📄 Direct examination of Dr. Henry Lee (part 3) — Wednesday, August 23, 1995
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TRIAL
▲ Day 141 of 167

Direct examination of Dr. Henry Lee (part 3)

Witness: Dr. Henry Lee
Examiner: Barry Scheck
Called by: Defense • Date: Wednesday, August 23, 1995 • Utterances: 300
Dr. Henry Lee continues his direct examination by Barry Scheck, walking the jury through detailed forensic analysis of the eyeglasses envelope found at Bundy. Lee describes bloodstain patterns, a possible imprint consistent with a bloody finger, a mirror-image fold pattern indicating the envelope was manipulated while blood was wet, and — notably — a shoe sole imprint on the envelope consistent with a Bruno Magli pattern. The examination is repeatedly interrupted by sustained objections limiting how far Lee can extend his conclusions.
1 (The following proceedings were held in open court, in the presence of the jury:)
2 THE COURT:

All right. Dr. Lee, would you resume the witness stand.

Henry C. Lee, the witness on the stand at the time of the evening adjournment, resumed the stand and testified further as follows:

3 THE COURT:

The record should reflect we've been joined by all the members of our jury. Dr. Henry Lee is again on the witness stand undergoing direct examination by Mr. Scheck. Good afternoon again, Dr. Lee.

4 DR. LEE:

Good afternoon.

5 THE COURT:

Doctor, you are reminded you are still under oath. And, Mr. Scheck, you may continue with your direct examination.

6 MR. SCHECK:

Thank you very much, your Honor. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

THE JURY: Good afternoon.

DIRECT EXAMINATION (RESUMED) BY MR. SCHECK

7 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, over lunch, did you have some opportunity to place some red tape on the board entitled "Closed-in area of Bundy"?

8 DR. LEE:

Yes.

9 MR. SCHECK:

And does this red tape reflect the different portions of the central photograph that you were discussing in your testimony with the jury?

10 DR. LEE:

Yes.

11 MR. SCHECK:

And at various times, you pointed to one photograph and explained its relation to the other. And does this red tape reflect what you were testifying to this morning?

12 DR. LEE:

This red tape basically indicate the location which I explain this morning and shows the general correlation between one photograph to another.

13 MR. SCHECK:

Thank you.

14 MR. SCHECK:

This for the record is 1341.

15 THE COURT:

Yes. Thank you.

16 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, we ended the morning by discussing the envelope and the two different positions. Do you recall that, sir?

17 DR. LEE:

Yes.

18 MR. SCHECK:

Now, I move to the next exhibit, which would be marked 1344, and this one is entitled, "Evidence found, eyeglasses envelope, envelope at Bundy scene." And, Dr. Lee, I would ask you, if you could, to come down and discuss this with us.

19 (Deft's 1344 for id = board)
20 DR. LEE:

Sure.

21 (The witness complies.)
22 THE COURT:

All right. This has no remains, correct?

23 MR. SCHECK:

No, your Honor.

24 THE COURT:

All right. Mr. Scheck, if you would tell me that since it's--I can't tell which one we're talking about here.

25 MR. SCHECK:

Yes.

26 THE COURT:

Mr. Bancroft, may I see that, please? Thank you.

27 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, could you explain what the photographs on this board reflect?

28 DR. LEE:

This board consist of six photographs. I took this photograph on February 18, 1995 at Albany Medical Center. The first photograph depicts an overall view of this item, taking out front of box, shows item no. 39, brown paper bag inside of a plastic bag. First column, second photograph depicts a close-up view of this top opening of the brown paper bag of a scotch tape, that scotch tape depicting this area (Indicating). They're trace material, some are consistent with blood crust, was noticed on those plastic scotch tape. The middle column are those blood-stained debris found inside of the brown paper bag, predominantly consist of leaf material. However, on the leaves, there are hairs and fiber-like trace was noticed. In addition, blood like crust also noticed on the leaf which depicts a close-up view, shows one of the leaf in column no. 2, photograph no. 2. Some of the blood crust, it's clearly flaked out to a regional location. Other still are here on the surface. The next two photograph depicts the envelope inside this plastic bag. Column 3, top view, depicts the front portion of this envelope with some writing and some blood-like stain. Column no. 3, photograph 2, depicts an overall view of this envelope which shows large amount of bloodstain, blood spatter were noticed on the surface of this backside of envelope.

