Direct examination of Dr. John Gerdes (part 6)

📄 Direct examination of Dr. John Gerdes (part 6) — Wednesday, August 2, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\AUG\2\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-DR-JOHN-.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 127 of 167

◀ Sidebar: defense counsel (3) Sidebar: defense counsel (4) ▶

Witness: Dr. John Gerdes
Examiner: Barry Scheck
Called by: Defense • Date: Wednesday, August 2, 1995 • Lines: 10

Barry Scheck asked Dr. Gerdes whether it is good laboratory practice to handle samples from different scenes in the same period and location; Gerdes answered that it is not. Gerdes then said Yamauchi handled the listed reference, Bronco, and Rockingham foyer samples on June 15th and agreed when Scheck asked whether Yamauchi handled the Rockingham glove and Bundy swatches on June 14th.

# 1 MR. SCHECK:

One question. Is it a good laboratory--well, maybe not one. Is it a good laboratory practice, sir, to handle in the same period in the same location samples from different scenes?

# 2 MR. CLARKE:

Objection, no foundation.

# 3 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 4 DR. GERDES:

No, it is not.

# 5 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Are you aware that on June 15th Mr. Yamauchi handled samples from--that included the reference sample from Nicole Brown Simpson, the reference sample from Ronald Goldberg, samples from the Bronco and samples from the Rockingham foyer LAPD item no. 12?

# 6 MR. CLARKE:

Objection, beyond the scope of this witness' expertise.

# 7 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 8 DR. GERDES:

Yes, he handled those at that time.

# 9 MR. SCHECK:

And of course on June 14th he handled the Rockingham glove and the Bundy swatches?

KEY QUOTE

# 10 DR. GERDES:

Correct.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (2)

Dr. John Gerdes

No, it is not.

Direct expert confirmation that co-handling samples from different scenes is poor lab practice — the foundation for a contamination argument.

Barry Scheck

And of course on June 14th he handled the Rockingham glove and the Bundy swatches?

The exchange identifies the Rockingham glove and Bundy swatches as items Scheck asked about in connection with Yamauchi's June 14th handling, and Gerdes agreed.

Evidence (6)

Informal

Reference sample from Nicole Brown Simpson

discussed as co-handled by Yamauchi on June 15th

Informal

Reference sample from Ronald Goldberg

discussed as co-handled by Yamauchi on June 15th

Informal

Bronco samples

discussed as co-handled by Yamauchi on June 15th

LAPD item no. 12

Rockingham foyer sample

discussed as co-handled by Yamauchi on June 15th

Informal

Rockingham glove

discussed as co-handled by Yamauchi on June 14th

Informal

Bundy swatches

discussed as co-handled by Yamauchi on June 14th

Notable Exchanges (1)

Barry Scheck•Dr. John Gerdes

Scheck first asked Gerdes whether handling samples from different scenes in the same period and location was good laboratory practice, and Gerdes said it was not. Separately, Scheck identified samples Yamauchi handled on June 15th and asked whether he handled the Rockingham glove and Bundy swatches on June 14th, which Gerdes confirmed.

procedural

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Collin Yamauchi

challenged laboratory practice through expert testimony

Gerdes said it is not good laboratory practice to handle samples from different scenes in the same period and location; he confirmed Yamauchi handled the listed reference, Bronco, and Rockingham foyer samples on June 15th, and agreed with Scheck's separate premise that Yamauchi handled the Rockingham glove and Bundy swatches on June 14th.

Objections

2 objections (0 sustained, 2 overruled)

Proceeding 7147 • 10 lines • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103