Cross-examination of Detective Tom Lange (morning)

📄 Cross-examination of Detective Tom Lange (morning) — Wednesday, February 22, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\FEB\22\CROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-DETECTIVE.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 23 of 167

◀ Jury called to courtroom Sidebar: prowler reports ▶

Witness: Det. Tom Lange
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Wednesday, February 22, 1995 • Utterances: 551

Johnnie Cochran continued his cross-examination of lead detective Tom Lange, methodically exposing failures in crime scene procedure: the hands of neither victim were bagged to preserve trace evidence, criminalists were dispatched to Rockingham before the Bundy murder scene, and blood spots on the rear gate at Bundy — which Lange himself had directed Fung to collect — were not collected for three weeks, until July 3rd, 1994. Cochran also pressed Lange on his limited direct observation of key forensic steps, including the liver temperatures and rigor mortis determinations he had testified to.

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

# 2 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. PLEASE BE SEATED. ALL RIGHT. DETECTIVE LANGE, WOULD YOU PLEASE RESUME THE WITNESS STAND.

TOM LANGE, THE WITNESS ON THE STAND AT THE TIME OF THE EVENING ADJOURNMENT, RESUMED THE STAND AND TESTIFIED FURTHER AS FOLLOWS:

# 3 THE COURT:

LET THE RECORD REFLECT WE HAVE NOW BEEN REJOINED BY ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR JURY PANEL. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

# 4 THE JURY:

GOOD MORNING.

# 5 THE COURT:

THE RECORD SHOULD REFLECT DETECTIVE TOM LANGE IS ON THE WITNESS STAND. GOOD MORNING, DETECTIVE LANGE. YOU ARE REMINDED THAT YOU ARE STILL UNDER OATH, SIR. GOOD MORNING, MR. COCHRAN. YOU MAY CONTINUE WITH YOUR CROSS-EXAMINATION.

# 6 MR. COCHRAN:

GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR. GOOD MORNING, DETECTIVE.

# 7

CROSS-EXAMINATION (RESUMED)

# 8

BY MR. COCHRAN:

# 9 Q:

GOOD MORNING, DETECTIVE LANGE. WHEN WE LEFT OFF YESTERDAY, SIR, I THINK WE ADDRESSED SOME ISSUES AT THE SCENE AT BUNDY AND YOU HAD SHARED WITH US, I BELIEVE, THAT IT WAS YOUR OPINION THAT MISS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON'S BODY WAS IN FULL RIGOR, FULL RIGOR MORTIS; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 10 A:

YES.

# 11 Q:

OF COURSE YOU NEVER TOUCHED THE BODY, DID YOU?

# 12 A:

NO, I DID NOT.

# 13 Q:

HOW DID YOU MAKE THAT DETERMINATION OF YOUR OWN INDEPENDENT KNOWLEDGE THAT SHE WAS IN FULL RIGOR WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BODY?

# 14 A:

BY OBSERVING THE CORONER'S INVESTIGATOR EXAMINE THE BODY.

# 15 Q:

SO YOU STOOD THERE AND WATCHED THEM; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 16 A:

YES.

# 17 Q:

NOW, IN THAT CONNECTION YOU HAVE SHARED WITH US THAT PART OF YOUR REGULATIONS AND PART OF THE LAPD MANUAL WOULD PROHIBIT AN OFFICER FROM TOUCHING THE BODY PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE CORONER; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 18 A:

UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE INVESTIGATOR MAY REQUEST THAT THE DETECTIVE ASSIST PERHAPS IN MOVING THE BODY.

# 19 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND YOU OF COURSE NEVER TOUCHED THE BODY, RIGHT, BEFORE THE CORONER ARRIVED?

# 20 A:

BEFORE THE CORONER ARRIVES, NO, I DON'T BELIEVE I DID.

# 21 Q:

AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE -- I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS CASE?

# 22 A:

YES.

# 23 Q:

AND AS FAR AS YOU KNOW DETECTIVES VANNATTER, PHILLIPS NOR FUHRMAN TOUCHED THE BODY; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 24 A:

I NEVER SAW THEM TOUCH THE BODY.