29 MR. SCHECK:

Any other observations with respect to this?

30 DR. LEE:

Uh, basically, at one point in time, those material probably collect with those envelope together and place in a brown paper bag.

31 MR. GOLDBERG:

Speculation. Motion to strike. No foundation, personal knowledge.

32 THE COURT:

Overruled. Overruled.

33 MR. SCHECK:

Your Honor, I would ask this board be marked as 1345.

34 THE COURT:

All right. 1345.

35 (Deft's 1345 for id = board)
36 MR. SCHECK:

And it's entitled, "Evidence found--eyeglasses envelope, evidence found at Albany Medical Center."

37 DR. LEE:

This board--

38 THE COURT:

Wait, wait, wait. Question.

39 MR. SCHECK:

Question is, Dr. Lee, could you please explain the photographs on this board?

40 MR. GOLDBERG:

Calls for a narrative.

41 THE COURT:

It does. Let's do it one at a time.

42 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Dr. Lee, will you start, please, with the overall view in the center.

43 DR. LEE:

The overall view of the center picture depicts the items I found inside of the envelope and the brown paper bag which consist a pair of eyeglasses. However, only one lens was found.

44 MR. SCHECK:

Now, are you familiar with the testimony of Dr. Baden and Dr. Wolf that on June 22nd, when they were at the Los Angeles Police Department laboratory with Michele Kestler, they observed the eyeglasses with two lenses?

45 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, that misstates the evidence.

46 THE COURT:

Sustained.

47 MR. SCHECK:

They observed in a bag eyeglasses with two lenses within the bag.

48 MR. GOLDBERG:

That also misstates the evidence.

49 THE COURT:

Sustained.

50 MR. SCHECK:

You--are you aware of the testimony of Dr. Baden--

51 THE COURT:

Counsel, it's also argument. The jury was here, has heard the testimony. They know the state of the record. Ask the questions about what's there, please.

52 MR. SCHECK:

All right. In the records you have received with respect to discovery in this case, do you have any records indicating what happened to the other lens?

53 MR. GOLDBERG:

Not relevant.

54 THE COURT:

Overruled.

55 DR. LEE:

No.

56 MR. SCHECK:

Call your attention now to the picture in the upper left-hand column indicating "Eyeglasses with single lens." Could you describe the evidence pattern there?

57 DR. LEE:

This picture depicts when a time we remove the eyeglasses out the envelope. I found this lens already out of the eyeglass. The left lens, a single lens, it's a bifocal type of a lens. The right side lens appeared to be missing. On this remaining lens, there are smears and debris on the lens itself. Also noticed are material on the earpiece of the eyeglass (Indicating).

58 MR. SCHECK:

And where is that reflected?

59 DR. LEE:

This reflect the earpiece on the right-hand side. There are some reddish color material adhere.

60 MR. SCHECK:

That indicates the photograph on the bottom left-hand column of this board indicating "Trace evidence on earpiece"?

61 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

62 MR. SCHECK:

Now, is there a close-up photograph of what you described as the smear on the lens?

63 DR. LEE:

Yes.

64 MR. SCHECK:

Could you describe that for us?

65 DR. LEE:

On the third column top frame, the picture depicts a close-up view of this lens. Reddish blood-like smear can be seen on the top of the lens (Indicating).

66 MR. SCHECK:

What is the photograph on the bottom right-hand?

67 DR. LEE:

The bottom right-hand depicts a further close-up view for this portion of the lens, have large amount of a trace material. Those trace material consists predominantly of soil, blood crust, fiber and hair-like material.

68 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, does the smearing you saw in this lens, is that consistent with someone touching the lens of the glasses?

69 MR. GOLDBERG:

Calls for speculation.

70 THE COURT:

Sustained.

71 MR. SCHECK:

Based on the pattern that you see on the lens, can you describe the mechanism that would be consistent with creating that pattern?

