Direct examination of Det. Tom Lange (part 2)

📄 Direct examination of Det. Tom Lange (part 2) — Tuesday, February 21, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\FEB\21\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-DET-TOM-.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 22 of 167

◀ Testing protocol Sidebar: Denise Brown statement ▶

Witness: Det. Tom Lange
Examiner: Marcia Clark
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Tuesday, February 21, 1995 • Utterances: 199

Marcia Clark continues her direct examination of Detective Tom Lange, walking him through the early morning hours of June 13, 1994 at Rockingham. Lange describes how the detectives interacted with Kato Kaelin and Arnelle Simpson, entered the Rockingham estate, searched for OJ Simpson's whereabouts, and ultimately made death notifications — first to Arnelle in person, then by phone to the Brown family in Dana Point.

# 1 (THE FOLLOWING PROCEEDINGS WERE HELD IN OPEN COURT, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE JURY:)

# 2 THE COURT:

THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. BE SEATED. LET THE RECORD REFLECT WE'VE NOW BEEN REJOINED BY ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR JURY PANEL. DETECTIVE TOM LANGE IS STILL ON THE WITNESS STAND ON DIRECT EXAMINATION. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, DETECTIVE LANGE. YOU ARE REMINDED THAT YOU ARE STILL UNDER OATH.

# 3 DET. TOM LANGE:

YES, YOUR HONOR.

# 4 THE COURT:

MISS CLARK, YOU MAY CONTINUE WITH YOUR DIRECT EXAMINATION.

# 5 MS. CLARK:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

# 6 Q:

BY MS. CLARK: NOW, DETECTIVE LANGE, I BELIEVE YOU INDICATED THAT YOU HAD JUST MADE CONTACT WITH KATO KAELIN AND THAT SOMEONE HAD ASKED WHO HE WAS AND HE GAVE HIS IDENTITY, HIS NAME TO YOU?

# 7 A:

YES. THAT WAS DETECTIVE FUHRMAN THAT WAS SPEAKING WITH KAELIN.

# 8 Q:

NOW, AT THAT TIME, DID ANY OF YOU ASK HIM WHERE THE DEFENDANT WAS?

# 9 A:

I BELIEVE PHILLIPS ASKED SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT AND KATO DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A RESPONSE. HE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW, DIDN'T APPEAR TO KNOW.

# 10 Q:

DID HE -- DID KATO ASK YOU WHY YOU WERE THERE?

# 11 A:

I DON'T RECALL HIM ASKING.

# 12 Q:

DID YOU TELL HIM WHY YOU WERE THERE?

# 13 A:

NO.

# 14 Q:

WHY NOT?

# 15 A:

I DIDN'T KNOW WHO KAELIN WAS. THE OTHER DETECTIVES DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS. HE WAS NOT A FAMILY MEMBER. WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE HIM IDENTIFIED PROPERLY. WE KNEW HIS NAME, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE HIM IDENTIFIED.

# 16 Q:

AND SO NOT HAVING HAD HIM IDENTIFIED, WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO TELL HIM WHY YOU WERE THERE?

# 17 A:

POSSIBLE SUSPECT.

# 18 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 19 A:

FUHRMAN SPOKE WITH KAELIN AND ASKED HIM IF HE WAS WEARING -- WHERE THE SHOES WERE HE WAS WEARING LAST NIGHT, SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT, IF HE COULD LOOK AT THEM, AND KAELIN STATED SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. AT THAT TIME, I BELIEVE IT WAS PHILLIPS WHO ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYONE ELSE IN THE AREA AND KAELIN STATED THAT ARNELLE WAS NEXT DOOR, INDICATING THAT THAT WAS MR. SIMPSON'S DAUGHTER.

# 20 Q:

SO KATO LET DETECTIVE FUHRMAN LOOK AT HIS SHOES?

# 21 A:

YES.

# 22 Q:

AND SO DID DETECTIVE FUHRMAN STEP INTO THE ROOM WITH MR. KAELIN?

