📄 Redirect examination of Dr. Henry Lee (part 1) — Monday, August 28, 1995
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▲ Day 143 of 167

Redirect examination of Dr. Henry Lee (part 1)

Witness: Dr. Henry Lee
Examiner: Barry Scheck
Called by: Defense • Date: Monday, August 28, 1995 • Utterances: 452
Barry Scheck conducted redirect examination of Dr. Henry Lee, rehabilitating his testimony on imprint evidence, DNA testing reliability, bloodstain drying times, and the contested wet transfer stains on the item 47 bindle. Scheck repeatedly attempted to elicit testimony about enhancement techniques for imprint evidence but was largely blocked by Judge Ito on scope grounds. The examination concluded with Dr. Lee reaffirming his earlier opinion that the wet transfers on the bindle meant 'something was wrong.'
1 THE COURT:

All right. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Be seated. All right. Let the record reflect that we've been rejoined by all the members of our jury panel. And Dr. Henry Lee is again on the witness stand. The Prosecution has completed their cross-examination. And, Mr. Scheck, you may redirect.

2 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, before Mr. Scheck starts, I wanted to mark two printouts, printout of 598-C, I guess this is going to be 598-C-1, and it's a printout of what appear to be the prints that were on the second and third lines, tiles rather and I'd like to mark as 595-A what appears to be the printout of the evidence envelope with the yellow circle around the dot.

3 THE COURT:

All right. Thank you. So marked.

4 (Peo's 595-A for id = printout)
5 (Peo's 598-C-1 for id = printout)
6 THE COURT:

Mr. Scheck.

7 MR. SCHECK:

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

THE JURY: Good afternoon.

REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. SCHECK

8 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, Mr. Goldberg asked you a number of questions today about imprint evidence.

9 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

10 MR. SCHECK:

Now, first, let's talk about imprint evidence on the envelope, the piece of paper and Mr. Goldman's jeans. Dr. Lee, is it your understanding that each of those items was recovered on June 13th?

11 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

12 (Brief pause.)
13 MR. SCHECK:

This is 1339, your Honor, the board entitled, "Imprint evidence at Bundy, imprint evidence on Mr. Goldman's blue jeans."

14 THE COURT:

All right.

15 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, in the sections marked imprint 1, imprint 2, imprint 3, are these imprints?

16 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir. It's consistent with imprint.

17 MR. SCHECK:

Is--you made--you have a distinction here between scientific fact and interpretation.

18 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

19 MR. SCHECK:

As far as you are concerned, are these imprints scientific fact?

20 DR. LEE:

Yes.

21 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, you were shown some videotapes of police officers walking out of the crime scene after it was broken down.

22 DR. LEE:

Yes.

23 MR. SCHECK:

For their shoes to have left imprints on Mr. Goldman's jeans, they'd have to step on them, right?

24 MR. GOLDBERG:

Argumentative, your Honor.

25 THE COURT:

Overruled.

26 DR. LEE:

In theory, yes.

27 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, for a detective or a photographer visiting the crime scene on June 13th, to make imprints on Mr. Goldman's jeans, they'd have to step on them?

28 DR. LEE:

In theory, yes.

29 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, it's argumentative because he didn't say they were shoeprints.

30 THE COURT:

Overruled.

31 (Brief pause.)
32 MR. SCHECK:

Your Honor, this is entitled, "Imprint evidence at Bundy," 1338, consists of four photographs, imprint on paper, close-up of imprint, imprint on envelope, close-up of imprint. I also have 1338-A, which is a photograph of the piece of paper that has blue markings on it entitled "PLP" and 1338-B, which is the envelope that also has blue markings on it entitled "PLP."

33 THE COURT:

All right.

34 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, are these parallel lines, imprints on the piece of paper and the envelope, first of all, are they imprints?

35 DR. LEE:

It's consistent with imprint.

36 MR. SCHECK:

Is that a scientific fact, sir?

37 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

38 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, could the police officers that were just shown in the videotape by Mr. Goldberg have made the parallel line imprints on the piece of paper on the envelope?

39 DR. LEE:

No.

40 MR. GOLDBERG:

Speculation, your Honor. Motion to strike.

41 THE COURT:

Overruled.

42 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, if a photographer or detective that came to the scene were to have made these parallel line imprints on the piece of paper and the envelope, they would have had to come over and step on them?

43 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

44 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, show you what is I guess People's 598-A, your Honor--

45 MR. SCHECK:

And this is one of those photographs that have been blown up and magnetized.

46 THE COURT:

Yes.

47 MR. SCHECK:

And this is the one that's entitled "A" and now has a no. 10 on a tile.

48 DR. LEE:

May I step down?

49 THE COURT:

Yes. Dr. Lee, you may step down.

50 MR. SCHECK:

And, your Honor, do you have a removal stickum arrow so that I can put a mark on it and then remove it?

51 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, you indicated on cross-examination that you had never seen a photograph of this scene of this quality before.

52 DR. LEE:

That's correct.

53 MR. SCHECK:

And when Mr. Goldberg was asking you questions about imprint impressions, you said that you had observed something on this photograph?

54 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

55 MR. SCHECK:

And that was on--counting I guess, using the tiles where the no. 10 is, it would be the one, two, third one over?

