📂 Wednesday, April 26, 1995 — Day 62
◀ Criminal Trial
📅 Wednesday, April 26, 1995 19 proceedings 2918 lines
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\APR\26
TRIAL
▲ Day 62 of 167

Day 62 — Wednesday, April 26, 1995

Defense Challenges LAPD Criminalist on Evidence Handling and Prior Testimony
Judge Lance A. Ito • Criminal Trial • 19 proceedings • 2918 lines
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Defense attorney Peter Neufeld cross-examined LAPD criminalist Andrea Mazzola about evidence collection procedures, field-note timing, the Bundy rear gate, and her accounts of handling Simpson's blood vial and remaining with Dennis Fung. Neufeld used photographs, field notes, prior testimony, and videotape showing the posse box was locked at 17:11:51 to challenge parts of her testimony. Judge Ito ordered LAPD to produce original evidence items for cross-examination and instructed the jury to disregard Mazzola's testimony about a positive phenolphthalein presumptive test because no confirmatory test established the presence of blood. On redirect, Goldberg sought to rehabilitate Mazzola, including her denial of conspiracy or cover-up and her description of collection as a team effort.

  • Neufeld challenged Mazzola's earlier testimony that the hat and glove were touching; after lunch, after seeing a photograph, she corrected that testimony but could not recall who showed her the photograph
  • Video evidence (People's 186) showed Mazzola and Fung locked their posse box 11 minutes after the 1700 hours collection time she had recorded
  • Missing second lens discovered in eyeglasses evidence envelope with no explanation for its disappearance
  • Mazzola admitted testimony changed about whether she remained at Fung's side versus sitting on a couch with eyes closed, with no explanation for the shift
  • Jury instructed to disregard positive phenolphtalein test results due to lack of confirmatory testing
  • Judge Ito threatened to suppress evidence entirely if LAPD did not produce original coin envelopes and bindles for cross-examination
  • A DA report introduced during cross-examination stated that Mazzola's November 22, 1994 meeting with Kestler and two DA investigators had been surreptitiously recorded; Mazzola had not disclosed the recording when earlier asked about her discussions with Kestler
Day 62 • 19 proceedings • 2918 lines
Criminal Trial
Department 103
📂 Day 62 — APR 26, 1995
APR 26, 1995