# 25 Q:

ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU AWARE THAT OFFICER RISKE, THE FIRST PATROLMAN ON THE SCENE, TOUCHED MR. GOLDMAN'S EYE? ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT?

# 26 A:

ONLY THROUGH THE TESTIMONY OF OFFICER RISKE.

# 27 Q:

AND WHERE DID YOU SEE THAT TESTIMONY OR HEAR THAT TESTIMONY?

# 28 A:

I HEARD THAT TESTIMONY.

# 29 Q:

WHERE DID YOU HEAR IT? WERE YOU HERE?

# 30 A:

I WAS OBSERVING IT ON TELEVISION.

# 31 Q:

SO YOU WERE WATCHING TELEVISION?

# 32 A:

YES.

# 33 Q:

AND YOU REMEMBER HE SAID HE WENT AROUND AND TOUCHED MR. GOLDMAN'S FACE I GUESS IN THE AREA OF THE EYE?

# 34 A:

I THOUGHT IT WAS THE EYEBALL, MAYBE.

# 35 Q:

THE EYEBALL?

# 36 A:

MAYBE I AM MISTAKEN.

# 37 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND OTHER THAN THAT, DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO TOUCHED THESE PARTICULAR BODIES?

# 38 A:

PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE CORONER, I DON'T BELIEVE I SAW ANYONE DO THAT.

# 39 Q:

NOW, YESTERDAY YOU SHARED WITH US YOUR BELIEF THAT THERE WAS NO LIVIDITY IN THE BODY OF NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON WHILE AT THE SCENE. AND YOU RECALL THAT TESTIMONY?

# 40 A:

I BELIEVE I TESTIFIED I DIDN'T OBSERVE ANY, THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY LIVIDITY.

# 41 Q:

CAN YOU TELL THE COURT AND JURY WHAT IS LIVIDITY?

# 42 A:

LIVIDITY IS A SINKING OF THE BLOOD IN THE BODY AFTER DEATH TO THE LOWEST POINT OF THE BODY AND THIS IS CAUSED BY A GRAVITATIONAL PULL. POSTMORTEM LIVIDITY WILL USUALLY BECOME FIXED IN THREE TO FOUR HOURS AFTER DEATH AND REMAIN FIXED.

# 43 Q:

AND IS IT YOUR RECOLLECTION THAT YOU SAW NO LIVIDITY IN THE BODY OF NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON?

# 44 A:

THAT IS MY RECOLLECTION, YES.

# 45 Q:

YOU RECALL THAT WHEN SHE WAS LAYING ON HER SIDE THERE WAS A PURPLEISH COLOR IN HER FACE, THAT YOU NOTICED CERTAIN PORTIONS OF HER BODY THAT WERE DIFFERENT COLORS?

# 46 A:

I DIDN'T MAKE ANY CLOSE OBSERVATION ON LIVIDITY.

# 47 Q:

DID YOU AT ANY TIME SEE HER BODY WHEN THE BLACK DRESS SHE WAS WEARING WAS IN ANY WAY PULLED UP SO IT WOULD REVEAL HER BODY

# 48 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN DEFENSE COUNSEL.)

# 49 DET. TOM LANGE:

I MAY HAVE.

# 50 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND DO YOU RECALL SEEING LIVIDITY OR ANY DISCOLORATION OF THE SKIN AT THAT POINT?

# 51 A:

I DON'T RECALL SEEING ANYTHING THAT I WOULD CALL MARKED LIVIDITY.

# 52 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WHEN YOU SAY "MARKED LIVIDITY," DID YOU SEE ANY LIVIDITY AT ALL, SIR, AS YOU THINK ABOUT IT NOW? AND YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO LOOK AT YOUR NOTES IF YOU HAVE NOTES IN THAT REGARD.

# 53 A:

I DON'T RECALL SEEING ANY LIVIDITY. THAT IS NOT SAY THAT IT WASN'T THERE. THAT IS TO SAY THAT THAT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I PARTICULARLY LOOKED FOR.

# 54 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN DEFENSE COUNSEL.)

# 55 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: NOW, YESTERDAY YOU SHARED WITH US THAT YOU HAD -- THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CORONER'S OFFICE HAD TAKEN A LIVER TEMPERATURE OF MISS NICOLE BROWN; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 56 A:

YES.