56 DR. LEE:

Yes.

57 MR. GOLDBERG:

Leading.

58 THE COURT:

Sustained.

59 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Please show the jury by putting a yellow stickum--

60 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, I'm going to ask that nothing be put on that's going to obliterate part of the exhibit.

61 THE COURT:

All right. This is a removable--

62 MR. GOLDBERG:

Oh, this is removable?

63 THE COURT:

--post-it type--

64 MR. GOLDBERG:

All right. I have no problem with that.

65 THE COURT:

--point.

66 MR. SCHECK:

Yes. Dr. Lee, could you please indicate what imprint impressions you saw in the area of--withdrawn. Misuse of word. All right. In terms of imprints on that photograph where you've indicated with the yellow line, could you please explain to the jury what's there?

67 DR. LEE:

Here we see, if we use no. 10 as column no. 1., no. 10 is column no. 1. 10. This portion, assume this column no. 1. No. 1. 2, 3, the third column. On the third column, I can see imprint evidence. Column no. 3, 1, 2, 3, I can see imprint evidence. Column no. 1, no. 2, no. 3, I can see imprint evidence along this column (Indicating).

68 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, in terms of the imprints that you described for us before on the envelope, the piece of paper, on the jeans, are those consistent with having been made in blood?

69 MR. GOLDBERG:

Leading.

70 THE COURT:

Sustained.

71 MR. SCHECK:

With respect to blood, all right, are the imprints consistent with having been made in blood?

72 DR. LEE:

Yes.

73 MR. SCHECK:

Now, are there methods that are available to a forensic scientist when examining imprint evidence at a crime scene that had been made in blood to visualize them?

74 DR. LEE:

Yes. So call enhancement technique.

75 MR. SCHECK:

Now, calling your attention again to 583-A and the scene as depicted here, what techniques could have been used on June 13th with respect to enhancing imprint evidence here?

76 MR. GOLDBERG:

Beyond the scope, irrelevant.

77 THE COURT:

Sustained.

78 MR. SCHECK:

All right. What--what techniques are you talking about for enhancing imprint evidence made in blood at a crime scene?

79 MR. GOLDBERG:

Beyond the scope and irrelevant.

80 THE COURT:

Sustained. Was not in response to a question, that statement. There's also a line--I think we discussed this before, counsel.

81 MR. SCHECK:

What--well, Mr. Goldberg asked you about techniques that can be used in terms of photography for visualizing imprint evidence or potential footprint evidence at the crime scene. Do you recall those?

82 MR. GOLDBERG:

Misstates the testimony.

83 THE COURT:

Overruled.

84 DR. LEE:

Yes, I recall those.

85 MR. SCHECK:

All right. In your opinion--and you were asked questions about what you did on June 25th. Do you recall that?

86 MR. GOLDBERG:

Vague, overbroad and leading, motion to strike.

87 THE COURT:

Overruled.

88 DR. LEE:

Yes.

89 MR. SCHECK:

In terms of what rulers you were able to lay out. Do you remember that?

90 DR. LEE:

Yes.

91 MR. SCHECK:

And what were the proper techniques for photographing and visualizing imprints. Remember those questions?

92 DR. LEE:

Yes.

93 MR. GOLDBERG:

Overbroad, misstates the testimony.

94 THE COURT:

Overruled.

95 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, in your opinion, with adequate time, what techniques can be used to enhance and visualize and photograph imprint evidence?

96 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objection, beyond the scope.

97 THE COURT:

Sustained. Sustained. You can go into the photographic aspects of it.

98 MR. SCHECK:

Well, if--you mentioned something call o-toluidine.

99 DR. LEE:

Yes.

100 MR. SCHECK:

Is that an enhancement technique?

101 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, beyond the scope.

102 THE COURT:

Sustained.

103 MR. SCHECK:

If an enhancement method such as o-tolidine is used--

104 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, may we approach?

105 THE COURT:

Sustained. No. Sustained.

106 MR. SCHECK:

Are there techniques that can be used so that when photographing imprint evidence, there can be better visualization?

107 THE COURT:

Sustained.

108 MR. SCHECK:

May we approach, your Honor?

109 THE COURT:

No. We're not going into other techniques.

110 MR. SCHECK:

It's not a question of other techniques, your Honor.

111 THE COURT:

Proceed.

112 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, you indicated that by the--you were asked questions about the color of imprint evidence you saw on the walkway on pictures you took on June 25th compared to photographs that you saw on June 13th. Do you recall those?

113 MR. GOLDBERG:

Misstates the testimony.

114 THE COURT:

Overruled.

115 DR. LEE:

Yes, I do recall.

116 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Now, what is the--assume that imprints had been made in blood. What effect does the passage of time have on the color of imprints?

117 DR. LEE:

When start age, it become grayish and bluish, darker color.

118 MR. SCHECK:

And would--would an imprint that was made lightly in blood on one day when examined 14 days later appear darker than it did when first left?

119 MR. GOLDBERG:

Speculation.

120 THE COURT:

Foundation.

121 MR. SCHECK:

When you say that imprint evidence in blood gets darker over time, what is the basis of that opinion?

122 DR. LEE:

Basically the protein heme of the hemoglobin start react. The oxidation process, it become more visible. Initial deposit, it's less contrast, less visible unless you enhance it. If aging, this aging processing will make it more visible.