72 DR. LEE:

Yes.

73 MR. SCHECK:

What is it?

74 DR. LEE:

At one point in time, a small amount of blood-like substance have contact with portion of lens, cause a transfer.

75 MR. SCHECK:

Could that transfer be consistent with a finger smearing the lens?

76 MR. GOLDBERG:

Speculation. Same objections.

77 THE COURT:

Sustained.

78 MR. SCHECK:

Well, in terms of mechanisms, what kind of mechanisms could cause that kind of smear?

79 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objection.

80 THE COURT:

The jury's already heard what's called smearing.

81 MR. SCHECK:

Well, your Honor, I'm just trying to--

82 THE COURT:

I understand.

83 MR. SCHECK:

--elicit the mechanisms.

84 THE COURT:

He's told us smearing. Proceed.

85 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Can smearing be caused by manipulation with someone's fingers?

86 MR. GOLDBERG:

Argumentative.

87 THE COURT:

Overruled.

88 DR. LEE:

It could be.

89 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, is it possible to lift fingerprints from glass?

90 DR. LEE:

You can develop latent print on a glass. Subsequently, you can lift the fingerprint. First you have to develop it.

91 MR. SCHECK:

Now, are the reddish materials here consistent just by observation with blood?

92 DR. LEE:

Maybe, maybe not. I did not do any test.

KEY QUOTE
93 MR. SCHECK:

When you examined--I'm sorry. Were you about to finish your answer?

94 DR. LEE:

Yeah.

95 MR. SCHECK:

At the Albany Medical Center, when you examined this, were--were you allowed to test this in terms of the order?

96 DR. LEE:

My order is, I can only do physical observation, microscopic examination and photographing, measurement, cannot remove or cutting, doing destructive test.

97 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, assuming--well, withdrawn. From the photographs of the crime scene, where are the glasses in relation to the envelope? Are they inside or outside?

98 DR. LEE:

Inside.

99 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Is the smearing pattern you observed consistent with someone manipulating that envelope and touching the glasses inside of it?

100 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objections to the previous questions.

101 THE COURT:

There were many. Which one do you want?

102 MR. GOLDBERG:

No foundation, speculation, calls for conclusion.

103 THE COURT:

Sustained.

104 MR. SCHECK:

Let's move to the next board in terms of foundation.

105 THE COURT:

1346.

106 MR. SCHECK:

Yes. Entitled "Evidence found, eyeglasses, envelope, bloodstain evidence on envelope."

107 (Deft's 1346 for id = board)
108 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, could you please describe for us the bloodstain patterns depicted on this board?

109 DR. LEE:

This board consist of again six individual photographs. Depicts various view on the back of this envelope, the backside of an envelope (Indicating).

110 MR. GOLDBERG:

No foundation as to when the photos were taken, your Honor.

111 THE COURT:

Overruled.

112 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, when were these photographs taken?

113 DR. LEE:

Was taken February 18 to 19 in 1995 at Albany Medical Center.

114 MR. SCHECK:

Please proceed with your description of the bloodstain pattern as depicted on the board.

115 DR. LEE:

The bloodstain pattern on the back of the envelope consists of great amount, over hundreds of bloodstain pattern. What the photograph depict, only certain sections. The top row middle column shows, if I look at an envelope in the back directly, it's on my left-hand side. If I'm--and envelope should be on the right. So basically depends which side you're looking at. Here clearly have another imprint consistent like a shape of an E, which later was identify consistent with a portion of the sole pattern of a Bruno Magli. Besides that, we have large amount of blood drops, blood spatter, blood smear cover the whole area. This area alone probably consists 200 or more individual bloodstain. The most interesting one is one in the lower middle portion here. A crease was noticed on the envelope. This was enlarged, which depicts in the photograph on the third column, top view. I'm showing here that's the crease. Here have a blood pattern, two pattern, look like a mirror image, which suggest this portion and this portion could have made contact, meanwhile the blood still wet (Indicating).

116 MR. SCHECK:

Well, Dr. Lee, could you with the red tape please indicate where the mirror image is on bloodstain pattern no. 1 and what you just described in the photograph with close-up view 1-B?

