Redirect examination of Andrea Mazzola (part 1)

📄 Redirect examination of Andrea Mazzola (part 1) — Thursday, April 27, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\APR\27\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-ANDREA.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 63 of 167

◀ Evidence inspection hearing Sidebar: items 15 and 16 ▶

Witness: Andrea Mazzola
Examiner: Hank Goldberg
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Thursday, April 27, 1995 • Utterances: 88

Goldberg resumes redirect examination of LAPD criminalist Andrea Mazzola, focusing on two distinct white blankets at the crime scene and rehabilitating her image after cross-examination raised questions about her preparation time with prosecutors. The session closes with extended off-the-record discussions among all counsel about the scope of questioning regarding newly-delivered evidence items 15 and 16.

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

# 2 THE COURT:

All right. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Please be seated. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

THE JURY: Good morning.

# 3 THE COURT:

The record should reflect we've been joined by all the members of our jury panel. Ladies and gentlemen, as you recall, yesterday, I indicated to you that we had a delay because of some of the items, physical items of evidence were not immediately available to us. And the delay this morning was that those items were delivered to the Court and I wanted to examine each piece of that evidence before it was presented to you. So we've had to go through--how many were there? 15 or 16 pieces of evidence?

# 4 MR. GOLDBERG:

I think there were more than that.

# 5 THE COURT:

In any event, that's what we've been doing. We've been here since 8:30 this morning for that purpose just to let you know what the delay was. All right.

Andrea Mazzola, The witness on the stand at the time of the evening adjournment, resumed the stand and testified further as follows:

# 6 THE COURT:

Good morning again, Miss Mazzola.

# 7 MS. MAZZOLA:

Good morning.

# 8 THE COURT:

You are reminded again you are under oath. And, Mr. Goldberg, you may continue with your redirect examination.

REDIRECT EXAMINATION (RESUMED) BY MR. GOLDBERG

# 9 MR. GOLDBERG:

Now, I was asking you yesterday about this white item, the blanket that you saw in the vicinity or on Mr. Goldman at some point. What was that blanket again?

# 10 MS. MAZZOLA:

It was a white blanket or sheet. I wasn't sure which one.

# 11 MR. GOLDBERG:

And was that something that came from the Coroner's office?

# 12 MR. NEUFELD:

Objection. If she knows.

# 13 THE COURT:

Rephrase the question.

# 14 MR. GOLDBERG:

Do you know if that came from the Coroner's office?

# 15 MS. MAZZOLA:

At the time, I did not.

# 16 MR. GOLDBERG:

All right. Maybe we can see People's 99 for identification.

# 17 MR. FAIRTLOUGH:

Your Honor, you should cut the feed for this photo.

# 18 THE COURT:

Cut.

# 19 MR. GOLDBERG:

Okay. Now, if you can look at the background of this photograph and take a look at the white blanket or white sheet that appears to have some writing on it. Is that what you saw?

# 20 MS. MAZZOLA:

I saw him on a white blanket or sheet.

# 21 MR. GOLDBERG:

Okay. And when you looked at this--did you look at this photograph prior to testifying today, the actual photograph as opposed to an image of it?

# 22 MS. MAZZOLA:

Yes.

# 23 MR. GOLDBERG:

And did you look at other crime scene photographs depicting this same scene or similar scene?

# 24 MS. MAZZOLA:

I had seen crime scene photographs previous, yes.

# 25 MR. GOLDBERG:

And what was the writing--what is the writing that appears on the right-hand side of the display yet somewhat blurry?

# 26 MS. MAZZOLA:

On this image, it's hard to tell. But on the photographs, it appears to be from the L.A. Coroner.

# 27 MR. GOLDBERG:

All right. And is this consistent with what you saw when you were referring to a white blanket?

# 28 MS. MAZZOLA:

Yes.

# 29 MR. GOLDBERG:

Now--thank you. Was there another white blanket that was at the crime scene that was still there after the bodies had been removed when you were engaged in the evidence collection process?

# 30 MS. MAZZOLA:

Yes, there was.

# 31 MR. GOLDBERG:

And where was that white blanket?

# 32 MS. MAZZOLA:

It was on the walkway near the first steps.

# 33 MR. GOLDBERG:

Now, from your own independent recollection, based upon what you saw when you were at the scene, did you ever see that blanket on anyone?

# 34 MS. MAZZOLA:

From what I can recall, I did not see that particular blanket on anybody.

KEY QUOTE

# 35 MR. GOLDBERG:

Either the body of Nicole Simpson or Ronald Goldman?

# 36 MS. MAZZOLA:

Not that I can recall, no.

KEY QUOTE

# 37 MR. GOLDBERG:

Does that mean that it wasn't ever on Nicole Simpson or just that you did not see that?

# 38 MS. MAZZOLA:

That I did not see that.

# 39 MR. GOLDBERG:

Now, you were asked some questions on cross-examination about your conversations with me, and you said that at one point, you had been in the District Attorney's office for perhaps five hours or so?

# 40 MS. MAZZOLA:

Correct.

# 41 MR. NEUFELD:

Objection. That was not the testimony. More than one occasion.

# 42 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 43 MR. GOLDBERG:

Now, on the occasion or occasions when that happened, was that while you were waiting to testify?

# 44 MS. MAZZOLA:

Not--well, I believe on maybe one occasion, it was while I was waiting.

# 45 MR. GOLDBERG:

And were people talking to you the whole time about this case or what were you doing?

# 46 MS. MAZZOLA:

For the most part, I was left alone.

# 47 MR. GOLDBERG:

And did the Defense attorneys ever attempt to your knowledge to contact you and say, we'd like to sit down with you and go over what we're going to question you about or talk about the case"?