123 MR. SCHECK:

So in other words, over time, as the proteins degrade, the imprint becomes darker and more visible?

124 MR. GOLDBERG:

Leading.

125 THE COURT:

Sustained.

126 MR. SCHECK:

If I understand your testimony correctly--

127 MR. SCHECK:

I can't do that? I'm not allowed?

128 THE COURT:

You understand it. Ask a question.

129 MR. SCHECK:

All right. So what is the relationship between the breakdown in protein and the color of imprints made in blood over time?

130 DR. LEE:

In order to see it, to recognize, you have to distinguish from the background color versus the imprint pattern color. If two color very close, sometime human eyes cannot resolve it. You can't see it. You photograph, you can not take an image. However, when the time goes by, the denaturation of protein and the blood break down, also the material reaction, everything, now this area, imprint area if made in blood start have a contrast with the background because background, if no protein, no blood, don't form breakdown. Stay in the same color. Meanwhile, the decomposition of the blood, everything come darker, so now you can see it.

131 MR. SCHECK:

Now, you were asked questions about how you took photographs and visualized imprint evidence on June 25th. Do you recall those?

132 DR. LEE:

Yes.

133 MR. GOLDBERG:

Overbroad.

134 THE COURT:

Overruled.

135 MR. SCHECK:

Now, if you had more time, what techniques could you have used to--with respect to photographing imprint evidence?

136 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objections.

137 THE COURT:

Sustained.

138 MR. SCHECK:

Were you limited in any way in what you could have done on June 25th in terms of visualizing and photographing imprint evidence?

139 DR. LEE:

Yes.

140 MR. SCHECK:

In what way?

141 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, same objections.

142 THE COURT:

Overruled.

143 DR. LEE:

There's three limiting factors. The first is the time, amount of time of the level 2. Second is the restriction. I wasn't allowed to edit something, remove something or cut something. The third, of course, I don't travel with my crime scene van with me. So with that limited factor, I only can use a major imitate, a camera, couched-up image, whatever, available.

144 MR. SCHECK:

In terms of--you were asked--now, 1337-A is a photograph of a shoeprint, correct?

145 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

146 MR. SCHECK:

Is there any doubt in your mind that that is a shoeprint of a parallel line pattern?

147 DR. LEE:

No.

148 MR. SCHECK:

Is that a scientific fact?

149 DR. LEE:

Yes.

150 MR. SCHECK:

Now, other imprints that you saw on the walkway were not in the complete pattern of a shoeprint?

151 DR. LEE:

I can not come here to tell you those are definite shoeprint.

152 MR. SCHECK:

Now, enhancement techniques, can they reveal more than just what one sees with the naked eye in terms of imprints made in blood?

153 MR. GOLDBERG:

Same objections, your Honor.

154 THE COURT:

Sustained.

155 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, you were asked on cross-examination questions about--withdrawn. And finally, on 58--598-A, where you've put the yellow marker, you've indicated that what you see as imprint evidence is something in this roll of tiles that is leading in a trail back to the rear of the Bundy location.

156 MR. GOLDBERG:

Leading and misstates the testimony.

157 THE COURT:

Sustained. Sustained.

158 MR. SCHECK:

In which direction--just visualizing in this photograph, looking from the yellow arrow towards the step area, between those two markings, the yellow arrow and the step area, do you see a series of images that could be imprint evidence?

159 DR. LEE:

Yes.

160 MR. SCHECK:

Could that be consistent with a trail of imprints heading out the back of the Bundy location?

161 MR. SCHECK:

Calls for speculation, your Honor.

162 THE COURT:

Overruled.

163 DR. LEE:

It could be consistent. I can not tell you exactly what pattern, what type of--

164 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, you were asked a series of questions about the absence of evidence in crime scene techniques. Do you recall that?

165 DR. LEE:

Yes.

166 MR. SCHECK:

And--

167 MR. GOLDBERG:

Misstates the testimony, motion to strike.

168 THE COURT:

Overruled.

169 MR. SCHECK:

You mentioned in your chart before something known as "Recognition."

170 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, if counsel is not going to ask questions, may we--

171 THE COURT:

Overruled.

172 MR. GOLDBERG:

--ask him about the chart, the witness should be allowed to take the witness stand.

173 THE COURT:

Overruled.

174 MR. SCHECK:

You recall your discussion before on cross-examination about recognition?

175 DR. LEE:

Yes.

176 MR. SCHECK:

And collection, preservation, documentation?

177 DR. LEE:

That's correct.

178 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Now, in terms of the absence of evidence, if imprints are not recognized, documented, preserved and collected by criminalists, does that mean they are not there?

179 MR. GOLDBERG:

Beyond the scope, argumentative.

180 THE COURT:

Overruled.

181 DR. LEE:

No. They're not--definite not means not there. Maybe presence. However, lack of documentation, enhancement or collection, nothing I can do about.

182 MR. GOLDBERG:

Motion to strike the last part of his answer.

183 THE COURT:

Overruled.

184 MR. SCHECK:

Now, with respect to the imprints on the envelope and the piece of paper, you were asked some questions on cross-examination about cuffs and fabric. Do you recall that?

185 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

186 MR. SCHECK:

Now, you examined Mr. Goldman's boots?

