📄 Re-redirect examination of Richard H. Fox — Wednesday, January 15, 1997
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CIVIL\1997\JAN\15\RE-REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-RIC.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 42 of 57

Re-redirect examination of Richard H. Fox

Witness: Richard H. Fox
Examiner: Edward Medvene
Called by: Plaintiff • Date: Wednesday, January 15, 1997 • Utterances: 55
Baker recrosses Fox, the plaintiffs' criminalist, challenging his criticism of Herb MacDonell's examination of blood bonded to fibers on exhibit 1241. Fox maintains that MacDonell was in a better position to probe the blood-fiber bonding but failed to do so, while Baker tries to pin down that Fox cannot actually determine bonding status from his own non-destructive review. The session ends with housekeeping: exhibits 2393-2402 and portions of 716 are admitted into evidence, and the jury is excused until the following morning.
1 A:

That's what I read, and that's where my disagreement on procedure is. But once again, whatever he said, they've heard. I can't argue with what he said.

2 Q:

Just one last question. The testimony was that -- Mr. Simpson testified that he did have some blood on his hands that particular night in question. Would that be consistent with one of the possible explanations you gave of how blood could get on side 3 when one would take their socks off?

3 A:

That certainly could explain the origin of the blood and why it's on side 3, yes.

KEY QUOTE
4 MR. MEDVENE:

Thank you, sir. Nothing further. RECROSS-EXAMINATION BY

5 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) You have -- you're not attempting to tell this jury, Mr. Fox, that you have no ability to see other than two dimensions in a binocular microscopy?

6 A:

I said I can see under or through an object. I certainly can see down and width, length, and depth, yes.

7 Q:

Binocular microscopy does give you a field of vision and a depth of vision, does it not, sir?

8 A:

Yes, it does.

9 Q:

And the depth of vision that you get from a binocular microscope allows to you see, for example, where this picture appears to wrap around the fiber, correct?

10 A:

That does not allow me to see whether it's bonded to the fiber; it only will allow me to see the position on the top. And remember, I showed a little blood speck earlier that had this -- a configuration almost like a child's Tinker Toy. So what I'm saying is, you're right. I've used 3-D stereomicroscopes for 35 years. They do give you a good depth of vision, especially a good microscope. But they're not X-ray; they don't show you what's underneath; they don't show you if it's bonded. Even if they were to show that, there is some area that is not just flat, okay, on the fiber. It doesn't tell me it's bonded; it doesn't tell me it couldn't have dropped on there; it doesn't tell me it couldn't have had that molded shape from being on a fiber on wall 2 and fallen onto wall 3.

11 Q:

Now, you're not telling this jury that that piece of blood on -- is it 1241 -- will --

MR. P. BAKER: Yes.

12 Q:

-- is not bonded to that fiber, are you?

13 A:

No, I'm not.

14 Q:

And you would agree with me that the person who saw it -- the persons who saw it are in a better position than you to determine whether or not that blood part, which was, in fact, bonded to that fiber -- you would agree with that?

15 A:

Herb MacDonell was in a better position, but he did not do it. He did not manipulate it to see whether it was bonded. He certainly was in a better position than I could ever be.

KEY QUOTE
16 Q:

And so you, as a criminalist, would want to destroy the evidence in an effort to determine whether or not it was, in fact, bonded. Right?

17 A:

I wouldn't have to destroy anything to make that determination.

18 Q:

If you touched that particular part which -- that's on 1241, you would agree that it would be destroyed?

19 A:

No. You don't know that. You don't know that at all.

20 Q:

Well --

21 A:

I --

22 Q:

I know one thing: That's exceedingly small.

23 MR. MEDVENE:

Excuse me, Mr. Baker. He was -- I'm sorry.

24 RICHARD H. FOX:

Go ahead.

25 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) When you -- in an attempt to sell your theory to this jury, that is the only thing that you could figure out that you could criticize Herb MacDonell for, is that he didn't manipulate it; true?

26 MR. MEDVENE:

If the Court please, argumentative use of words and inappropriate.

27 THE COURT:

Overruled.

28 A:

I'm not arguing with him at all. And it is one of the factors that I feel strongly about. I've told the jury about it. And I don't see that you couldn't probe it. I don't think that you would have to break it up. And, quite frankly, after photographing it -- and if I did probe it and break it up and got an answer, I would be willing to accept that. If there were six or seven of these things, as they said, then if I destroyed one to get an answer and photographed the other five, I wouldn't be unhappy.

29 Q:

(BY MR. BAKER) And if they felt that they could see that this was bonded, as it appears in 1241, and felt no need to break it up or to probe it, you wouldn't disregard their opinions, would you, sir?

30 MR. MEDVENE:

He's calling for speculation and conclusion, opinion on what somebody else might think, Your Honor.

31 THE COURT:

I believe he's being asked his opinion of their opinion. To that extent, I'll overrule it.

32 A:

I haven't argued at all that they did what they thought was necessary. And they've reported it to the jury. And I'm not going to do a final argument in this case. It's not my job.

33 MR. BAKER:

No further questions.

34 MR. MEDVENE:

No questions, Your Honor.

35 THE COURT:

You may step down, please.

36 RICHARD H. FOX:

Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.

