Direct examination of Larry Ragle (part 5)

📄 Direct examination of Larry Ragle (part 5) — Monday, August 21, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\AUG\21\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-LARRY-RA.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 139 of 167

◀ Sidebar: blood spot visibility Cross-examination of Larry Ragle (part 1) ▶

Witness: Larry Ragle
Examiner: Robert Blasier
Called by: Defense • Date: Monday, August 21, 1995 • Utterances: 31

Defense counsel Blasier concluded his direct examination of criminalist Larry Ragle by establishing that two of the blood spot locations on the Bronco door panel would not have been visible with the door closed. The testimony was used to mark Defense exhibit 1330, an annotated photograph identifying those two locations.

# 1 (The following proceedings were held in open court:)

# 2 MR. BLASIER:

Mr. Ragle, specifically with respect to--

# 3 THE COURT:

I'm sorry. We're missing no. 1.

# 4 (Brief pause.)

# 5 THE COURT:

Mr. Blasier.

# 6 MR. BLASIER:

Thank you, your Honor.

# 7 MR. BLASIER:

Mr. Ragle, with respect to the--on the photograph up on the screen, the circled area on the right and the two spots that appear to be circled--the top circle in the diagram, you have those in mind?

# 8 MR. RAGLE:

Yes.

# 9 MR. BLASIER:

Based on your observations of the Bronco, the times you've looked at it, can you see those two circled areas if the door is closed?

# 10 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, no foundation that the door was on it when he inspected it.

# 11 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 12 MR. RAGLE:

Let me comment about this photograph first, if I may, because I can't--

# 13 THE COURT:

No. You have to answer the question.

# 14 MR. RAGLE:

Okay.

# 15 MR. BLASIER:

Well, can you tell from that photograph--can you get oriented with that photograph?

# 16 MR. RAGLE:

I can get oriented with this photograph, yes.

# 17 MR. BLASIER:

Okay.

# 18 MR. RAGLE:

And in my opinion, you could not see two of these locations if the door was shut.

KEY QUOTE

# 19 MR. BLASIER:

And which two?

# 20 MR. RAGLE:

The one furthest--it's coming off the screen. The furthest to the right and then of the two on the left, the upper one.

KEY QUOTE

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

# 22 MR. BLASIER:

Your Honor, perhaps for the record, we should have those two--an arrow put on those two and print it out and number this exhibit our next in order.

# 23 THE COURT:

All right. This will be 1330.

# 24 (Deft's 1330 for id = photograph)

# 25 MR. BLASIER:

Now, Mr. Ragle, do you have an opinion as to whether the bottom left circle would be visible with the door closed?

# 26 MR. RAGLE:

I believe it would, yes.

# 27 MR. BLASIER:

Okay.

# 28 THE COURT:

All right. The record should reflect that arrows have been placed on the two circles which Mr. Ragle has testified are areas which could not be seen with the door closed. That will be marked as Defense exhibit 1330.

# 29 MR. BLASIER:

Let me just clarify my earlier question. With respect to not the circles themselves, but the markings inside the circle on the two that have the arrow on them, is it your opinion that the spots inside those circles would not be visible unless the door was opened?

# 30 MR. RAGLE:

Yes.

# 31 MR. BLASIER:

That's all I have.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (2)

Larry Ragle

And in my opinion, you could not see two of these locations if the door was shut.

Core opinion testimony establishing that certain blood spots were in locations only accessible or visible with the door open, which could support arguments about when and how the blood was deposited.

Larry Ragle

The one furthest--it's coming off the screen. The furthest to the right and then of the two on the left, the upper one.

Specific identification of the two hidden spots, which were then memorialized in exhibit 1330.

Evidence (1)

Defense 1330

Photograph of Bronco door panel with arrows marked on two circled blood spot locations that Ragle testified would not be visible with the door closed

introduced and marked during testimony

Notable Exchanges (1)

Lance A. Ito•Larry Ragle

Ragle attempted to comment on the photograph before answering the question; Ito cut him off and directed him to answer the question as asked.

controlled

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 1 overruled)

Proceeding 7979 • 31 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103