187 DR. LEE:

Yes.

188 MR. SCHECK:

Could Mr. Goldman's boots be the source of the parallel line imprints?

189 MR. GOLDBERG:

Asked and answered, beyond the scope.

190 THE COURT:

Overruled.

191 MR. SCHECK:

Mr. Goldman's shirt, could that be the source of the parallel line imprints?

192 MR. GOLDBERG:

Asked and answered, beyond the scope.

193 THE COURT:

It was asked and answered once before, counsel.

194 MR. SCHECK:

I'm sorry?

195 THE COURT:

We did--we have that question and answer in the record already.

196 MR. SCHECK:

I understand that. But this is redirect examination based on fabrics.

197 THE COURT:

All right. It's already there. It's redundant.

198 MR. SCHECK:

You can say that about--this is redirect. You can say that about everything.

199 THE COURT:

Proceed. Proceed.

200 MR. SCHECK:

All right. You were asked about fabrics making imprints. You recall that on cross-examination?

201 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

202 MR. SCHECK:

Is there any fabric that you found at the crime scene that could have made the imprints on the envelope and the piece of paper?

203 MR. GOLDBERG:

Asked and answered.

204 THE COURT:

Overruled.

205 DR. LEE:

No. I did not observe any similar pattern.

206 MR. SCHECK:

And in answer--and in cross-examination, you were asked about fabrics making such an imprint and you said something about the necessity in these imprints on the envelope and the piece of paper for direct contact and a certain amount of force and no movement. Do you recall that?

207 MR. GOLDBERG:

Leading.

208 THE COURT:

Overruled.

209 DR. LEE:

Yes, I do recall.

210 MR. SCHECK:

Could you please explain that answer to the jury?

211 DR. LEE:

In order to get this transfer, first thing on the surface, have to have liquid blood, a pattern and the amount has to be just right (Indicating). Something has to be--have similar pattern which have to apply to the surface with certain pressure. I did not see any movement. In other words, it's not the smear. It has to be direct application with certain pressure just like when you stamp something.

212 MR. SCHECK:

I think we're finished with this board. Now, Dr. Lee, you were asked certain questions on cross-examination about DNA testing. Do you recall those?

213 DR. LEE:

DNA?

214 MR. SCHECK:

DNA.

215 DR. LEE:

Yes.

216 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, is there a--are there correct ways to do DNA testing and incorrect ways to do DNA testing?

217 DR. LEE:

Yes.

218 MR. SCHECK:

All right. And if DNA--if DNA testing is done properly in your opinion with RFLP and PCR, can it be reliable evidence?

219 DR. LEE:

That's my position all the time. DNA, if do properly, correctly, should be used as evidence.

220 MR. SCHECK:

All right. If done improperly, can it be unreliable?

221 DR. LEE:

If done--

222 MR. GOLDBERG:

Beyond the scope.

223 THE COURT:

Overruled.

224 DR. LEE:

If done improperly, then should not be used.

KEY QUOTE
225 MR. SCHECK:

You were asked questions about forensic scientists, molecular biologists and having a say as to proper DNA methods. Do you recall those questions?

226 DR. LEE:

Yes.

227 MR. SCHECK:

And you said that forensic scientists should have a say on the methods that are used for the forensic application of DNA testing.

228 MR. GOLDBERG:

Misstates the testimony, leading.

229 THE COURT:

Overruled.

230 DR. LEE:

Well, as a forensic scientist, definite any--

231 THE COURT:

Hold on. Hold on. Dr. Lee, the question was, do you recall that testimony.

232 DR. LEE:

Yes.

233 THE COURT:

All right. Next question.

234 MR. SCHECK:

And you were asked--and you were asked about--well let me ask you, in terms of--is it your opinion--what is your opinion about forensic scientists and whether they should have a say in terms of what are the proper methods for doing DNA testing?

235 DR. LEE:

What I'm saying, as a forensic scientist, we're the one conduct the testing. We're the one look at the sample. We're the one evaluate the sample. So, therefore, as a forensic scientist, we should have some say in a committee, in national meeting, international meeting determine the procedure, the method and the type of analysis we perform. As a forensic scientist, we should have some say in. That shouldn't be just by other view of expert to dictate what we have to do.

236 MR. SCHECK:

And in terms of the role of molecular geneticists and population geneticists who are from clinical testing and academia, do they have a role as well?

237 DR. LEE:

They all have certain role. Even attorneys also have the certain roles in the DNA applications.

238 MR. SCHECK:

And the NRC panel in which you served had representatives from all these groups?

239 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

240 MR. SCHECK:

Now, you were shown a picture that's 596 on cross-examination of the socks in Mr. Simpson's bedroom. Do you recall that?

241 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

242 MR. SCHECK:

And you indicated that that was the best quality photograph you had been able to see prior to this occasion.

243 DR. LEE:

Yes. That's an excellent photo.

244 MR. SCHECK:

See any blood on those socks, Dr. Lee?

245 MR. GOLDBERG:

Objection.

246 THE COURT:

Overruled.

247 MR. GOLDBERG:

Calls for speculation.

248 THE COURT:

Overruled.

249 DR. LEE:

I can not determine any bloodstain on there or not.