# 57 Q:

AND YOU RECORDED A NUMBER OF 82 FOR US AND YOU RECORDED THAT AS ABOUT 10:30 TO 10:40 A.M. ON JUNE 13; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 58 A:

I BELIEVE SO.

# 59 Q:

NOW, IN ORDER TO TAKE A LIVER TEMPERATURE DID YOU SEE THE CORONER ACTUALLY USE A SCALPEL TO ACTUALLY TAKE THE LIVER TEMPERATURE IN THIS CASE? DID YOU SEE THAT?

# 60 A:

THAT IS THE METHOD THAT IS NORMALLY EMPLOYED BY THEM, YES.

# 61 Q:

SO THAT WE ARE CLEAR, THE METHOD IS THAT -- THE LIVER IS SOMEWHERE UNDER THE DIAPHRAGM, UNDER THE RIB CAGE; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 62 A:

IT IS A LITTLE LOWER THAN THAT, BUT YES.

# 63 Q:

AND IN ORDER TO TAKE THIS LIVER TEMPERATURE THEY HAVE TO MAKE AN INCISION, PUT A HOLE IN THERE AND THEY TAKE THE TEMPERATURE THAT WAY; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 64 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 65 Q:

NOW, WERE YOU PRESENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED?

# 66 (NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE.)

# 67 Q:

FOR EITHER ONE OF THE BODIES?

# 68 A:

I WAS PRESENT FOR MR. GOLDMAN. AS FAR AS MRS. SIMPSON, I BELIEVE THAT WAS DONE IN THE VAN, SO I DIDN'T ACTUALLY OBSERVE THAT.

# 69 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO WITH REGARD TO MRS. SIMPSON -- AND YOU WERE TOLD BY SOMEBODY THAT THIS WAS DONE OR YOU WERE JUST TOLD THE RESULTS?

# 70 A:

NO. IT IS MY RECOLLECTION I BELIEVE I -- I REQUESTED OF THE INVESTIGATOR TO DO A LIVER TEMP. I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS DONE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE BODY WAS REMOVED.

# 71 Q:

AND SO THAT WE ARE CLEAR, WHY DID YOU WANT TO HAVE A LIVER TEMPERATURE DONE, SIR?

# 72 A:

IT COULD BE AN INDICATOR TO ASSIST ONE IN ESTABLISHING AN APPROXIMATE TIME OF DEATH.

# 73 Q:

IN FACT, IN YOUR TWENTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, YOU HAVE ALMOST ALWAYS TRIED TO GET LIVER TEMPERATURE WHERE POSSIBLE, WHERE YOU ARE ON THE SCENE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AFTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS THE TIME OF DEATH; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 74 A:

IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE APPEARANCE OF THE BODY. AS AN EXAMPLE, ONE WOULDN'T WANT TO NECESSARILY DO THAT IF YOU HAD A DECOMPOSED BODY OR A BLOATED BODY.

# 75 Q:

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

# 76 A:

UNDER -- UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES, IF YOU CAN GET A LIVER TEMPERATURE, THEN THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

# 77 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO THAT IS A NORMAL THING UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES. AND IN THIS INSTANCE, WITH REGARD TO MISS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON, YOU WERE NOT PRESENT. AND DO YOU KNOW HOW THE LIVER TEMPERATURE WAS ACTUALLY TAKEN? DO YOU KNOW THAT FOR A FACT?

# 78 A:

AGAIN, I DON'T RECALL OBSERVING IT MYSELF.

# 79 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, A COUPLE DAYS LATER, ON THE 14TH OR THEREABOUTS, OR DAY OR SO LATER, YOU ATTENDED AN AUTOPSY IN THIS MATTER, DID YOU NOT?

# 80 A:

YES.

# 81 Q:

AND SO YOU WERE PRESENT WHEN THESE BODIES WERE AUTOPSIED; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 82 A:

THAT IS CORRECT.

