

446 A:

I don't recall seeing a photographer back there.

447 Q:

You certainly didn't tell any police photographer what evidence he or he should photograph, right?

448 A:

No, sir.

449 Q:

Okay. Did you at any time see a police photographer when you were out front?

450 A:

I don't remember seeing one, sir.

451 Q:

So you don't recall seeing a police photographer at any time, correct?

452 A:

No, sir. I don't remember seeing him.

453 Q:

And as best you recall, as you sit here now, in the three hours and forty minutes or so that you were in the back and in charge of security, the only people that went through the garage into the house was Fuhrman, Phillips, and Vannatter, correct?

454 MR. MEDVENE:

Objection. Asked an answered.

455 THE COURT:

Sustained.

456 MR. BAKER:

Nothing further, Your Honor.

REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. MEDVENE:

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (5)

Miguel Terrazas
Says, 'I then walked towards the — towards the side gate of the residence and observed a small blood trail leading into the residence side walkway and a small drop of blood on the bottom portion of the gate, facing westbound.'
Terrazas reads his own contemporaneous report written at 4:20 AM — which records only one small drop — after having just testified to seeing approximately four drops on the gate. Baker then pins him on this contradiction.
Robert Baker
So what you wrote on your report after you had been at the scene for three hours and forty minutes was one small drop of blood, a small drop of blood on the bottom portion of the gate, facing westbound correct?
The central impeachment moment — using Terrazas's own signed statement to undercut expanded trial testimony about blood evidence, suggesting either the report was incomplete or testimony was embellished.
Miguel Terrazas
I saw, I believe it was Detective Fuhrman, I believe it was Detective Phillips and Vannatter walk in, sir.
Establishes that three key detectives — including Fuhrman — entered the property through the back during Terrazas's security watch, laying groundwork for chain-of-custody challenges.
Miguel Terrazas
There is none, sir.
Terrazas confirms that despite being on the crime scene log from 4:20-5:20 AM, he never logged Vannatter out — and Vannatter is recorded as having left to go to Rockingham around 5:00 AM.
Hiroshi Fujisaki
Mr. Baker, I'm going to sustain my own objection. I think that — let's establish that this is not the witness from which we're going to get this information. You've got other witnesses you can ask that of.
Judge cuts off Baker's line of questioning about LAPD jurisdiction protocol when robbery/homicide takes over, noting Terrazas isn't the right witness.

Evidence (7)

Exhibit 36
Photograph of 875 South Bundy looking due west, showing the front walkway, stairs, and victim location
displayed to illustrate Terrazas's path and proximity to victims
Exhibit 82
Photograph showing blood drops on the back gate, including drops 115 and 116
discussed — Baker attempted to display but had technical difficulties
Exhibit 89
Photograph of the glove location under foliage
displayed; Terrazas confirmed it showed approximately where he saw the glove
Exhibit 101
Marked during examination; appears to be a photograph of the glove location
introduced and identified by witness
Exhibit 1327
Photograph showing the glove in a different position — taken after the bodies were moved (post-9 AM per Medvene's sidebar representation)
shown to witness; objection sustained for lack of foundation after sidebar conference
Informal
Officer Terrazas's written statement signed at 4:20 AM on June 13, 1994
read aloud — used to impeach testimony about number of blood drops on gate
+ 1 more

Notable Exchanges (4)

Robert BakerMiguel Terrazas
Baker methodically leads Terrazas to read his own report aloud, then confronts him with the discrepancy: he wrote 'one small drop of blood' on the gate but testified to approximately four drops. Terrazas is forced to confirm with a 'yes' under pointed yes-or-no questioning.
devastating
Robert BakerMiguel Terrazas
Baker establishes through the crime scene log that Vannatter checked in at 4:05 AM and was never logged out, despite Terrazas being responsible for the log until 5:20 AM and Vannatter reportedly leaving around 5:00 AM to go to Rockingham.
strategic
Robert BakerEdward MedveneHiroshi Fujisaki
Sidebar over Exhibit 1327 — Baker showed Terrazas a photo of the glove taken after the bodies were moved without establishing foundation. Medvene argued Baker knowingly used a post-scene photo; Baker disputed the timeline. Fujisaki sustained the objection and required proper foundation through the photographer.
heated
Robert BakerHiroshi Fujisaki
Baker repeatedly tried to establish LAPD protocol that robbery/homicide taking over a crime scene should exclude West L.A. officers. Fujisaki sustained multiple objections and ultimately cut off the line entirely, noting Terrazas was not the right witness.
procedural

Credibility Attacks (3)

⚔ Miguel Terrazas
prior inconsistent statement
Baker used Terrazas's own report signed at 4:20 AM to impeach his expanded trial testimony about blood on the back gate. The report recorded 'one small drop of blood' while Terrazas testified to approximately four drops including smudges on the top bar, mesh, and bottom — forcing a yes answer confirming the discrepancy.
⚔ Miguel Terrazas
omission / dereliction of duty
Baker established through the crime scene log that Terrazas failed to log out Detective Vannatter, who entered at 4:05 AM and apparently left around 5:00 AM to go to Rockingham — within Terrazas's period of responsibility. The log shows no checkout time for Vannatter.
⚔ Miguel Terrazas
memory gaps and inconsistency
Terrazas's own written report states he 'returned to my vehicle' before meeting Sergeant Coon, but at trial he has no recollection of going to his vehicle. Baker read the exact language back to him, forcing him to acknowledge the discrepancy between report and testimony.

Witness Demeanor

(Witness reviews documents.) — when asked to read from his own report
(No verbal response.) — twice, when asked whether he left the scene and when asked about log entries

Objections

8 objections (7 sustained, 1 overruled)
Proceeding 8053 • 456 utterances • Plaintiff witness
Civil Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 OCT 28, 1996 📄 Redirect examination of Miguel
OCT 28, 1996 KRT DvH TD