250 MR. GOLDBERG:

I didn't hear the last part of the answer.

251 THE COURT:

He said he cannot determine any bloodstain on there or not.

252 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, you know Professor Herbert MacDonell?

253 DR. LEE:

Yes.

254 MR. SCHECK:

And what is your opinion of his expertise?

255 MR. GOLDBERG:

Beyond the scope.

256 THE COURT:

Sustained.

257 MR. SCHECK:

You were asked questions on cross-examination about Professor MacDonell and interpretations of the stains found on the sock.

258 DR. LEE:

Yes.

259 MR. SCHECK:

And what is your opinion of Professor MacDonell and his expertise in the area of bloodstain interpretation?

260 MR. GOLDBERG:

Beyond the scope.

261 THE COURT:

Overruled.

262 DR. LEE:

He have a great amount of experience and did lot of experiment in the past, publish a book involving interpretation of the bloodstain analysis.

263 MR. SCHECK:

And did you examine the socks with Professor MacDonell?

264 DR. LEE:

Uh, yes, we did.

265 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Did you see the red balls depicted in photo micrographs that he testified about?

266 DR. LEE:

Yes.

267 MR. SCHECK:

Did you take those pictures?

268 DR. LEE:

I took those pictures.

269 MR. SCHECK:

Do you agree with the testimony of Professor MacDonell that in terms of the mode of transfer, which I believe was the form of the question on cross-examination, that this--the mode of transfer here with respect to the ankle stain on the sock was side 2 having come into contact with side 3?

270 MR. GOLDBERG:

Misstates the testimony. Also calls for speculation, no foundation.

271 THE COURT:

Overruled. Overruled.

272 DR. LEE:

Yes.

273 MR. SCHECK:

Now, you were asked some questions on cross-examination about hair and trace evidence in the soil exemplar and other samples. Do you recall those?

274 DR. LEE:

That's correct.

275 MR. SCHECK:

And you recall some testimony, some questions on cross-examination about hair and trace evidence in the jury box?

276 DR. LEE:

Yes.

277 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, if one were to drop a garment of some sort into the jury box area, would it be likely that hair and trace from some members of the jury panel might adhere to that garment if collected later?

278 MR. GOLDBERG:

Calls for speculation, beyond the scope.

279 THE COURT:

Overruled.

280 DR. LEE:

In theory, if have a transfer, have a contact, if the receiving surface and deposit surface both have hair or fiber, now you have a cross-transfer.

281 MR. SCHECK:

Now, you were asked some questions with respect to linkage. Do you recall those, four-way linkage?

282 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

283 MR. SCHECK:

Now, in terms of trace evidence and linkage, does the integrity of the evidence collection have some importance in terms of forming links in that four-way linkage diagram?

284 MR. GOLDBERG:

Vague as to integrity of evidence.

285 THE COURT:

Overruled.

286 DR. LEE:

Yes.

287 MR. SCHECK:

What do you mean by that?

288 DR. LEE:

If those trace evidence was not preserved properly, collect properly, things can missing, things can get cross-contaminated, a false linkage may be result.

KEY QUOTE
289 MR. SCHECK:

And in terms of problems in recognition, preservation, collection and documentation, if there is contamination of evidence or failure to recognize evidence, can that affect that four-way linkage?

290 MR. GOLDBERG:

Vague, your Honor.

291 THE COURT:

Overruled.

292 DR. LEE:

Yes.

293 MR. SCHECK:

And if some links in that four-way linkage--withdrawn. If some evidence is not even genuine, can that affect the four-way linkage?

294 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, I object. That's argumentative.

295 THE COURT:

Sustained.

296 MR. SCHECK:

Can we have the boot?

297 THE COURT:

Mr. Harris, which exhibit is this?

298 MR. HARRIS:

It's not marked.

299 MR. GOLDBERG:

I think it was a People's exhibit.

300 MR. SCHECK:

Did you use this picture, Hank? Your Honor, this is a series of three photographs that I thought was shown to the witness on cross-examination.

301 THE COURT:

Yes, it was.

302 MR. SCHECK:

But apparently--

303 DR. LEE:

May I step down?

304 THE COURT:

Mrs. Robertson.

305 MS. CLARK:

594.

306 MR. SCHECK:

We have that as 594.

307 THE COURT:

All right. 594. Dr. Lee.

308 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Dr. Lee, you were asked some questions with respect to these cuts on the boot. Do you recall those?

309 DR. LEE:

Yes.

310 MR. SCHECK:

And you were given some hypothetical about riding bicycles or reclining in chairs, things of that nature. Do you recall that?

311 DR. LEE:

Yes.

312 MR. SCHECK:

Well, first, let me ask you, pointing to the photograph on the upper left-hand side of that cut, was that made with a sharp instrument?

313 DR. LEE:

Yes.

314 MR. GOLDBERG:

Calls for speculation.

315 THE COURT:

Overruled.

316 MR. GOLDBERG:

Also asked and answered.

317 THE COURT:

Overruled.

318 MR. SCHECK:

Is that in your opinion a fresh cut?

319 DR. LEE:

Yes.

320 MR. GOLDBERG:

Asked and answered, beyond the scope.

321 THE COURT:

We have gone through this already.

