Day 21 — Friday, February 17, 1995

Defense Intensely Challenges Evidence Handling as New Detective Takes Stand

Judge Lance A. Ito • Criminal Trial • 24 proceedings • 2450 lines

Appearing:

🛡️ Johnnie Cochran 👮 Det. Ronald Phillips 🏛️ Marcia Clark ⚖️ Lance A. Ito 👮 Det. Tom Lange 🏛️ Christopher Darden 🏛️ Jonathan Fairtlough 🛡️ Robert Shapiro 🛡️ F. Lee Bailey 🛡️ Barry Scheck 🏛️ William Hodgman

tense

The day featured the defense's systematic assault on Detective Ronald Phillips's testimony, with Johnnie Cochran methodically challenging evidence handling, chain of custody procedures, and police protocols—particularly regarding glove discovery at Rockingham and crime scene integrity at Bundy. Marcia Clark conducted redirects attempting to rehabilitate Phillips's credibility on coroner procedures and OJ Simpson's emotional phone response, while Cochran conducted a focused recross. After Phillips's lengthy examination concluded, Detective Tom Lange was sworn in as the prosecution's next key witness and began describing his initial crime scene observations. Significant procedural disputes erupted over DNA evidence storage and glove handling, with Scheck arguing that sealed plastic bags violated LAPD regulations and degraded DNA and Cochran separately raising concerns about Clark's handling of the gloves.

Cochran's cross-examination established that Fuhrman informed Phillips of the glove before lead detectives Lange and Vannatter.
Defense used a crime scene photograph showing eight identified individuals at Bundy to argue that the scene was crowded and potentially compromised.
Scheck objected at sidebar to blood evidence being stored in sealed plastic bags, arguing that this violated LAPD regulations and degraded DNA; Cochran separately raised concerns about glove handling at counsel table.
Clark acknowledged turning gloves inside-out at counsel table during examination.
Multiple redirect and recross exchanges contested shoe photography procedures, coroner notification timing, and evidence documentation.
Defense raised sidebar concern about Juror 602 staring blankly for 25 minutes.
Detective Tom Lange sworn in and described initial crime scene observations including glove, stocking cap, and shoeprints.
Fraudulent subpoena bearing name 'Jill Shively' and referencing 'Kato Investigation' discovered circulating in media.
Juror 98 excused to attend family funeral in St. Louis with sheriff escort.
After the jury was dismissed, counsel addressed repackaging the gloves and ski cap into proper containers.

administrative Morning session opening 3 lines
administrative Administrative matters: media and procedure 🎞️ 45 lines
administrative Jury return and oath 🎞️ 8 lines
witness examination Cross-examination of Ronald Phillips (part 1) 🎞️ 823 lines
witness examination Cross-examination of Ronald Phillips (part 2) 🎞️ 131 lines
administrative Recess 🎞️ 4 lines
administrative Court back on record 🎞️ 6 lines
witness examination Cross-examination of Ronald Phillips (part 3) 🎞️ 61 lines
witness examination Redirect examination of Ronald Phillips (part 1) 🎞️ 545 lines
administrative Off-the-record discussion 🎞️ 7 lines
sidebar Sidebar: juror demeanor 🎞️ 6 lines
witness examination Redirect examination of Ronald Phillips (part 2) 🎞️ 41 lines
witness examination Recross-examination of Ronald Phillips 🎞️ 200 lines
witness examination Redirect examination of Ronald Phillips (part 3) 🎞️ 10 lines
witness examination Cross-examination of Ronald Phillips (part 4) 🎞️ 8 lines
administrative Tom Lange sworn 🎞️ 8 lines
witness examination Direct examination of Tom Lange (part 1) 🎞️ 371 lines
sidebar Sidebar: DNA protocols 🎞️ 16 lines
witness examination Direct examination of Tom Lange (part 2) 🎞️ 45 lines
sidebar Sidebar: evidence packaging 9 lines
administrative Juror called to bench 2 lines
sidebar Sidebar: juror 98 28 lines
jury instruction Jury instructions: weekend recess 🎞️ 2 lines
administrative Closing remarks 🎞️ 70 lines

Day 21 • 24 proceedings • 2450 lines

Criminal Trial

Department 103