# 83 Q:

AND AT THAT TIME DID YOU SEE ANY KIND OF A ROUND HOLE IN THE BODY AT OR ABOUT THE PLACE WHERE THE LIVER WOULD BE, DO YOU REMEMBER, ON MISS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON?

# 84 A:

I WOULDN'T HAVE LOOKED FOR ONE, SO I DON'T RECALL SEE ONE.

# 85 Q:

SO YOU DON'T RECALL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, RIGHT?

# 86 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 87 Q:

SO AT ANY RATE, WITHOUT SEEING THIS, YOU WERE ADVISED THAT THE LIVER TEMPERATURE WAS 82 BY THE CORONER'S INVESTIGATOR, MS. RATCLIFFE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 88 A:

YES.

# 89 Q:

NOW, WITH REGARD TO MR. GOLDMAN, YOU DESCRIBED FOR US THAT THAT -- LET ME SEE IF I UNDERSTAND THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. SOME SHEETS WERE PLACED DOWN UNDER THESE BODY; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 90 A:

NO. THE -- THERE WAS A PLASTIC SHEET PLACED OUT ON THE WALKWAY.

# 91 Q:

ALL RIGHT.

# 92 A:

AND THE BODIES WERE MOVED ONTO THE PLASTIC SHEET WHERE THE -- WHERE THEY WERE EXAMINED FOR SUCH THINGS AS RIGOR MORTIS AND LIVER TEMPERATURE AND THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

# 93 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AFTER THE EXAMINATION WAS CONCLUDED WITH REGARD TO MISS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON, WAS THE SHEET LEFT THERE AND THE BODY WAS TAKEN AWAY?

# 94 A:

NO. THE PLASTIC SHEET THAT SHE WAS ON REMAINED WITH HER. SHE WAS WRAPPED IN THAT SHEET.

# 95 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WAS THERE SOME OTHER KIND OF SHEET LEFT THERE UNDER THE PLASTIC SHEET AFTER THE BODY WAS TAKEN AWAY?

# 96 A:

THERE WAS A LIGHT COTTON BLANKET THAT WAS THERE, YES.

Q ALL RIGHT. AND THAT LIGHT COTTON BLANKET HAD BEEN PUT DOWN AT WHAT TIME, IF YOU RECALL?

# 97 A:

I DON'T RECALL. IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN SOMETIME AROUND 7:30 A.M. PERHAPS.

# 98 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AFTER YOU HAD COME BACK FROM THE ROCKINGHAM RESIDENCE, RIGHT?

# 99 A:

YES.

# 100 Q:

NOW -- AND THEN AFTER MISS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON'S BODY HAD BEEN MOVED, THEN MR. GOLDMAN'S BODY WAS LIFTED AND PUT SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA, SOMEWHERE NEAR WHERE HER BODY HAD BEEN? IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?

# 101 A:

YES.

# 102 Q:

AND WAS HE PUT -- THERE WAS A PLASTIC SHEET PUT AROUND HIS BODY ALSO?

# 103 A:

THE PLASTIC SHEET WAS LAID DOWN FIRST ON THE WALKWAY AND HE WAS PLACED ON TOP OF THAT SHEET.

# 104 Q:

DID YOU AT ALL ASSIST THE CORONER'S REPRESENTATIVES IN MOVING THAT BODY OUT OF THIS VERY SMALL AREA WE DESCRIBED YESTERDAY OVER ONTO THE SHEET, MR. GOLDMAN'S BODY?

# 105 A:

I DON'T RECALL IF I ASSISTED THEM OR NOT. I DON'T BELIEVE SO, BECAUSE OF THE CONFINED SPACE.

# 106 Q:

THE SMALL SPACE?

# 107 A:

I MAY HAVE ASSISTED IN SOME SLIGHT WAY, BUT I DON'T RECALL.

# 108 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, WITH REGARD TO MR. GOLDMAN, NOW WERE YOU PRESENT WHEN THE LIVER TEMPERATURE WAS TAKEN?

# 109 A:

YES.

# 110 Q:

AND WHAT DID YOU -- WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID YOU SEE THE CORONER DO IN TAKING HIS LIVER TEMPERATURE?

# 111 A:

MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT IT WAS TAKEN IN THE CONVENTIONAL WAY.