322 MR. SCHECK:

What is the relationship between--if any, that you can see between the damage caused by one we'll call, left-hand photograph, the penetrating cut and the damage on the other boot?

323 MR. GOLDBERG:

Speculation. No foundation.

324 THE COURT:

Overruled.

325 DR. LEE:

These two damage are different. This one and this one are different type of damage (Indicating).

326 MR. SCHECK:

What are the differences?

327 DR. LEE:

This is a definitive and sharp. A piece of a rubber-like material separate, disappear right on surface. This one is much superficial, being a slightly wavy pattern. Debris appears to form into this wiggly pattern. Here no debris can be observed. So the fourth slice, this much greater force sharper instrument (Indicating).

328 MR. SCHECK:

And is there any question you were asked on cross-examination that changes your opinion that this is a fresh cut with a sharp instrument?

329 DR. LEE:

No. Will not change my observation.

330 MR. SCHECK:

Thank you.

331 THE COURT:

Mr. Harris.

332 MR. SCHECK:

You were asked some questions about the Bruno Magli--what has been identified as a bruin Magli shoeprint, correct?

333 MR. GOLDBERG:

Actually it was a--misstates the testimony.

334 THE COURT:

Overruled.

335 MR. SCHECK:

Now, and in the course of your answers, you were discussing the need for side-by-side comparisons. Do you remember those answers on cross-examination?

336 DR. LEE:

Yes.

337 MR. SCHECK:

Could you please explain that?

338 DR. LEE:

If we see an imprint at the scene, you will recognize, see the imprint. If we document that, now we have an imprint evidence. That call a quashing evidence. We don't know where it come from. We can identify, say this is a Bruno Magli or Reebok or converse. That's called identification, or after our shoes, that's called identification. Now, you need a known shoes to compare side by side. That's called comparison. When we compare side by side, not only to look at the size, dimension, pattern. Those call general characteristic. Just give you a general thing just like you--at the scene, you see a fingerprint. That's a general characteristic, a fingerprint. To establish individualization, you need a known fingerprint from somebody to make a comparison, either the same or they're different. So for an imprint evidence made of a shoe, we need a shoe to compare side by side. And if we can link that shoe to that imprint, then that called a chief individualization.

339 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, you were asked some questions on cross-examination with respect to the transfer stains on the bindle from item 47. Do you recall those?

340 DR. LEE:

Yes.

341 MR. SCHECK:

And you were also asked some questions about some charts that appear in a publication entitled experiments and practical exercise in bloodstain pattern analysis by labor, Epstein--labor and Epstein. Do you recall that?

342 DR. LEE:

Yes.

343 MR. SCHECK:

Your Honor, I don't know if Mr. Goldberg marked these. I know he showed them to the witness. If not, I'll mark them. I don't know what--

344 THE COURT:

I don't recollect they were marked.

345 MR. GOLDBERG:

Wasn't marked.

346 MR. SCHECK:

Was not marked? All right. Then I would like to mark these Defendant's next in order.

347 THE COURT:

1363.

348 MR. SCHECK:

1363?

349 THE COURT:

1363.

350 DR. LEE:

1363.

351 MR. SCHECK:

Thank you. I thought he--it's the hearing that goes first; is that--

352 (Deft's 1363 for id = documents)
353 MR. SCHECK:

May I approach the witness, your Honor?

354 THE COURT:

You may.

355 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, are you familiar with this study of drying times?

356 DR. LEE:

Yes.

357 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Mr. Goldberg asked you about drying times with different kinds of materials under different conditions. Do you recall that?

358 DR. LEE:

Yes.

359 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Now, on this study are a series of experiments performed for different amounts of blood.

360 DR. LEE:

Yes.

361 MR. SCHECK:

One being a single drop, one being one milliliter of blood, one being five milliliters of blood, one being a hundred milliliters of blood.

362 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

363 MR. SCHECK:

And then there are a series of materials listed on the chart; is that correct?

364 DR. LEE:

That's correct.

365 MR. SCHECK:

And out of the materials listed, which one would be the most comparable to the swatches at issue in this case?

366 MR. GOLDBERG:

Objection. Calls for speculation.

367 THE COURT:

Overruled.

368 DR. LEE:

Cotton cloth.

369 MR. SCHECK:

Now, what are the drying times for a single drop of blood under the three different conditions for cotton cloth?

370 MR. GOLDBERG:

Asked and answered.

371 THE COURT:

Overruled.

372 DR. LEE:

It says condition 1, 55 minute, condition 2, 50 minute, condition 3, 350 minute.

373 MR. SCHECK:

All right. And 350 minutes would be?

374 DR. LEE:

Approximately six, seven, six some hours.

375 MR. SCHECK:

And--

376 DR. LEE:

Six--little under six hours.

377 MR. SCHECK:

Okay. Now, in terms of this experiment, what is condition 3? What set--in terms of temperature, humidity what is condition 3?

378 DR. LEE:

Condition 3 appear in this handout, laboratory cold with good air movement, temperature 38 degree Fahrenheit plus minus .1 degree, relative humidity, 80 percent plus minus 6 percent.

379 MR. SCHECK:

Well, in plain English, is that a cold, damp room?

380 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

381 MR. SCHECK:

Is that something close to precipitation?

382 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

383 MR. SCHECK:

Now, what about condition 1 and condition 2?