117 DR. LEE:

Yes. (The witness complies.)

118 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, in order to obtain a mirror image pattern such as this, what state does the liquid blood--what state does the blood have to be in?

119 DR. LEE:

Blood have to be in liquid state. Cannot be a bloodstain. Still wet in a liquid stage.

KEY QUOTE
120 MR. SCHECK:

So would this mirror image pattern be consistent with someone folding or manipulating this envelope while the blood depicted in the close-up view of 1-B is still wet?

121 MR. GOLDBERG:

Calls for speculation, no foundation, conjecture.

122 THE COURT:

Overruled.

123 DR. LEE:

Yes. Consistent with.

124 MR. SCHECK:

Uh-huh. Could you please now turn to the close-up view, 1-A, and indicate where that is on bloodstain pattern no. 1?

125 DR. LEE:

(Indicating).

126 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee--I have to ask you a question first. Dr. Lee, could you please describe the bloodstain patterns in close-up view 1-A?

127 DR. LEE:

The close-up view 1-A depicts an area on the--when I place the envelope on the right-hand corner, this blood smear, blood spatter, that's angular deposit, blood drops and could be contact pattern deposit in that little area. It also indicate to me the smear has to be applied on the envelope first and the spatter apply afterward (Indicating).

128 MR. SCHECK:

So might I ask you, could you indicate with the pen the smear and put down "1" next to it indicating that's first and the spatter--maybe "SM" for smear, "SP" for spatter.

129 (The witness complies.)
130 MR. SCHECK:

Thank you. So in other words, the smear had to come first and then spatter after that?

131 DR. LEE:

Yes.

132 MR. SCHECK:

Anything else with respect to this bloodstain pattern?

133 DR. LEE:

In addition, a small drop consistent vertical deposit. Those consistent with impact splash path with an angular deposit.

134 MR. SCHECK:

Now, are those--is this smear, is that what you call dynamic--

135 DR. LEE:

Movement. Have a lateral movement, dynamic contact.

136 MR. SCHECK:

Is that smear--can that be caused--can the mechanism for that smear be a hand brushing against the envelope?

137 MR. GOLDBERG:

Speculation, conjecture, no foundation.

138 THE COURT:

Sustained.

139 MR. SCHECK:

Is the smear consistent with the mechanism of a hand brushing against the envelope?

140 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objections. Also argumentative.

141 THE COURT:

Sustained.

142 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Can you tell us what kinds of mechanisms are consistent with the scientific evidence you see here of that smear?

143 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objections.

144 THE COURT:

Overruled.

145 DR. LEE:

Yes.

146 MR. SCHECK:

And what kinds of mechanisms?

147 DR. LEE:

Contact mechanism of this, a surface have to have some wet blood, has to have a direct contact with the movement. The movement here is from the left to right, being lateral movement (Indicating).

148 MR. SCHECK:

Anything else about the bloodstain patterns of interest on the top row?

149 DR. LEE:

No.

150 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Could you please move to bloodstain pattern no. 2?

151 DR. LEE:

Bloodstain pattern no. 2 is--depicts an envelope, upper--if I place the envelope upper right corner of this envelope. A multiple bloodstain pattern can be seen in this location. Over hundreds of bloodstain can be counted in this area too (Indicating). The most important observation of this area consist of a three, four areas. Close-up view no. 2-A, which depicts this area, a teardrop type of pattern, a vertical drop blood pattern, a contact transfer pattern, additional spatter pattern.

152 MR. SCHECK:

Could you please with the red tape indicate for the jury the relationship of the close-up view 2-A to bloodstain pattern no. 2?

153 (The witness complies.)
154 MR. SCHECK:

Now, so you've indicated here that we have a contact impression?

155 DR. LEE:

Yes.

156 MR. SCHECK:

Which one is that?

157 DR. LEE:

Not impression. Is a contact pattern.

158 MR. SCHECK:

Pattern. We have a droplet?

159 DR. LEE:

Yes.

160 MR. SCHECK:

We have spatter?

161 DR. LEE:

Yes.

162 MR. SCHECK:

Now, can you tell from this pattern which of these came first?

