Redirect examination of Allan Park

📄 Redirect examination of Allan Park — Tuesday, February 4, 1997

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1997\FEB\4\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-ALLAN-.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 53 of 57

◀ Direct examination of Allan Park Cross-examination regarding bag at Rockingham ▶

Witness: Allan Park
Examiner: Daniel Petrocelli
Called by: Plaintiff • Date: Tuesday, February 4, 1997 • Utterances: 166

Petrocelli conducts a methodical examination of limousine driver Allan Park, walking through the precise sequence of events at Rockingham on the night of the murders. Park describes seeing a blond-haired man (Kato Kaelin) near the intercom, a dark-clothed figure entering the house, then waiting while no one opened the gate — until OJ answered the intercom saying he had overslept and just gotten out of the shower. Park also establishes that OJ arrived carrying the Louis Vuitton bag, appeared to be in a great hurry, and was dressed differently from the dark-clothed figure he had seen enter the house.

# 1 A:

Yes. Did you see any light coming from that skylight?

# 2 A:

No, I didn't.

# 3 Q:

There's a kitchen nook area down here?

# 4 A:

I assume that.

# 5 Q:

Did you see lights coming from that part of the house before you saw the dark figure going in the house?

# 6 A:

No.

# 7 Q:

Okay. And do you see this little pathway here --

# 8 A:

Yes.

# 9 Q:

-- as it intersects the driveway?

# 10 A:

Yes.

# 11 Q:

This is the intercom, right?

# 12 A:

Correct.

# 13 Q:

Is that the location where you saw the blond-haired person appear about 30 seconds before you got off the phone?

# 14 A:

Yes.

# 15 Q:

Was he a little this way or that way?

# 16 A:

He was a little bit -- little bit farther back.

# 17 Q:

Farther back, towards the side?

# 18 A:

When I first saw him.

# 19 Q:

When you first saw him. Okay. And when you first saw him -- and did you then see where he went after you first saw him?

# 20 A:

I didn't pay any attention to him.

# 21 Q:

Okay. And did he, at that point in time, open the gate for you?

# 22 A:

No, he didn't.

# 23 Q:

Okay. So after you saw him, you then saw the person go in the house, and you got off the phone, as you testified to, right?

# 24 A:

Yes.

# 25 Q:

Okay. Now, and during this period of time, do you or do you not see this blond-haired person while you're getting off the phone, while you're seeing the other person go into the house?

# 26 A:

I don't remember that.

# 27 Q:

You don't remember seeing him, then?

# 28 A:

I -- after I saw him the first time, I didn't pay any attention to him.

# 29 Q:

Okay. Did there come a time when you saw him again?

# 30 A:

When he opened the gate for me.

# 31 Q:

That was a little later on?

# 32 A:

Yes.

# 33 Q:

Okay. We'll get to that. What I'm trying to find out is whether between the time you first saw him and the time you saw him open the gate later on, whether you saw him in between.

# 34 A:

No.

# 35 Q:

Okay. When you saw that person going into the house, at any point in time did you see him coming --

# 36 MR. PETROCELLI:

I'm blocking somebody, Your Honor?

# 37 THE COURT:

Well, yeah, you're beginning to step in front of the jurors.

# 38 MR. PETROCELLI:

I apologize, Madame Juror.

# 39 THE COURT:

You were very good for about three weeks.

KEY QUOTE

# 40 MR. PETROCELLI:

I'll get out of your way here.

# 41 Q:

(BY MR. PETROCELLI) When you saw that person going into the house, that person in all dark clothing, at that point -- during that point in time, did you ever see him coming out of the house?

# 42 A:

No.

# 43 Q:

Did you ever see him pick up a golf bag and hold it up to you?

# 44 A:

No.

# 45 Q:

Did you ever see him signal to you?

# 46 A:

No.

# 47 Q:

Did you ever see him nod or gesture to you in any way?

# 48 A:

No.