384 DR. LEE:

Condition 1 says laboratory work table which no more room, air circulation, temperature, 75 degree Fahrenheit plus minus 2 degree, relative humidity, 44 percent plus minus 2 percent.

385 MR. SCHECK:

Would that be what would be ordinarily referred to as room temperature in a laboratory?

386 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

387 MR. SCHECK:

And what is condition 2?

388 DR. LEE:

Condition 2, it says drying hood with good air movement, temperature, 76 degree Fahrenheit plus minus 2 degree, relative humidity, 44 percent plus minus 2 percent.

389 MR. SCHECK:

So for a single drop of blood then under condition 1 which described as normal room temperature, the findings of labor and Epstein is the drying time is 55 minutes?

390 DR. LEE:

Yeah. Under one hour.

391 MR. GOLDBERG:

Misstates the testimony, leading.

392 THE COURT:

Overruled.

393 MR. SCHECK:

And under condition 2, it's 50 minutes?

394 DR. LEE:

Yeah. Only 50 minutes. 50, not 15. Five zero.

395 MR. SCHECK:

Five zero. And is it your understanding that each of the Bundy blood drops is a single drop?

396 MR. GOLDBERG:

No foundation, calls for speculation.

397 THE COURT:

Sustained.

398 MR. SCHECK:

Based on photographs that you've seen, the so-called items 47, 48, 49, 50 and 52, based on the photographs, what do they appear to be?

399 MR. GOLDBERG:

No foundation, calls for speculation.

400 THE COURT:

Sustained. Sustained.

401 MR. SCHECK:

How many drops are there in a milliliter?

402 MR. GOLDBERG:

Irrelevant.

403 THE COURT:

Overruled.

404 DR. LEE:

Can be a lot of drops. And let's say we use a .005 as a norm. Of course, it's variable. It's a wide range from little drop, big drop as I demonstrate to you before. Let's say we assume a norm .05 cc. That's almost 20 drops.

405 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, finally, you were asked some questions about the closed-in area of the Bundy crime scene, the absence of evidence and bloodstain patterns on cross-examination. Do you recall those?

406 DR. LEE:

Yes.

407 MR. SCHECK:

Do you recall that chart with the red tape you were asked to connect lines to?

408 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

409 MR. SCHECK:

And you recall the four and a half foot by five foot partial rectangle?

410 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

411 MR. SCHECK:

Okay. Now, first of all, that is--that description is sort of like part of a baseball diamond insofar as it's just two parts of the rectangle, correct?

412 DR. LEE:

I don't play that much baseball. I don't know baseball diamond.

KEY QUOTE
413 MR. SCHECK:

Well, let me ask you this, Dr. Lee. In a closed environment, closed-in environment with hand-to-hand combat, with multiple stab wounds, with blood stains in different places indicating multiple contact smears with vertical droplets in the areas of the different multiple contact smears, with other blood spatter cast off in different directions, with the key in one area, beeper in another area, in that kind of struggle, do you have an opinion as to whether or not an assailant or assailants would be covered with blood from the struggle?

414 MR. GOLDBERG:

Misstates the testimony, calls for speculation.

415 THE COURT:

Overruled.

416 MR. GOLDBERG:

Incomplete hypothetical.

417 THE COURT:

Overruled.

418 DR. LEE:

Yes.

419 MR. SCHECK:

What is that opinion?

420 DR. LEE:

In theory, should have some blood.

KEY QUOTE
421 MR. SCHECK:

Finally, Dr. Lee, in terms of the fact that you found imprint evidence on the envelope, piece of paper, Mr. Goldman's jeans, places on the Bundy walkway, the fact that you found it, does that mean it wasn't there on June 13th?

422 MR. GOLDBERG:

Argumentative.

423 THE COURT:

Compound.

424 MR. SCHECK:

Compound?

425 THE COURT:

It's compound.

426 MR. SCHECK:

Well, let's talk about the wet transfer stains on bindle 47. Did you see anything in LAPD records indicating that there was a wet transfer on the item 47 bindle?

427 DR. LEE:

No.

428 MR. SCHECK:

Does the fact that it was not recorded on the LAPD notations mean that it wasn't there?

429 MR. GOLDBERG:

Assumes facts not in evidence.

430 THE COURT:

Sustained.

431 MR. SCHECK:

Dr. Lee, there--you made the distinction between scientific fact and interpretation.

432 DR. LEE:

Yes, sir.

433 MR. SCHECK:

Any question in your mind that the existence of that wet transfer is a scientific fact?

434 DR. LEE:

That's correct. It's definitive. That's scientific fact.

435 MR. SCHECK:

Is there any question in your mind that the blood swatches such as we have in this case after three hours should be dry?

436 MR. GOLDBERG:

Calls for speculation, conjecture, no foundation.

437 THE COURT:

Overruled.

438 DR. LEE:

Under normal condition, should dry.

439 MR. SCHECK:

If swatches were placed into a bindle something less than three hours, maybe between an hour to three hours, might they leave damp wet transfer stains?

440 DR. LEE:

Could have been.

441 MR. SCHECK:

Are you familiar with the testimony of Miss Mazzola and Mr. Fung, that the swatches that they took out of test tubes were dry?

442 MR. GOLDBERG:

Asked and answered, argumentative, misstates the testimony, no foundation.