163 DR. LEE:

Some area I can tell. Other area I can not. For example, this one, I can tell deposit after this group of a pattern has to be applied on the envelope first. It clearly shows this on top, the rest of it. As far this one, this one, I can not tell when was deposit (Indicating).

164 MR. SCHECK:

However, could the ones that you can tell which came first or second, could they have come at the same time?

165 DR. LEE:

Some of those, more likely from different time.

166 MR. SCHECK:

So your judgment is, it's more likely they came at different times, but you can't tell which came first or second?

167 DR. LEE:

Yes, because the angular and vertical droplet cannot be created by same motion here.

168 MR. SCHECK:

Would this kind of blood pattern that we see on 1-A and 2-A be consistent with struggle in the area, struggle between two individuals around this envelope?

169 MR. GOLDBERG:

Speculation, conjecture, no foundation.

170 THE COURT:

Overruled.

171 DR. LEE:

It could indicate dynamic movement, different time contact, could be consistent with this.

172 MR. SCHECK:

Okay. Any other observations of interest with respect to the close-up on view 2-A?

173 DR. LEE:

View 2-A, in the lower portion middle, have a place labeled 1-B, something like that. Have one drop. This drop, the side appear to be diluted and a swab motion appear to apply into this drop. This indicates this drop has been sampled by laboratory examiner to type this drop (Indicating).

174 MR. SCHECK:

And on this photograph, are there initials there?

175 DR. LEE:

No. Just 1-B.

176 MR. SCHECK:

A b?

177 DR. LEE:

Yeah.

178 MR. SCHECK:

Indication of "B." Now, could you move to close-up view 2-B. What does the close-up view 2-B indicate in terms of the pattern?

179 DR. LEE:

Close-up view 2-B consist of heavy bloodstain on top of the bloodstain caked with some soil debris. In addition, numerous hair, fiber-like material adhere on this surface (Indicating).

180 MR. SCHECK:

Now, what is the--the fact that this debris, the soil and fibers caked on the surface, what does that indicate about the mechanism of transfer?

181 DR. LEE:

This area indicates blood has to be deposit on the envelope first. Subsequently, the soil, hair, fiber debris was deposit on top of this bloodstain area; and during this drying and coagulation process, this material cake onto the surface (Indicating).

182 MR. SCHECK:

So this debris came onto the surface while the blood was still wet?

183 DR. LEE:

Yes.

184 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, show you two additional photographs that are not on this board that--

185 THE COURT:

1345.

186 MR. SCHECK:

Well, should we make them subdivisions of the board even though they're not on it? What's the court's preference?

187 THE COURT:

No. Let's make them subsequent--

188 MR. SCHECK:

Okay. So this would be 13--

189 THE COURT:

1347.

190 MR. SCHECK:

47 and 48?

191 THE COURT:

Yes.

192 (Deft's 1347 and 1348 for id = photographs)
193 MR. SCHECK:

Show you two photographs that have been marked 1347 and 1348 and ask you if you recognize them.

194 DR. LEE:

Yes.

195 MR. SCHECK:

What are they?

196 DR. LEE:

It's two picture which depict, 1347, the mid portion of this envelope; 1348 is this faint area of this envelope (Indicating).

197 MR. SCHECK:

Could you in the two areas you've indicated write "1347" in the area depicted in the photograph 1347 and "1348" for the area of 1348?

198 (The witness complies.)
199 MR. SCHECK:

Your Honor, with permission of the court, I'd like to place 1347--1348 first on the elmo.

200 THE COURT:

Proceed.

201 MR. SCHECK:

And ask that Dr. Lee approach the telestrator and direct Mr. Harris on focusing in on the areas of interest.

202 (The witness complies.)
203 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, look--please tell us when it's in the correct position.

204 DR. LEE:

Yeah. That's the correct position.

205 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Dr. Lee, what pattern is depicted--what kind of pattern is depicted by 1348?

206 DR. LEE:

This encompass area which appear to be--have some ridge pattern on there.

207 MR. SCHECK:

Now, that ridge pattern, that is an imprint?