# 23 A:

YES.

# 24 Q:

AT THAT POINT, WHAT DID THE THREE OF YOU DO?

# 25 A:

I WAS STILL OUT IN THE -- ON THE WALKWAY. PHILLIPS PROCEEDED DOWN THE WALKWAY TO THE NEXT ROOM OVER AND I WAS BEHIND HIM, AND PHILLIPS HAD KNOCKED ON THAT DOOR AND A SHORT TIME LATER ARNELLE SIMPSON APPEARED.

# 26 Q:

NOW, DURING THAT TIME, DETECTIVE FUHRMAN WAS WHERE?

# 27 A:

HE WAS IN KAELIN'S ROOM.

# 28 Q:

AND WAS THERE A CONVERSATION THAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN ARNELLE SIMPSON AND ONE OF THE DETECTIVES?

# 29 A:

YES. I BELIEVE INITIALLY WITH PHILLIPS AND THEN VANNATTER SHORTLY AFTER.

# 30 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, AT THAT POINT, DID ARNELLE SIMPSON ASK YOU ANY QUESTIONS?

# 31 A:

YES. SHE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING THERE, IF THERE WAS ANY PROBLEMS. SHE SEEMED TO ME TO BE CONCERNED BECAUSE OF OUR PRESENCE.

# 32 Q:

OKAY. DID DETECTIVE VANNATTER ASK HER ANY QUESTIONS?

# 33 A:

YES.

# 34 Q:

WHAT WAS THAT?

# 35 A:

ASKED IF HER FATHER, MR. SIMPSON, WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE.

# 36 Q:

AND WHAT WAS HER RESPONSE?

# 37 A:

SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, "ISN'T HE HERE?"

# 38 Q:

SHE ASKED HIM, "ISN'T HE HERE"?

# 39 A:

YES. YES.

# 40 Q:

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 41 A:

WE MOVED TOWARDS THE REAR AFTER ASKING ARNELLE IF SHE HAD A KEY TO THE LOCATION. SHE SAID SHE DID. I BELIEVE SHE RETURNED TO HER ROOM BRIEFLY AND GOT THE KEY AND CAME BACK OUT. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO THE REAR DOOR OF THE RESIDENCE WHERE SHE UNLOCKED THE DOOR AND WE ENTERED.

# 42 Q:

NOW, DID YOU TELL HER AT THAT POINT WHY YOU WERE THERE?

# 43 A:

NOT AT THAT POINT.

# 44 Q:

WHY NOT?

# 45 A:

WELL, WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WE HAD AT THAT POINT. I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HER TO MAINTAIN HERSELF EMOTIONALLY BEFORE WE TOLD HER ANYTHING BECAUSE WE MAY NEED HER COOPERATION AT A FUTURE TIME.

# 46 Q:

WHAT DO YOU MEAN "NEED HER COOPERATION AT A FUTURE TIME"?

# 47 A:

WELL, WE DIDN'T WANT HER TO -- WE WANTED HER TO BE -- TO HAVE IT TOGETHER ENOUGH TO TALK TO US REGARDING THE WHEREABOUTS OF HER FATHER CERTAINLY. WE DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WAS A VICTIM. AND I FELT BY TELLING HER THAT HER EX-STEPMOTHER WAS NOW DECEASED MIGHT BE A REAL PROBLEM FOR HER WHEN IN FACT WE DIDN'T KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF MR. SIMPSON AT THAT TIME.

# 48 Q:

OKAY. AND WHAT COULD -- WHAT DID YOU THINK SHE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH IF -- TRYING -- YOU WANTED TO MAINTAIN HER CALM AND COOPERATIVE, WHAT DID YOU THINK SHE WOULD HELP YOU WITH?

# 49 A:

LOCATING HER FATHER.

# 50 Q:

ANYTHING ELSE?