# 49 Q:

During the time that you were in the car -- withdrawn. When you were getting out of the car and going to the intercom, could you see the Rockingham gate while you were standing up, using the intercom?

# 50 A:

At any time?

# 51 Q:

Yes.

# 52 A:

No.

# 53 Q:

And while you were inside the car, did you -- could you hear noises from Rockingham, such as cars coming up and down?

# 54 A:

No.

# 55 Q:

Let's pick up the sequence of each event. Again, after you saw the person go into the house and you saw lights illuminate, you got off the phone, right?

# 56 A:

Correct.

# 57 Q:

And then what happened?

# 58 A:

After I got off the phone, I sat in the car for another few seconds.

# 59 Q:

Why?

# 60 A:

I was -- since somebody was home, I figured they were going to open the gate for me.

# 61 Q:

And did someone open the gate for you?

# 62 A:

Not at that time, no.

KEY QUOTE

# 63 Q:

How long did you wait in the car for someone to open the gate for you after you got off the phone?

# 64 A:

Fifteen, thirty seconds, in between there. I can't be exact.

# 65 Q:

And after that interval of time went by and no one opened the gate for you, what did you then do?

# 66 A:

I then stepped out of the vehicle again, and, I pushed the intercom. This time it was answered.

# 67 Q:

Was it answered after a number of buzzes or right away?

# 68 A:

Immediately.

# 69 Q:

And describe what happened next.

# 70 A:

A voice came over the intercom saying, "Sorry, I overslept; I just got out of the shower," and, "I'll be down in a minute."

# 71 Q:

Did you recognize the voice?

# 72 A:

Yes.

# 73 Q:

Whose voice was it?

# 74 A:

Mr. Simpson's.

# 75 Q:

What happened after Mr. Simpson and you stopped talking through the intercom?

# 76 A:

After that, I got back into the vehicle and waited another 30 seconds.

# 77 Q:

Did the gate open during that time when you got off the intercom, went in the vehicle, and waited 30 seconds?

# 78 A:

No, it didn't.

# 79 Q:

What did you then do?

# 80 A:

Sat there and waited.

# 81 Q:

What did you then do?

# 82 A:

I waited until finally, the white male came and opened the gate for me.

# 83 Q:

And is this the same white male that you had seen previously?

# 84 A:

Yes.

# 85 Q:

And this is the very next time that you had seen him, right?

# 86 A:

Yes. (Indicating to Exhibit 116.)

# 87 Q:

You -- can you tell us by walking up to Exhibit 116 and pointing out where the white male walked up to and how the white male opened the gate for you?

# 88 A:

He came up the driveway from this direction, and he didn't come up to the gate and open it manually. He -- I guess where it says control box, somewhere over in that area, he hit a button or what-not, and the gate opened.

# 89 Q:

Okay. And was your car engine on this whole time?

# 90 A:

Yes.

# 91 Q:

Okay. And what did you -- What did you then do? You can take a seat. (Witness resumes witness stand.)

# 92 A:

After the gate opened up, I drove into the property, pulled up with my driver window parallel with the front door, and popped the trunk and got out.

# 93 Q:

You pulled up basically this direction right here, with my pen pointing in the southerly direction? (Indicating.)

# 94 A:

That's correct.

# 95 Q:

And stopped just opposite the front entrance?

# 96 A:

Yes.

# 97 Q:

Now, did you notice, when you pulled in, a black dog?

# 98 A:

Yes.

# 99 Q:

Did the dog run out of the gate when it opened?

# 100 A:

Not that I remember, no.

KEY QUOTE

# 101 Q:

What happened when you pulled up to the -- to the gate?

# 102 A:

When I pulled up to the gate?

# 103 Q:

I'm sorry. Pulled up to the front door area.

# 104 A:

Like I say, I popped the trunk, and stepped out of the vehicle. At that time, the white male came up to me and was asking me about an earthquake. I said no, or he asked me if I felt an earthquake, and I said no. And he started describing these sounds he heard on his wall, and that a picture moved on his wall. He said he was on the phone with a friend, and that was the reason he was coming out. He made some other small talk, like was Mr. Simpson running late, things like that.