208 DR. LEE:

That's an imprint, considered as an imprint pattern.

209 MR. SCHECK:

And that imprint pattern, the ridges, are those consistent with the pattern given by a fingerprint in blood?

210 MR. GOLDBERG:

Leading, your Honor. Also, no foundation.

211 THE COURT:

Sustained.

212 MR. SCHECK:

What is that consistent with--start this way. Dr. Lee, in your observations of evidence at crime scenes, can you make observations from blood patterns with respect to fingerprints?

213 DR. LEE:

Yes.

214 MR. SCHECK:

How do you do that?

215 DR. LEE:

By recognize the shape, contour or ridge characteristics.

216 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Now, with respect to that, what is your opinion of the pattern depicted on 1348?

217 DR. LEE:

All I can report to you, it's consistent with imprint pattern. I can not definitively tell you this is a fingerprint.

218 MR. SCHECK:

What about this pattern makes it consistent with the pattern that would be caused by a bloody fingerprint?

219 MR. GOLDBERG:

Speculation, your Honor, conjecture, no foundation.

220 THE COURT:

Overruled.

221 DR. LEE:

It's have the general contour, have some appear to be certain pattern there and any of those pattern which indicate indicative of pattern transfer of course and hence would be able to shows exact pattern.

222 MR. SCHECK:

Ask that we put now 1347 on the elmo. Yeah. We should print this out. I'm sorry. Can we make that 1348-A?

223 THE COURT:

1348-A.

224 (Deft's 1348-A for id = printout)
225 MR. SCHECK:

Now, while that's printing out, Dr. Lee, this imprint pattern, would the blood have to be wet at the time this imprint pattern was made?

226 DR. LEE:

Yes.

227 MR. SCHECK:

Now ready for 1347.

228 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, looking at 1347, is this a proper focus?

229 DR. LEE:

Yes.

230 MR. SCHECK:

Could you please describe to us the pattern here?

231 DR. LEE:

This is a pattern area which we notice in this exhibit. This pattern area shows here it's not a drop, it's not a spatter, it's not a smear. It's a contact impression type of pattern. Fiber-like material can be seen adhere onto the surface. This area consist of large quantity of blood. No ridge characteristic can be clearly seen (Indicating). However, in the middle--

232 MR. GOLDBERG:

No question pending.

233 THE COURT:

Overruled.

234 DR. LEE:

In the middle, there are some appear to be pattern area which consistent again we say imprint.

235 MR. SCHECK:

Now, the imprint you've indicated by the arrows, is that consistent with a bloody finger making the contact imprint that you've indicated there?

236 MR. GOLDBERG:

Speculation, conjecture, no foundation.

237 THE COURT:

Sustained.

238 MR. SCHECK:

All right. In terms of the mechanism of transfer, is that imprint pattern consistent with a finger covered with blood making contact with the envelope?

239 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objection, your Honor, and also, it's leading.

240 THE COURT:

Sustained.

241 MR. SCHECK:

Again, Dr. Lee, based on your observations of fingerprint patterns at crime scenes, if a finger is covered with lots of blood and makes contact with a paper surface, will it necessarily leave a ridge design?

242 DR. LEE:

No. It will not leave any ridge characteristic. Once the blood cover the whole surface, fell the land and groove of the finger surface when you have this contact because abundance of blood, you only leave a general pattern, will not transfer individual ridge characteristics.

243 MR. SCHECK:

Is the pattern depicted here in 1347 consistent with a finger covered with blood to the point that it would make a contact impression in the envelope, but not leave ridge characteristics?

244 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objection. Also, leading.

245 THE COURT:

Sustained.

246 MR. SCHECK:

All right. In terms of fingerprint impressions, is that consistent with the--an imprint of a finger covered with blood as you just explained before?

247 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objections.

248 THE COURT:

Sustained. Let's move on.

249 MR. SCHECK:

Can you please describe for us in terms of mechanisms of transfer how that pattern might be consistent, if it is, with a finger imprint?

250 THE COURT:

Sustained. Dr. Lee, this is a compression transfer; is that correct?

251 DR. LEE:

Yes.