# 51 A:

BASICALLY IN LOCATING HER FATHER AND OTHER RELATIVES IF NEED BE.

# 52 Q:

OKAY. BY THE WAY, WERE YOU AWARE THAT THERE WERE TWO SMALL CHILDREN BEING HELD AT THE WEST L.A. POLICE STATION?

# 53 A:

YES.

# 54 Q:

AND DID YOU THINK SHE MIGHT HELP YOU IN THAT REGARD?

# 55 MR. COCHRAN:

LEADING AND SUGGESTIVE.

# 56 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 57 Q:

BY MS. CLARK: WERE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THOSE CHILDREN?

# 58 A:

CERTAINLY.

# 59 Q:

DID YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHT ABOUT WHO MIGHT HELP YOU WITH THAT?

# 60 MR. COCHRAN:

LEADING AND SUGGESTIVE.

# 61 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 62 DET. TOM LANGE:

CERTAINLY I FELT THAT ARNELLE SIMPSON OR SOMEONE SHE KNEW COULD HELP US WITH THAT, YES.

# 63 Q:

BY MS. CLARK: ALL RIGHT. WHEN YOU GOT IN THE HOUSE WITH HER, DID YOU ASK A QUESTION OF HER?

# 64 A:

I ASKED IF THERE WAS A HOUSEKEEPER ON THE PREMISES.

# 65 Q:

WHY DID YOU ASK THAT?

# 66 A:

BECAUSE WE HAD INFORMATION THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A HOUSEKEEPER ON THE PREMISES OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN A HOUSEKEEPER ON THE PREMISES AND I WANTED TO KNOW.

# 67 Q:

WERE YOU CONCERNED FOR SOME REASON IN THAT REGARD?

# 68 A:

I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE HOUSEKEEPER MAY BE SOME TYPE OF A VICTIM. I DIDN'T KNOW.

# 69 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT WHEN YOU ASKED ARNELLE IF THERE WAS A HOUSEKEEPER ON THE PREMISES?

# 70 A:

SHE STATED THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW, BUT THAT THERE WAS A HOUSEKEEPER.

# 71 Q:

DID SHE SAY SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A HOUSEKEEPER?

# 72 A:

SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ONE ON THE PREMISES. I ASKED HER WHERE THE HOUSEKEEPER'S ROOM WOULD BE. SHE POINTED OUT A LOCATION TO THE REAR OF THE KITCHEN, AND AT SOME POINT, I PROCEEDED OVER THERE AND WALKED INTO THAT ROOM, THE ROOM THAT SHE STATED BELONGED TO THE HOUSEKEEPER.

# 73 Q:

DID YOU ASK TO SEE THE ROOM?

# 74 A:

I ASKED -- YES. I ASKED WHERE IT WAS.

# 75 Q:

AND WAS THAT THE FIRST ROOM THAT YOU WENT TO LOOK INTO IN THE HOUSE?

# 76 A:

NO. I WALKED THROUGH THE REAR AREA, THE I GUESS THE REAR DEN AREA AND THROUGH A FORMAL DINING ROOM AND THROUGH THE KITCHEN, OUT A SHORT HALLWAY, AND TO THE LEFT OF THAT WAS THE HOUSEMAID'S ROOM.

# 77 Q:

NOW, WAS ARNELLE LEADING YOU THROUGH THE HOUSE?

# 78 A:

SHE WAS WITH ME MORE OR LESS IN THE FRONT. INITIALLY WHEN I ASKED THE LOCATION OF THE HOUSEMAID ROOM, SHE MORE OR LESS WALKED IN FRONT OF ME AND POINTED OUT THE WAY.

# 79 Q:

DID YOU THEN IMMEDIATELY GO AND LOOK IN THE ROOM?

# 80 A:

YES.

# 81 Q:

WHAT DID YOU SEE?

# 82 A:

THE BED WAS MADE. NOTHING LOOKED DISTURBED. NOTHING LOOKED OUT OF PLACE AND NO HOUSEMAID.