# 112 Q:

AND BY THAT WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "CONVENTIONAL WAY"?

# 113 A:

THERE WAS A CUT MADE AROUND THE AREA AND THE THERMOMETER WAS INSERTED, TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION.

# 114 Q:

AND AS YOU SIT HERE NOW CAN YOU VISUALIZE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENING? THINK BACK.

# 115 A:

I RECALL SEEING THE -- I WAS DOING SEVERAL THINGS WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON. I WAS AWARE THAT IT WAS GOING ON. MY ONLY VIVID RECOLLECTION IS OF THE THERMOMETER IN THE BODY.

# 116 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DO YOU RECALL SEEING THE THERMOMETER STUCK IN THE BODY?

# 117 A:

I RECALL SEEING IT IN THERE, YES.

# 118 Q:

OKAY. AND WHAT WAS THE LIVER TEMPERATURE OF MR. GOLDMAN THAT YOU RECEIVED?

# 119 A:

I BELIEVE THAT WAS ALSO --

# 120 Q:

IF YOU NEED YOUR NOTES AT ANY POINT, LET US KNOW.

# 121 A:

OKAY. I BELIEVE THAT WAS ALSO 82 DEGREES.

# 122 Q:

82 DEGREES?

# 123 A:

YES.

# 124 Q:

AND THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT THE SAME AS YOU TOLD US YESTERDAY?

# 125 A:

YES, 70 DEGREES.

# 126 Q:

70 DEGREES ON JUNE 13?

# 127 A:

YES.

# 128 Q:

BY THE WAY, DID YOU EVER HAVE OCCASION, DURING THE COURSE OF YOUR INVESTIGATION, TO DETERMINE THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AT ABOUT BETWEEN 11:00 AND TWELVE O'CLOCK P.M. ON JUNE 12?

# 129 A:

I MAY WELL HAVE. I REQUESTED VARIOUS RECORDS FROM I BELIEVE THE NATIONAL WEATHER BUREAU, AND WITHOUT CHECKING THOSE, I COULDN'T TELL YOU JUST HOW FAR THEY WENT BACK.

# 130 Q:

WELL, DO YOU HAVE SOME NOTES THAT WILL REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION IN THAT REGARD?

# 131 A:

I HAVE A WEATHER SERVICE REPORT.

# 132 Q:

ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU GET THAT FOR US? CAN WE GET THAT FOR YOU?

# 133 A:

FINE.

# 134 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WELL, WHERE DO WE LOOK?

# 135 A:

WELL, IT MIGHT TAKE A MOMENT HERE.

# 136 MR. COCHRAN:

WELL, IF THE COURT WOULD ALLOW, I WILL ASK.

# 137 THE COURT:

CERTAINLY.

# 138 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU.

# 139 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 140 DET. TOM LANGE:

I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE REPORT.

# 141 MR. COCHRAN:

MAY I APPROACH, YOUR HONOR?

# 142 THE COURT:

YOU MAY.

# 143 DET. TOM LANGE:

CONSISTING OF SEVERAL PAGES DATED AUGUST 10, 1994. I ALSO HAVE A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REPORT DATED JUNE 12, 1994. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW FIGURES ON HERE. IT MAY TAKE A MOMENT TO -- IS THAT 11:00 P.M.?

# 144 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: BETWEEN 11:00 AND TWELVE MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 12?

# 145 A:

HERE WE GO.

# 146 THE COURT:

DO YOU NEED A STRAIGHT EDGE, DETECTIVE LANGE?

# 147 DET. TOM LANGE:

WELL, I THINK I HAVE IT HERE, YOUR HONOR. IT APPEARS THAT AT 2351, WHICH WOULD BE 11:51 P.M., THE TEMPERATURE WAS 64 DEGREES.

# 148 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: CAN YOU COMPARE THIS WITH THIS OTHER GAUGE YOU HAVE FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, SIR?

# 149 THE COURT:

DETECTIVE LANGE, YOU ARE LOSING YOUR MICROPHONE.

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

# 151 DET. TOM LANGE:

AT THE SANTA MONICA STATION ON THE OTHER REPORT STATES THAT AT 11:46 P.M., 66 DEGREES.