443 THE COURT:

Overruled.

444 DR. LEE:

Yes.

445 MR. SCHECK:

Now, Dr. Lee, you said at the end of your direct examination that as far as you were concerned, the existence of those wet transfers meant that something was wrong.

446 DR. LEE:

I recall last week I did say that.

447 MR. SCHECK:

All right. Anything that has been asked of you in cross-examination that's changed your opinion about that?

448 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, I'm going to object because that's not a forensic opinion. Motion to strike.

449 THE COURT:

Overruled.

450 DR. LEE:

My opinion still remain the same.

KEY QUOTE
451 MR. SCHECK:

Thank you.

452 THE COURT:

Mr. Goldberg.

RECROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. GOLDBERG

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (5)

Dr. Henry Lee
My opinion still remain the same.
Lee's closing statement reaffirming that the wet transfer stains on the item 47 bindle meant 'something was wrong' — the central defense implication of planted or mishandled evidence — survived cross-examination unchanged.
Dr. Henry Lee
If done improperly, then should not be used.
Lee's clean formulation on DNA: proper DNA is reliable, improper DNA is not — directly supporting the defense theory that LAPD lab's methods were flawed.
Dr. Henry Lee
In theory, should have some blood.
Lee opined that in a struggle like the one at Bundy — multiple stab wounds, hand-to-hand combat, blood everywhere — an assailant would have blood on them, supporting the defense argument that the absence of blood evidence on Simpson was suspicious.
Dr. Henry Lee
I don't play that much baseball. I don't know baseball diamond.
Lee's deadpan response when Scheck used a baseball diamond analogy for the crime scene geometry — a moment of levity that also deflected a leading question.
Dr. Henry Lee
If those trace evidence was not preserved properly, collect properly, things can missing, things can get cross-contaminated, a false linkage may be result.
Lee directly tied evidence handling failures to the possibility of false forensic linkages — the core defense challenge to the prosecution's trace evidence narrative.

Evidence (14)

People's 595-A
Printout of evidence envelope with yellow circle around a dot
marked for identification
People's 598-C-1
Printout of prints on second and third tiles
marked for identification
Defense 1339
Board titled 'Imprint evidence at Bundy, imprint evidence on Mr. Goldman's blue jeans' showing imprints 1, 2, 3
discussed; Lee confirmed imprints are scientific fact
Defense 1338
Four photographs of imprints on paper and envelope
discussed
Defense 1338-A
Photograph of piece of paper with blue 'PLP' markings
discussed
Defense 1338-B
Envelope with blue 'PLP' markings
discussed
+ 8 more

Notable Exchanges (4)

Barry ScheckLance A. Ito
Scheck repeatedly attempted to elicit testimony about enhancement techniques (o-tolidine, photography methods) that could have revealed more imprint evidence. Ito sustained objections each time, drawing a firm line that this was beyond cross-examination scope. Scheck pushed back: 'You can say that about everything' regarding redundancy rulings on redirect.
frustrated/strategic
Barry ScheckDr. Henry Lee
Scheck walked Lee through the Labor and Epstein drying time study to establish that single drops of blood on cotton dry in 50-55 minutes under normal conditions — implying the wet transfers on the bindle prove swatches were packaged while still wet, raising contamination or planting implications.
methodical/strategic
Barry ScheckDr. Henry Lee
Lee explained the forensic science behind why blood imprints become more visible over time (protein oxidation/denaturation darkens the deposit relative to background), directly addressing cross-examination suggesting imprints seen June 25th may not have existed June 13th.
educational/rehabilitative
Barry ScheckDr. Henry Lee
Final questions confirming Lee's opinion that the wet transfers on bindle 47 meant 'something was wrong' — the dramatic conclusion of his direct — remained unchanged by anything raised on cross-examination.
decisive/dramatic

Light Moments (3)

Dr. Henry Lee
When Scheck used a baseball diamond analogy to describe the partial rectangle at the crime scene, Lee replied: 'I don't play that much baseball. I don't know baseball diamond.'
Barry Scheck
Scheck objected to his own question mid-examination: 'Calls for speculation, your Honor' — apparently catching himself before Goldberg could.
Hank Goldberg
When Scheck asked about a removable sticker for the exhibit, Goldberg expressed concern about obliterating the exhibit, then backed off immediately when told it was a removable post-it type marker.

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ LAPD criminalists (Mazzola/Fung)
prior testimony inconsistency / evidence handling critique
Scheck elicited from Lee that Mazzola and Fung testified the swatches taken from test tubes were dry, while Lee's scientific opinion is that under normal conditions a single drop dries in under an hour — implying swatches placed into the bindle wet (producing the wet transfer) contradict the LAPD account.

Witness Demeanor

(Brief pause.) — noted twice during examination
Lee repeatedly stepped down from the witness stand to indicate locations on exhibit boards
Lee corrected Scheck's reading of the drying time: 'Only 50 minutes. 50, not 15. Five zero.' — precise and insistent on accuracy

Objections

52 objections (14 sustained, 35 overruled)
Proceeding 7451 • 452 utterances • Defense witness
Criminal Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 AUG 28, 1995 📄 Redirect examination of Dr. He
AUG 28, 1995 KRT DvH TD