# 83 Q:

NO HOUSEMAID?

# 84 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 85 Q:

WHILE YOU LOOKED INTO THE MAID'S BEDROOM, WHERE WAS ARNELLE?

# 86 A:

ARNELLE WAS IN THE VICINITY OF THE KITCHEN.

# 87 Q:

AND WAS THERE SOMEONE WITH HER?

# 88 A:

DETECTIVE PHILLIPS WAS THERE AND I BELIEVE VANNATTER.

# 89 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 90 A:

DETECTIVE PHILLIPS WAS ENGAGED IN A CONVERSATION WITH ARNELLE REGARDING CONTACTING I BELIEVE MR. SIMPSON'S SECRETARY, CATHY RANDA, AND ARNELLE GOT THE PHONE NUMBER FOR CATHY RANDA AND PHONED HER.

# 91 Q:

NOW, DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, SIR, DID YOU HAPPEN TO SEE KATO KAELIN?

# 92 A:

NOT AT THIS -- AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. I BELIEVE HE WAS IN THE REAR WITH FUHRMAN, THE REAR OF THE RESIDENCE.

# 93 MR. COCHRAN:

MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST PART AS SPECULATIVE. HE HADN'T SEEN HIM. SPECULATIVE.

# 94 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 95 Q:

BY MS. CLARK: WHEN YOU SAY THE REAR OF THE RESIDENCE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

# 96 A:

IN THE VICINITY OF THE BAR.

# 97 Q:

UH-HUH. AND WHERE WAS DETECTIVE VANNATTER?

# 98 A:

PEOPLE WERE MOVING ABOUT QUITE A BIT. I BELIEVE HE WAS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE BAR AND THE KITCHEN.

# 99 Q:

NOW, WHILE YOU WERE STANDING DOWNSTAIRS THERE IN THE DOWNSTAIRS AREA, DID YOU ENGAGE IN A SEARCH OF THE LOCATION?

# 100 A:

NO.

# 101 Q:

DID YOU LOOK AROUND IN ANY MANNER? WERE YOU LOOKING, MAKING ANY OBSERVATIONS?

# 102 A:

I LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF ANYTHING MIGHT HAVE BEEN DISTURBED OR IF ANYONE WAS IN NEED OF ANYTHING.

# 103 Q:

DID YOU OPEN CLOSETS?

# 104 A:

NO.

# 105 Q:

OPEN DRAWERS?

# 106 A:

NO.

# 107 Q:

LOOK IN SHELVES?

# 108 A:

NO.

# 109 Q:

CHECK UNDER COUCHES OR UNDER TABLES?

# 110 A:

NO.

# 111 Q:

WHAT WERE YOU DOING?

# 112 A:

WE WERE TRYING TO CONTACT MR. SIMPSON. AT THAT POINT, WE HAD HAD INFORMATION THAT HE WAS PROBABLY OUT OF TOWN. AFTER CHECKING THE MAID'S QUARTERS, IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY PROBLEM IN THERE, SO I DIDN'T FEEL THAT THE MAID WAS NECESSARILY ON THE PREMISES.

# 113 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU EVER GO UPSTAIRS TO LOOK FOR THE DEFENDANT?

# 114 A:

NO.

# 115 Q:

WHY NOT?

# 116 A:

AGAIN, WE HAD RECEIVED INFORMATION THE DEFENDANT WAS IN CHICAGO.

# 117 Q:

DID YOU GET THAT INFORMATION SHORTLY AFTER YOU ENTERED THE HOUSE?

# 118 A:

YES.

# 119 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, YOU SAID THAT A PHONE CALL WAS MADE BY -- WHAT WAS IT -- BY ARNELLE?

# 120 A:

I BELIEVE ARNELLE PHONED CATHY RANDA, YES.