# 105 Q:

What did you say when he asked if Mr. Simpson was running late?

# 106 A:

I looked at my watch and I said, "It sure looks like it."

# 107 Q:

Did he have anything in his hands, this white person?

# 108 A:

He had a very small flashlight.

# 109 Q:

You've since seen Kato Kaelin, have you not?

# 110 A:

Yes.

# 111 Q:

Is that the person we're talking about?

# 112 A:

Yes.

# 113 Q:

We can now address -- As Mr. Kaelin?

# 114 A:

Yes.

# 115 Q:

Okay. Well, after you had this little conversation with Mr. Kaelin, then what happened?

# 116 A:

Kaelin walked towards the garage area and was calling the dog at the same time. He was petting the dog, and he proceeded on, calling the dog. He wanted the dog to come with him. He was just about at the corner of the garage area.

# 117 Q:

Where, this southwest corner here, where I'm pointing?

# 118 A:

That's correct.

# 119 Q:

And he was heading there, wanting the dog to come?

# 120 A:

That's correct.

# 121 Q:

The dog was not coming?

# 122 A:

Didn't want to leave.

# 123 Q:

And stayed with you?

# 124 A:

Yes.

# 125 Q:

Okay. Then what happened?

# 126 A:

He walked back over to me, or towards where the dog was, and kind of motivated the dog to go with him. And the dog started to follow him after that. I sat out front.

# 127 Q:

By yourself?

# 128 A:

By myself.

# 129 Q:

Okay. And then what happened?

# 130 A:

After that, he walked around the corner -- how far, I don't know; he was out of the field of my view -- and returned back out front with me shortly after that.

# 131 Q:

Now, when you pulled up to the entrance area of Mr. Simpson's house, did you see any baggage or luggage?

# 132 A:

Yes, there was some bags on the -- just off the driveway, on the porch area.

# 133 Q:

And did you and Mr. Kaelin begin packing those items?

# 134 A:

Not the ones that I saw on the porch, no.

KEY QUOTE

# 135 Q:

Did -- and then at some point in time -- just left them there?

# 136 A:

Yes.

# 137 Q:

Okay. And at some point in time, did Mr. Simpson appear?

# 138 A:

Yes. He finally came down the stairs, carrying a what we all know now is the Louis Vitton bag -- he was carrying that -- and he set that next to the baggage on the ground.

# 139 Q:

This is the first time you seen him -- _

# 140 A:

Yes.

# 141 Q:

-- since the person that went into the entranceway?

# 142 A:

Yes.

# 143 Q:

Okay. What was he dressed like?

# 144 A:

He was wearing some stone-washed blue Levis, and like, a white polo shirt and what -- I don't remember if he had an overcoat with him. I don't know if he was wearing it or not.

# 145 Q:

Now, the clothes that you saw him wearing at this point in time, did they appear to be the same clothing that you had seen that person wearing going into the house?

# 146 A:

No.

# 147 Q:

When Mr. Simpson appeared, besides his clothing, did you make any other observations of how he appeared to you?

# 148 A:

He just seemed to be in a very big hurry.

KEY QUOTE

# 149 Q:

And can you tell the jury what happened after you first began interacting with Mr. Simpson.

# 150 A:

I -- from what I remember, he set the Louis Vitton bag down next to the other bag, and he proceeded down the driveway. I -- I then picked up the Louis Vitton bag, went and put it -- it was around the same time I saw Kato putting the -- the golf clubs into the trunk, and I walked over and put the Louis Vitton bag into the trunk.

# 151 Q:

So -- let me stop you there. While Kato Kaelin and you are putting some items of luggage into the trunk, you said Mr. Simpson began walking down the driveway?

# 152 A:

From what I remember, yes.

# 153 Q:

And by "the driveway," could you tell us what driveway and what direction?

