Direct examination of Thomas Lange (part 3)

📄 Direct examination of Thomas Lange (part 3) — Thursday, October 31, 1996

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1996\OCT\31\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-THOMAS-L.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 6 of 57

Witness: Det. Tom Lange
Examiner: Robert Baker
Called by: Defense • Date: Thursday, October 31, 1996 • Utterances: 33

Detective Lange was examined about a key obtained from Cora Fischman and what a city locksmith did with it — apparently connected to Nicole Brown's locks being changed after the murder. Baker's objections were repeatedly sustained, the examination produced almost no information, and Medvene ultimately abandoned the line and said he would recall the witness.

# 1 (The following proceedings were held in open court, in the presence of the jury.)

# 2 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Detective Lange, do you know, based on your investigation, whether the locks to Nicole Brown's house were changed sometime after the murder?

# 3 A:

That's correct.

# 4 Q:

The key that you obtained from Cora Fischman, who did you give that key to?

# 5 A:

A locksmith for the City of Los Angeles.

# 6 Q:

And what did the locksmith do?

# 7 MR. BAKER:

I'm going to object, Your Honor. This is obviously in violation of what we just talked about.

# 8 THE COURT:

Sustained

# 9 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Did you give the locksmith any direction?

# 10 MR. BAKER:

Your Honor, I object to this. The Court's made its rulings and he's well outside the Court's rulings.

# 11 THE COURT:

Sustained

# 12 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Did the locksmith for the City of Los Angeles do any work with the key in your presence?

# 13 MR. BAKER:

Your Honor, I object, and I object to Mr. Petrocelli whispering to him in front of the alternate jurors, right within a foot of them.

# 14 THE COURT:

You have to go all the way to your side of the desk.

# 15 MR. BAKER:

He can write him a note, Your Honor.

# 16 THE COURT:

You can answer yes or no.

# 17 DET. TOM LANGE:

I'm sorry. May I have the question again?

# 18 MR. MEDVENE:

Yes.

# 19 THE COURT:

Ms. Reporter.

(The reporter read the record as follows:) "Q. Did the locksmith for the City of Los Angeles dm any work with the key in your presence?"

# 20 DET. TOM LANGE:

No.

# 21 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Did the locksmith subsequently give something to you?

# 22 MR. BAKER:

Your Honor, outside the Court or the -- I object.

# 23 THE COURT:

Overruled. You can answer yes or no.

# 24 DET. TOM LANGE:

Not to me personally, no.

# 25 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Did he give something to anyone, to your knowledge?

# 26 MR. BAKER:

Well --

# 27 THE COURT:

Sustained

# 28 Q:

(BY MR. MEDVENE) Do you have any personal information of what the locksmith gave to someone?

# 29 MR. BAKER:

In view of the last answer, that question is totally out of order. I object.

# 30 THE COURT:

If that's an objection, that's sustained.

# 31 MR. MEDVENE:

We'll recall the witness, Your Honor.

KEY QUOTE

# 32 THE COURT:

You certainly may.

# 33 MR. MEDVENE:

Thank you very much, Detective Lange.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

Robert Baker

The Court's made its rulings and he's well outside the Court's rulings.

Signals the court had already restricted this area of testimony in a prior ruling Medvene is now testing the limits of.

Robert Baker

I object to Mr. Petrocelli whispering to him in front of the alternate jurors, right within a foot of them.

Mid-objection complaint about coaching witness in earshot of jurors — Judge Fujisaki redirects Petrocelli to his side of the desk.

Edward Medvene

We'll recall the witness, Your Honor.

Medvene concedes the line is blocked and signals the locksmith evidence will be revisited through a different vehicle.

Evidence (2)

Informal

Key obtained from Cora Fischman, given to a City of Los Angeles locksmith

discussed — what the locksmith did with it was blocked by court rulings

Informal

Nicole Brown's house locks, changed after the murder

referenced as background context for the key inquiry

Notable Exchanges (2)

Robert Baker•Hiroshi Fujisaki

Baker objects to Petrocelli whispering to Medvene within a foot of alternate jurors mid-testimony; Fujisaki redirects Petrocelli without ruling on the underlying objection, then instructs witness to answer yes or no.

procedural with an edge of gamesmanship

Edward Medvene•Hiroshi Fujisaki

After four sustained objections gutting the locksmith line, Medvene gives up and announces he'll recall the witness; Fujisaki grants it without comment.

strategic retreat

Objections

6 objections (4 sustained, 1 overruled)

Proceeding 8095 • 33 utterances • Defense witness

Civil Trial

Department 103