37 THE CLERK:

For the record, Exhibit 716 was originally a 16-page document, but there was only evidence as to ten pages. What would plaintiffs like to do? Would you like to withdraw the other six pages, or would you like to keep Exhibit 716?

38 MR. MEDVENE:

Let us reserve on those, if we might. And we would move in at this time 23 --

39 THE CLERK:

One moment.

40 MR. MEDVENE:

We don't need the reporter. May we reapproach? I'm sorry. We don't need the reporter.

41 MR. GELBLUM:

Moving in some exhibits.

42 MR. BAKER:

I apologize.

43 THE CLERK:

For the record, Exhibit 716 remains 16 pages.

44 MR. MEDVENE:

Yes. And what I'll do, either now or later, we'll give you the numbers in 716 that we're moving in. We can do that later. But we're also moving in 2393 through 2402. (The instruments herein described were admitted into Evidence as Plaintiffs' Exhibit Nos. 2393, 2394, 2395, 2396, 2397, 2398, 2399, 2400, 2401, 2402)

45 THE COURT:

Do you wish to move in Exhibit 716?

46 MR. MEDVENE:

Those portions of 716 that the witness testified to. And if it would be helpful, I can --

47 THE CLERK:

It won't be.

48 MR. MEDVENE:

-- Those portions the witness testified about.

49 THE CLERK:

It will be ten pages for Exhibit 716. (The instrument herein described was admitted into Evidence as Plaintiff's Exhibit No. 716)

50 MR. MEDVENE:

Thank you very much.

51 THE CLERK:

Thank you.

52 THE COURT:

Mr. Baker, you want to do something before I excuse the jury?

53 MR. GELBLUM:

Before you excuse the jury (A bench conference was held which was not reported.)

54 THE COURT:

Okay. We'll see you all tomorrow at 8:30. We're getting right to the end of the case. It's very important you maintain your integrity. Don't listen to any news; don't watch any newscasts; don't read any newspaper articles; don't let any other source of information regarding this case come to you except through the trial process. Everybody understand that? JURORS: Yes.

55 THE COURT:

Thank you. See you tomorrow, 8:30. (At 4:30 P.M., an adjournment was taken until Thursday, January 16, 1997, at 8:30 A.M.)

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (4)

Richard H. Fox
That certainly could explain the origin of the blood and why it's on side 3, yes.
Fox concedes that OJ Simpson's own testimony — that he had blood on his hands that night — is a possible explanation for the blood found on the inner side of the sock, potentially undermining the planted-blood narrative.
Richard H. Fox
They don't show you what's underneath; they don't show you if it's bonded. Even if they were to show that, there is some area that is not just flat, okay, on the fiber. It doesn't tell me it's bonded; it doesn't tell me it couldn't have dropped on there.
Fox articulates the core of his methodological critique — that visual microscopy alone cannot confirm bonding — which is the crux of his challenge to MacDonell's conclusion.
Richard H. Fox
If there were six or seven of these things, as they said, then if I destroyed one to get an answer and photographed the other five, I wouldn't be unhappy.
Fox offers a practical methodology for resolving the bonding question, undermining Baker's suggestion that any probing would necessarily destroy evidence.
Richard H. Fox
Herb MacDonell was in a better position, but he did not do it. He did not manipulate it to see whether it was bonded.
Fox's direct criticism of MacDonell's technique — the central thrust of his testimony — stated plainly under recross.

Evidence (3)

Plaintiffs' 1241
Sock fiber with blood deposit; disputed whether the blood is bonded to the fiber or could have been deposited secondarily
discussed, central to the bonding dispute
Plaintiffs' 716
16-page document; only 10 pages testified to by the witness
admitted into evidence (10 pages)
Plaintiffs' 2393–2402
Group of ten exhibits moved in by Medvene at close of Fox's testimony
admitted into evidence

Notable Exchanges (3)

BakerRichard H. Fox
Baker pushes Fox to concede that he cannot determine bonding without destroying evidence; Fox pushes back firmly, saying probing need not be destructive and that MacDonell simply chose not to do it.
strategic
MedveneBakerRichard H. Fox
Medvene objects to Baker's 'sell your theory' phrasing; the court overrules; Fox responds with measured composure, not taking the bait.
tense
Richard H. FoxCourt
Fox thanks the court and counsel upon being excused — 'Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.' — a notably warm exit for an expert who had been under fire.
cordial

Credibility Attacks (2)

⚔ Richard H. Fox
bias/framing
Baker accuses Fox of 'selling a theory' to the jury and characterizes his entire critique of MacDonell as reducible to a single procedural objection, implying Fox is an advocate rather than a neutral expert.
⚔ Herb MacDonell
methodological critique (by Fox)
Fox repeatedly points out that MacDonell, though in the best position to test bonding, chose not to probe or manipulate the blood deposit on the fiber, leaving the bonding conclusion unverified.

Witness Demeanor

Composed and methodical throughout recross, not visibly rattled by Baker's aggressive framing
Voluntarily yields floor to Baker mid-answer ('Go ahead') showing confidence
Warm and gracious upon stepping down: 'Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.'

Objections

2 objections (0 sustained, 2 overruled)
Proceeding 8818 • 55 utterances • Plaintiff witness
Civil Trial
Department 103
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📂 JAN 15, 1997 📄 Re-redirect examination of Ric
JAN 15, 1997 KRT DvH TD