# 121 Q:

AND AFTER SHE MADE THAT PHONE CALL, WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 122 A:

I BELIEVE DETECTIVE PHILLIPS THEN TOOK THE PHONE AND HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CATHY RANDA.

# 123 Q:

AND WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 124 A:

HE ASCERTAINED A LOCATION WHICH WAS CHICAGO AND I BELIEVE A PHONE NUMBER.

# 125 Q:

NOW, AT THAT TIME, DID YOU SEE WHERE DETECTIVE VANNATTER WENT OR WHERE HE WAS?

# 126 A:

DETECTIVE VANNATTER SOME OF THAT TIME WAS BACK WITH FUHRMAN AND KAELIN NEAR THE BAR AREA.

# 127 Q:

DID THEY APPEAR TO BE HAVING A CONVERSATION?

# 128 A:

YES.

# 129 Q:

AT THE POINT THAT DETECTIVE PHILLIPS MADE THE PHONE CALL TO CHICAGO, WHAT DID YOU DO?

# 130 A:

I MORE OR LESS WALKED WITH ARNELLE, ATTEMPTED TO ESCORT HER AWAY FROM THE PHONE OUT TOWARDS THE SUN ROOM IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

# 131 Q:

WHY?

# 132 A:

I HAD DETERMINED AT THAT POINT THAT I WAS GOING TO TELL HER WHAT HAD HAPPENED. SHE WAS VERY INQUISITIVE AND BECOMING MORE AND MORE UPSET. I KNEW THAT PHILLIPS WAS GOING TO BE TALKING TO MR. SIMPSON, EXPLAIN TO HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND I FELT THIS WAS THE TIME THAT I SHOULD MAKE THIS NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE DEATH OF NICOLE SIMPSON.

# 133 Q:

SO DID YOU NOTIFY ARNELLE SIMPSON?

# 134 A:

YES.

# 135 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 136 A:

SHE BECAME EXTREMELY UPSET, EXTREMELY UPSET. SHE CALMED DOWN AFTER A LITTLE BIT TO THE POINT WHERE SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD CALL HER DAD'S BEST FRIEND AND HAVE HIM COME OVER TO THE HOUSE, A MR. A.C. COWLINGS, AND IF SHE COULD MAKE THAT CALL TO MR. COWLINGS FROM HER ROOM, AND I STATED, "YES, GO AHEAD AND DO THAT."

# 137 Q:

DID YOU ASK HER FOR ANY INFORMATION, SIR?

# 138 A:

NOT AT THAT TIME I DON'T BELIEVE.

# 139 Q:

DID YOU EVER ATTEMPT TO ASCERTAIN WHO ELSE -- WHO OTHER NEXT OF KIN MIGHT BE FOR NICOLE BROWN?

# 140 A:

SUBSEQUENT TO THAT I DID. I ASKED IF SHE WOULD HAVE ANY NAMES OR TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF ANY RELATIVES OF NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON.

# 141 Q:

AND WHEN WAS THAT IN RELATION TO WHEN SHE WENT TO CALL A.C. COWLINGS?

# 142 A:

I MAY BE MISTAKEN. I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AFTER OR MIGHT -- I DON'T RECALL. IT WAS BEFORE OR RIGHT AROUND THAT AREA.

# 143 Q:

I AM SORRY.

# 144 A:

RIGHT AROUND THAT TIME. I DON'T RECALL. THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. THERE WERE A LOT OF EMOTIONS, PEOPLE MOVING IN AND OUT. I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY WHEN THAT WAS. IT WAS JUST BEFORE SHE MADE THE CALL TO COWLINGS OR JUST AFTER.

# 145 Q:

BUT RIGHT IN THAT TIME, EITHER JUST BEFORE OR JUST AFTER?

# 146 A:

WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES I BELIEVE, YES.

# 147 Q:

OKAY. AND -- SO WHEN YOU ASKED FOR SOME IDENTIFICATION OF SOME OTHER NEXT OF KIN FOR NICOLE BROWN, DID SHE GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION?

