Redirect examination of O.J. Simpson

📄 Redirect examination of O.J. Simpson — Monday, January 13, 1997

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1997\JAN\13\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-O-J-SI.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 40 of 57

◀ Cross-examination of O.J. Simpson (part 4) Off-the-record discussion ▶

Witness: O.J. Simpson
Examiner: Daniel Petrocelli
Called by: Plaintiff • Date: Monday, January 13, 1997 • Utterances: 22

Mr. Baker's redirect examination of OJ Simpson was brief, focusing on establishing positive family memories with Nicole and the children — vacations to Yosemite, Hawaii, and Cabo San Lucas. It ended with Baker asking Simpson point-blank whether he murdered Nicole while his children slept upstairs, to which Simpson flatly denied.

# 1 A:

Many, yes.

# 2 Q:

Did those vacations include the kids?

# 3 A:

Yes.

# 4 Q:

And did you go to Yosemite with the kids and Nicole?

# 5 A:

Yes.

# 6 Q:

Did you go to Hawaii with the kids and Nicole?

# 7 A:

Yes.

# 8 Q:

You go to Cabo San Lucas with the kids and Nicole?

# 9 A:

Yes.

# 10 Q:

Do you have pictures all over your house of those trips, of the happy times?

# 11 A:

Yes.

# 12 Q:

Was Nicole ever, during the time that -- from the birth of Sydney, to June 12, 1994, did she ever try to keep you from seeing your kids?

# 13 A:

Never.

# 14 Q:

Did you -- was she sometimes, to your knowledge, upset about the fact that you weren't home enough to see the kids?

# 15 A:

Yes. She would -- if any complaints she had, is that she wanted me to spend more time with the kids, not less time.

KEY QUOTE

# 16 Q:

O.J., on June 12 -- June 12, 1994, did you, with your children in the house, upstairs in their bedroom, asleep, murder your wife -- your ex-wife, and leave her body where the kids would find it?

KEY QUOTE

# 17 A:

No. Absolutely not.

# 18 MR. BAKER:

Nothing further. Nothing further.

# 19 MR. PETROCELLI:

Nothing, Your Honor.

# 20 THE COURT:

You may step down. 8:30 tomorrow. Ladies and gentlemen, don't talk about the case. Don't form or express any opinions.

# 21 MR. PETROCELLI:

Your Honor, I'd like to be heard on the record.

# 22 THE BAILIFF:

Quiet in the audience; the Judge is still on the bench.

Temperature

emotional

Key Quotes (3)

OJ Simpson

No. Absolutely not.

Simpson's direct denial of murdering Nicole — the climactic final answer of his entire testimony.

OJ Simpson

if any complaints she had, is that she wanted me to spend more time with the kids, not less time.

Defense strategy to reframe the relationship: Nicole wanted more of OJ, not less — countering narratives of control and abuse.

Robert Baker

O.J., on June 12 -- June 12, 1994, did you, with your children in the house, upstairs in their bedroom, asleep, murder your wife -- your ex-wife, and leave her body where the kids would find it?

Deliberately loaded and emotionally charged question designed to let Simpson deny the most damning possible framing of the crime before stepping off the stand.

Evidence (1)

Informal

Family photographs from vacations (Yosemite, Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas)

referenced verbally to establish happy family dynamic

Notable Exchanges (1)

Robert Baker•OJ Simpson

Baker closed Simpson's testimony with an explicit, graphic denial of the murders framed around the children sleeping upstairs — a calculated final image for the jury.

strategic

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 8780 • 22 utterances • Plaintiff witness

Civil Trial

Department 103