252 THE COURT:

All right. Did you examine that carefully as much as you could from the photograph?

253 DR. LEE:

Yes.

254 THE COURT:

Did you see anything that indicates that that might be a fingerprint?

255 DR. LEE:

No. Only the contour.

256 THE COURT:

Thank you. Next question.

257 MR. SCHECK:

So from the contour of this imprint, it is consistent with a bloody finger making contact with the envelope?

258 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objections.

259 THE COURT:

Overruled.

260 DR. LEE:

It consistent with a--either finger or an object have same contour cause such transfer.

261 MR. SCHECK:

So it's either a finger or an object that has the same contour as the finger?

262 THE COURT:

I think we've covered this.

263 MR. SCHECK:

Okay. Would that imprint have to be made when the blood was wet?

264 DR. LEE:

Yes.

265 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, the imprint that you described on 1348, the imprint you've described as 1347, the mirror image you've described under the picture, close-up view 1-B, are all those consistent with this envelope being manipulated when the blood was wet?

266 DR. LEE:

Well, it indicates have contact. Assume those are fingerprint pattern.

267 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, I'm going to object at this point. I think this would call for speculation and conjecture.

268 THE COURT:

Overruled. Answer will stand. Next question.

269 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Dr. Lee, assuming that these imprint patterns are consistent with fingerprints, what does these patterns indicate with respect to the manipulation of this envelope when the blood was wet?

270 MR. GOLDBERG:

Speculation, conjecture, no foundation, calls for opinion.

271 THE COURT:

Sustained.

272 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, with respect to the close-up view 1-B and your observations of the glasses in the envelope, could the envelope be folded in that fashion while the glasses were in it?

273 MR. GOLDBERG:

Calls for speculation, there's no foundation.

274 THE COURT:

Foundation.

275 MR. SCHECK:

Well, were you able to examine the envelope and the glasses?

276 DR. LEE:

Yes.

277 MR. SCHECK:

All right. From your observations, could this what you've described as a mirror image pattern in the close-up view 1-B have been made when the glasses were in the envelope while wet blood was in the envelope?

278 MR. GOLDBERG:

No foundation.

279 THE COURT:

Sustained.

280 MR. SCHECK:

Well, in terms of the fold with the glasses in the envelope, could--would the glasses in the envelope prevent this manipu--the fold that we see in the close-up view 1-B?

281 MR. GOLDBERG:

No foundation.

282 THE COURT:

Overruled.

283 DR. LEE:

If the glass is in this area, very difficult to fold over the glass itself (Indicating).

KEY QUOTE
284 MR. GOLDBERG:

Nonresponsive.

285 THE COURT:

Overruled.

286 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, I'm sorry. For the record, maybe we could have the court indicate where he pointed at this time.

287 THE COURT:

He pointed to--

288 MR. GOLDBERG:

May I stand up?

289 THE COURT:

Yes, you may. He pointed to 1345, 1-B.

290 MR. GOLDBERG:

But he said "If the glasses were in this area." Could we just have the record reflect where he was pointing when he said that? Well, your Honor, just for the record, when he was pointing, he was pointing on the "Evidence found, eyeglass envelope" exhibit, the photograph on the top center, bloodstain pattern 1, approximately bisecting the photograph in what appears to be a fold.

291 THE COURT:

Thank you.

292 MR. SCHECK:

In fact, I would add to that description that the fold begins at the bottom of the picture--

293 THE COURT:

No, counsel. The photograph speaks for itself. Let's move on.

294 MR. SCHECK:

Okay.

295 THE COURT:

Blood transfers are what--the envelope's been moved around. It's at a crime scene. Let's proceed.

296 MR. SCHECK:

Well, these--the mirror image, that's when the blood is wet, correct?

297 DR. LEE:

Yes.

298 THE COURT:

We've established that.

299 MR. SCHECK:

Can we have the next board, please? Your Honor, this is 1349 and it's entitled, "Evidence found, envelope."