# 154 A:

Towards the Rockingham gate.

# 155 Q:

Meaning in this direction, where I'm going with my pen, from the entranceway towards the Rockingham gate?

# 156 A:

Yes.

# 157 Q:

Okay. And did he then leave your field of view or vision for a while?

# 158 A:

Yes, he did.

# 159 Q:

Okay. Then what happened?

# 160 A:

Simpson, was -- he was running back -- not running, but he was -- just seemed to be getting things together for the ride to the airport. At some point in time in there, Kato asked me for a flashlight, if I had a flashlight in my vehicle, because he was complaining about his didn't work too well. I proceeded to check the limousine for a flashlight, looked in the glove compartment, looked in the trunk. I couldn't find a flashlight.

# 161 THE COURT:

Jury have your break this morning? JURORS: (Nod in the negative.)

# 162 THE COURT:

Would you like your break now? JURORS: (Nod in the affirmative.)

# 163

THE COURT: Ten-minute recess. (Recess) (Jurors resume their respective seats.)

# 164 THE COURT:

Okay, we'll resume reading. If the jurors have heard the parts that they wanted to hear of the reading and don't wants to hear any more, let me know. JURORS: (Nod in the affirmative.)

# 165 THE COURT:

Okay you may resume. (Read continues)

# 166 Q:

Did there come a time when you saw any item of luggage away from the area of the front entranceway?

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Allan Park (quoting O.J. Simpson)

Sorry, I overslept; I just got out of the shower. I'll be down in a minute.

OJ's explanation for not answering the intercom earlier — directly contradicts any alibi that he was simply inside and asleep, and raises the question of why he was unavailable during the window when no one answered.

Allan Park

He just seemed to be in a very big hurry.

Park's observation of OJ's demeanor on arrival reinforces the prosecution/plaintiff timeline that OJ was rushing to account for lost time before his flight.

Allan Park

No.

Park's answer when asked whether OJ's clothing matched what the dark-clothed figure was wearing going into the house — a small but meaningful detail that the person in dark clothes changed before appearing.

Judge Fujisaki

You were very good for about three weeks.

Fujisaki's dry rebuke to Petrocelli for blocking the jury sightlines — a rare moment of levity in an otherwise tightly controlled proceeding.

Evidence (2)

Exhibit 116

Diagram or map of the Rockingham property showing the driveway, intercom, gate, garage, and entranceway

Used extensively to orient Park's testimony — Park walks up to it and points out locations of figures, gate control box, and travel paths

Informal

Louis Vuitton bag carried by OJ when he appeared

Discussed — Park describes OJ setting it down and then Park loading it into the trunk

Notable Exchanges (3)

Petrocelli•Park

Petrocelli carefully establishes that OJ's clothing when he appeared did NOT match the dark clothing worn by the figure Park saw entering the house — a brief but pointed implication that OJ changed clothes.

strategic

Petrocelli•Park

Park describes OJ's intercom response — 'Sorry, I overslept; I just got out of the shower' — after Park had already seen lights come on and a figure enter the house, creating a timeline inconsistency.

revealing

Park•Kato Kaelin

Park recounts Kaelin asking about a flashlight and describing thumping sounds he heard on his wall and a picture that moved — Kaelin attributed it to an earthquake, but the implication is these were the thumps later investigated.

significant

Light Moments (2)

Judge Fujisaki

Petrocelli stepped in front of the jury sightlines, prompting Fujisaki to note he had 'been very good for about three weeks.' Petrocelli apologized to a juror directly.

Judge Fujisaki

Jurors are asked mid-testimony if they want their morning break; they nod yes.

Witness Demeanor

(Witness indicates to Exhibit 116 while testifying)

(Witness resumes witness stand after pointing to diagram)

(Jurors nod in the negative when asked if they had their break; nod in the affirmative when asked if they want one)

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 8873 • 166 utterances • Plaintiff witness

Civil Trial

Department 103