# 148 A:

YES. SHE STATED THAT THE BROWN FAMILY, NICOLE'S FAMILY RESIDED IN I BELIEVE DANA POINT AND THAT SHE HAD A PHONE NUMBER.

# 149 Q:

AND DID YOU --

# 150 A:

I AM SORRY.

# 151 Q:

DID YOU TAKE IT?

# 152 A:

YES.

# 153 Q:

NOW, AT THAT POINT, DID YOU HAVE ANY IDENTIFICATION YET ON THE OTHER VICTIM AT THE CRIME SCENE, RON GOLDMAN?

# 154 A:

NO.

# 155 Q:

HOW FAR WAS DANA POINT FROM WHERE YOU WERE LOCATED AT THAT TIME IN BRENTWOOD?

# 156 A:

DANA POINT WAS, IN MY ESTIMATION, PROBABLY 70, 70, 80 MILES AWAY.

# 157 Q:

SO WHAT DID YOU DO?

# 158 A:

I PHONED THE BROWN RESIDENCE.

# 159 Q:

AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE DID YOU PHONE HIM?

# 160 A:

TO MAKE A NOTIFICATION OF THE DEATH OF NICOLE SIMPSON.

# 161 Q:

AND WHAT PHONE DID YOU USE TO DO THAT FROM?

# 162 A:

I USED THE KITCHEN PHONE.

# 163 MS. CLARK:

MAY I HAVE A MOMENT, YOUR HONOR?

# 164 THE COURT:

YES.

# 165 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)

# 166 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND DEFENSE COUNSEL.)

# 167 MS. CLARK:

MAY I APPROACH, YOUR HONOR?

# 168 THE COURT:

YOU MAY.

# 169 Q:

BY MS. CLARK: SHOWING YOU TELEPHONE RECORDS, SIR, FROM GTE -- FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE PHONE NUMBER THAT IS SHOWN AS THE NUMBER FOR WHICH THIS BILL IS ISSUED?

# 170 A:

YES. THAT APPEARS TO BE MR. SIMPSON'S PHONE NUMBER ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 13TH.

# 171 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S HIS PHONE BILL?

# 172 A:

YES.

# 173 Q:

AND DIRECTING YOUR ATTENTION NOW TO THE ENTRY FOR JUNE THE 13TH AT 6:21 A.M., DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE PHONE NUMBER THAT FOLLOWS THERE?

# 174 A:

YES. THAT APPEARS TO BE THE BROWN FAMILY RESIDENCE IN DANA POINT.

# 175 Q:

AND THE CALL LASTED FOR EIGHT MINUTES?

# 176 A:

YES.

# 177 Q:

NOW, WITH RESPECT TO THAT CALL, SIR -- FIRST OF ALL, WHAT'S THE POLICY FOR LAPD WITH RESPECT TO THE PREFERRED METHOD OF NOTIFICATION OF NEXT OF KIN WHEN A HOMICIDE HAS OCCURRED OR A DEATH HAS OCCURRED?

# 178 A:

FOR THE INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE TO NOTIFY IN PERSON.

# 179 Q:

BUT YOU DIDN'T DO THAT WITH THE BROWN'S?

# 180 A:

NO, I DIDN'T.

# 181 Q:

WHY NOT?

# 182 A:

I FELT THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, THERE WOULD BE IMMENSE MEDIA ATTENTION AND THAT ONCE THE INFORMATION WERE TO GET OUT THAT NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON WAS THE VICTIM OF A MURDER, THAT THEY COULD FIND OUT THROUGH THE MEDIA WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AND WHILE THE WAY I DID IT WAS INSENSITIVE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE INSENSITIVE FOR THEM TO FIND OUT THEIR DAUGHTER WAS MURDERED OVER THE TELEVISION.

KEY QUOTE

# 183 Q:

AND SO WHEN YOU CALLED, WHO DID YOU SPEAK TO?