# 48 MR. NEUFELD:

Objection as to form.

# 49 THE COURT:

Sustained. Rephrase the question.

# 50 MR. GOLDBERG:

Have the Defense attorneys ever contacted you and asked you prior to today to discuss any part of the case with them?

# 51 MS. MAZZOLA:

No.

# 52 MR. GOLDBERG:

Okay. Today, did you have a little bit of a conversation with Mr. Neufeld about certain items of evidence?

# 53 MS. MAZZOLA:

Yes.

# 54 MR. GOLDBERG:

And other than that, is that the only time that you had an off the record conversation that you can recall with one of the Defense lawyers?

# 55 MS. MAZZOLA:

That I can recall--

# 56 MR. GOLDBERG:

Relating to the case.

# 57 MS. MAZZOLA:

That I can recall, I believe it was, yes.

# 58 MR. GOLDBERG:

Did you consider your conversation with Mr. Neufeld to be witness preparation?

# 59 MR. NEUFELD:

Objection to what she considered.

# 60 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 61 MS. MAZZOLA:

No.

# 62 MR. GOLDBERG:

Was he asking you questions about, oh--well, can you just give us a generic or general description of what the conversation was about?

# 63 MS. MAZZOLA:

He was just asking about certain items of evidence, if I would unseal them.

KEY QUOTE

# 64 MR. GOLDBERG:

He was asking what?

# 65 MS. MAZZOLA:

That if I would open them for him to see.

# 66 MR. GOLDBERG:

Was he asking any questions about those items of evidence or what you put on them or what they were or so on?

# 67 MS. MAZZOLA:

Not really.

# 68 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, I wanted to ask some questions about 15 and 16 pursuant to our conversation.

# 69 THE COURT:

All right. I think our agreed-upon perimeter is physical description, dimension.

KEY QUOTE

# 70 MR. GOLDBERG:

Without telling us what these items--

# 71 THE COURT:

Hold on. Hold on. Mr. Neufeld.

# 72 MR. NEUFELD:

Brief sidebar. I think we can resolve this very briefly.

# 73 THE COURT:

Do you want to talk to Mr. Cochran first?

# 74 MR. NEUFELD:

Yes.

# 75 (Discussion held off the record between Defense counsel.)

# 76 MR. COCHRAN:

Can we have a second, your Honor?

# 77 (Discussion held off the record between the Deputy District Attorney and Defense counsel.)

# 78 MR. COCHRAN:

Excuse us a minute.

# 79 (Discussion held off the record between Defense counsel.)

# 80 (Discussion held off the record between the Deputy District Attorneys.)

# 81 THE COURT:

All right. Counsel. Mr. Goldberg.

# 82 MS. CLARK:

Can we have just one more minute, your Honor, please? Your Honor, please?

# 83 (Discussion held off the record between the Deputy District Attorneys.)

# 84 MS. CLARK:

Thank you.

# 85 MR. GOLDBERG:

All right.

# 86 (Discussion held off the record between the Deputy District Attorney and Defense counsel.)

# 87 MR. COCHRAN:

Can we approach briefly?

# 88 THE COURT:

With the Court reporter.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Andrea Mazzola

From what I can recall, I did not see that particular blanket on anybody.

Distinguishes between the Coroner's blanket covering Goldman's body and a separate white blanket found on the walkway, undercutting any implication that contamination occurred via the second blanket.

Andrea Mazzola

No.

Direct denial that defense attorneys ever contacted her prior to trial to discuss the case — used by Goldberg to reframe the DA's lengthy prep sessions as unremarkable given the defense's own failure to reach out.

Andrea Mazzola

He was just asking about certain items of evidence, if I would unseal them.

Characterizes Neufeld's pre-testimony conversation as purely logistical rather than witness preparation, neutralizing the implication raised on cross that she had been coached.

Lance A. Ito

I think our agreed-upon perimeter is physical description, dimension.

Reveals that the court had pre-negotiated limits on testimony about evidence items 15 and 16 — suggesting these items were contested and potentially sensitive.

Evidence (3)

People's 99

Crime scene photograph showing Ron Goldman with a white blanket/sheet bearing writing from the L.A. Coroner's office

discussed; feed cut to jury before display

Informal

A second white blanket found on the walkway near the first steps after the bodies were removed

discussed; Mazzola testifies she never saw it on either victim

Informal

Physical evidence items 15 and 16, delivered to court that morning and examined by Ito before proceedings began

scope of questioning negotiated off record; not yet examined on the stand

Notable Exchanges (3)

Hank Goldberg•Andrea Mazzola

Goldberg walks Mazzola through the two-blanket distinction — the Coroner's blanket visible in People's 99 versus the separate blanket on the walkway — rehabilitating her earlier testimony and foreclosing contamination arguments.

strategic

Hank Goldberg•Andrea Mazzola•Peter Neufeld

Goldberg establishes that defense never sought to interview Mazzola before trial while the prosecution spent hours with her waiting to testify, then gets Mazzola to describe Neufeld's only contact as asking her to unseal evidence packages — not substantive witness prep.

strategic

Lance A. Ito•Hank Goldberg•Peter Neufeld•Johnnie Cochran•Marcia Clark

Extended series of off-the-record huddles — defense among themselves, prosecution among themselves, then joint — over the scope of questions about items 15 and 16, ending with a request to approach the bench with the court reporter.

procedural

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Andrea Mazzola

rehabilitation after prior cross-examination

Goldberg uses redirect to reframe the five-plus hours Mazzola spent at the DA's office as idle waiting time rather than intensive coaching, and highlights that the defense never bothered to contact her at all.

Objections

4 objections (2 sustained, 2 overruled)

Proceeding 5826 • 88 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103