300 THE COURT:

All right. Thank you.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (5)

Dr. Henry Lee
An imprint consistent like a shape of an E, which later was identify consistent with a portion of the sole pattern of a Bruno Magli.
Directly links the Bruno Magli shoe — the brand Simpson denied owning — to a bloodstain imprint on the eyeglasses envelope at the murder scene.
Dr. Henry Lee
Blood have to be in liquid state. Cannot be a bloodstain. Still wet in a liquid stage.
Establishes that the mirror-image fold pattern could only have been created while blood was actively wet, implying the envelope was manipulated very shortly after the murders.
Dr. Henry Lee
Maybe, maybe not. I did not do any test.
Lee is characteristically careful — he refuses to confirm reddish material is blood without destructive testing he was not permitted to perform, limiting the prosecution's ability to neutralize his testimony on cross.
Dr. Henry Lee
If the glass is in this area, very difficult to fold over the glass itself.
Implies the envelope was folded — and thus manipulated — after the glasses were no longer inside it, raising questions about evidence handling.
Lance A. Ito
Blood transfers are what — the envelope's been moved around. It's at a crime scene. Let's proceed.
Judge Ito essentially short-circuits Scheck's line of questioning, signaling impatience with cumulative foundation-building around envelope manipulation.

Evidence (9)

Defense 1344
Board entitled 'Evidence found, eyeglasses envelope, envelope at Bundy scene' — photographs of envelope in context at crime scene
introduced, discussed
Defense 1345
Board entitled 'Evidence found, eyeglasses envelope, evidence found at Albany Medical Center' — photographs of envelope contents including eyeglasses with single lens
introduced, discussed
Defense 1346
Board entitled 'Bloodstain evidence on envelope' — six photographs depicting bloodstain patterns on back of eyeglasses envelope, including Bruno Magli sole imprint
introduced, discussed in detail
Defense 1347
Photograph of mid-portion of envelope showing contact impression pattern with fiber material — consistent with bloody finger imprint without ridge characteristics
introduced, examined via telestrator
Defense 1348
Photograph of faint area of envelope showing ridge pattern consistent with bloody fingerprint imprint
introduced, examined via telestrator
Defense 1348-A
Printout of telestrator image of 1348
created during testimony
+ 3 more

Notable Exchanges (4)

Barry ScheckHank GoldbergLance A. Ito
Scheck attempts multiple times to get Lee to say the imprint on the envelope is consistent with a bloody finger — sustained repeatedly on speculation/leading grounds until Ito takes over and elicits the answer himself, which reveals Lee can only say 'contour' matches, not that it is definitively a fingerprint.
strategic
Barry ScheckLance A. Ito
After Scheck pushes Lee toward the conclusion that the envelope was manipulated while blood was wet, Ito cuts him off: 'Blood transfers are what — the envelope's been moved around. It's at a crime scene. Let's proceed.' Ito openly dismisses the inference Scheck is building.
tense
Barry ScheckHank Goldberg
Scheck attempts to characterize prior testimony by Dr. Baden and Dr. Wolf about the eyeglasses having two lenses — Goldberg objects twice that this 'misstates the evidence,' both sustained, forcing Scheck to abandon the framing.
procedural
Dr. Henry LeeBarry Scheck
Lee explains that when a finger is covered with too much blood, it will not leave ridge characteristics — only a general contour. This preemptively explains why the imprints are not usable as fingerprints while still implying manual manipulation.
revealing

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ LAPD evidence handling
physical evidence anomaly
Lee notes that the eyeglasses had only one lens when he examined them in February 1995, but implies (via Scheck's questions referencing prior testimony) that two lenses were observed in June 1994 at LAPD — suggesting a lens went missing in custody. Lee also describes a mirror-image fold pattern and possible finger imprints indicating the envelope was manipulated while blood was wet, implying post-collection tampering or mishandling.

Witness Demeanor

(The witness complies.) — repeated multiple times as Lee moves between boards and applies red tape to photographs
Lee is measured and careful throughout, volunteering limitations ('maybe, maybe not. I did not do any test') without being prompted

Objections

26 objections (13 sustained, 11 overruled)
Proceeding 7421 • 300 utterances • Defense witness
Criminal Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 AUG 23, 1995 📄 Direct examination of Dr. Henr
AUG 23, 1995 KRT DvH TD