# 184 A:

I SPOKE TO MR. LOU BROWN, VICTIM'S FATHER.

# 185 Q:

WAS ANYONE ELSE ON THE PHONE?

# 186 A:

SHORTLY AFTER I BEGAN TO SPEAK TO MR. BROWN, DENISE BROWN GOT ON THE APPARENTLY ANOTHER PHONE.

# 187 Q:

WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM?

# 188 A:

TOLD THEM WHO I WAS AND SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT I APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING TO DO THIS THIS WAY, BUT THAT THEIR DAUGHTER HAD BEEN KILLED.

# 189 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 190 A:

DENISE BROWN BEGAN TO --

# 191 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO ANY CONVERSATION. HEARSAY.

# 192 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 193 DET. TOM LANGE:

DENISE BROWN BEGAN TO SCREAM OVER THE PHONE WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE HYSTERICALLY.

KEY QUOTE

# 194 THE COURT:

NEXT QUESTION.

# 195 Q:

BY MS. CLARK: AND WHAT DID SHE SAY?

# 196 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, MAY I HAVE A MOMENT WITH COUNSEL?

# 197 THE COURT:

YES.

# 198

MR. COCHRAN: PERHAPS SAVE A VISIT TO SIDEBAR. (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND DEFENSE COUNSEL.)

# 199 THE COURT:

MADAM REPORTER.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Witness (Lange)

POSSIBLE SUSPECT.

Lange's terse explanation for why the detectives did not tell Kato Kaelin why they were at Rockingham — reveals their early mindset about unidentified persons at the scene.

Witness (Lange)

I FELT THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, THERE WOULD BE IMMENSE MEDIA ATTENTION AND THAT ONCE THE INFORMATION WERE TO GET OUT THAT NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON WAS THE VICTIM OF A MURDER, THAT THEY COULD FIND OUT THROUGH THE MEDIA WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AND WHILE THE WAY I DID IT WAS INSENSITIVE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE INSENSITIVE FOR THEM TO FIND OUT THEIR DAUGHTER WAS MURDERED OVER THE TELEVISION.

Lange justifies notifying the Brown family by phone rather than in person — deviating from LAPD policy — framing it as the lesser of two bad options.

Witness (Lange)

DENISE BROWN BEGAN TO SCREAM OVER THE PHONE WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE HYSTERICALLY.

The emotional moment of the death notification reaching Nicole's family, delivered via phone call from OJ Simpson's own kitchen.

Witness (Lange)

SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT I APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING TO DO THIS THIS WAY, BUT THAT THEIR DAUGHTER HAD BEEN KILLED.

The exact words Lange used to notify Lou and Denise Brown of Nicole's murder.

Evidence (1)

Informal

GTE telephone records for OJ Simpson's Rockingham phone line, showing a call to the Brown family residence in Dana Point on June 13 at 6:21 AM lasting 8 minutes

introduced and discussed

Notable Exchanges (3)

Marcia Clark•Tom Lange

Clark methodically establishes that the detectives did not conduct a search of the residence — no closets opened, no drawers, no shelves — framing the entry as a welfare check rather than an investigative search.

strategic

Tom Lange•Arnelle Simpson

Lange describes taking Arnelle aside to the sun room and notifying her that Nicole had been killed. She became 'extremely upset' then calmed enough to ask to call A.C. Cowlings.

emotional

Tom Lange•Lou Brown•Denise Brown

Lange calls the Brown family from Simpson's kitchen phone, deviating from LAPD policy of in-person notification. Lou Brown answered, Denise got on a second phone and screamed hysterically upon hearing the news.

devastating

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Tom Lange

policy deviation

Clark elicits from Lange that LAPD policy requires in-person next-of-kin notification for homicides, but Lange called the Brown family by phone — opening potential challenge to his adherence to procedure.

Objections

5 objections (1 sustained, 3 overruled)

Proceeding 4907 • 199 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103