# 152 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND THE FIRST ONE THAT YOU READ, IS THAT FOR LOS ANGELES OR SANTA MONICA OR BRENTWOOD OR DO YOU KNOW?

# 153 A:

I BELIEVE IT IS LAX, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE-CHECK HERE.

# 154 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO CAN WE -- AND YOU WERE AROUND THAT MORNING, HAVING GOTTEN UP AND COME FROM YOUR HOME, SO WOULD YOU -- WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS PROBABLY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 64 TO 66, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN, SAY, 11:00 AND MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 12?

# 155 A:

I --

# 156 Q:

WOULD THAT BE A FAIR STATEMENT?

# 157 A:

I WOULD SAY THAT WAS FAIR, YES.

# 158 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, SO WITH REGARD TO MR. GOLDMAN'S BODY, YOU WERE THEN GIVEN THIS 82 LIVER TEMPERATURE AND THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS 70 AND THEN HIS BODY WAS THEN MOVED FROM THE LOCATION; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 159 A:

YES.

# 160 Q:

AND SO THAT WE ARE CLEAR, THESE BODIES WERE MOVED FROM THE BUNDY LOCATION BY THE CORONER'S REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT WHAT TIME ON JUNE 13, 1994?

# 161 A:

APPROXIMATELY 10:30 OR 10:40 A.M.

# 162 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW --

# 163 A:

PERHAPS A LITTLE BEFORE THAT.

# 164 Q:

NOW, WITH REGARD TO MR. GOLDMAN'S SHOES, CAN YOU DESCRIBE FOR THE JURY THE KIND OF SHOES HE WAS WEARING?

# 165 A:

I WOULD CALL THEM CLOTH TYPE ATHLETIC BOOTS. THEY WERE -- THE BOTTOMS WERE RUBBER. APPEARED TO BE RUBBER. THEY APPEARED TO BE SOME TYPE OF ATHLETIC BOOTS, AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THERE WAS A -- A CLOTH UPPER PART THAT WENT ALL THE WAY TO MID-CALF PERHAPS.

# 166 Q:

AND THEY HAD SOME KIND OF A PATTERNED SOLE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 167 A:

I BELIEVE SO.

# 168 Q:

NOW, IN THE COURSE OF YOUR INVESTIGATION YOU HAD OCCASION, DID YOU NOT, TO TRY AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOU SAW THE PATTERN THAT WAS DISPLAYED ON MR. GOLDMAN'S SHOES, WHETHER OR NOT YOU SAW THAT PATTERN IN ANY OF THAT BLOOD, WHETHER YOU HAD ANY BLOODY FOOTPRINTS FROM HIS SHOES? YOU CHECKED THAT, DIDN'T YOU?

# 169 A:

I MAY HAVE.

# 170 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND YOU DIDN'T FIND ANY PATTERN THAT MATCHED MR. GOLDMAN'S SHOES IN ANY OF THAT BLOOD THERE THAT DAY, DID YOU?

# 171 A:

IF I HAD, I WOULD HAVE NOTED IT.

# 172 Q:

AND YOU DIDN'T FIND ANY, DID YOU?

# 173 A:

NO.

# 174 Q:

SO AS FAR AS THE FACTS THAT EVENING, WE KNOW YOU WEREN'T THERE, SO WE HAVE TO THEORIZE ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS? IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?

# 175 MS. CLARK:

OBJECTION, THAT IS ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 176 MR. COCHRAN:

WELL, THAT IS PRELIMINARY, YOUR HONOR.

# 177 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 178 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU.

# 179 THE COURT:

YOU CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.

# 180 DET. TOM LANGE:

I GENERALLY WOULD NOT THEORIZE. I WOULD GO WITH THE EVIDENCE.

# 181 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT. BUT I'M SAYING WITH REGARD TO WHO WAS KILLED FIRST, YOU WERE NOT THERE, WERE YOU?

# 182 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 183 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO IF YOU SPECULATE AS TO SOMETHING, IT IS -- THAT IS A THEORY, ISN'T IT?

# 184 MS. CLARK:

OBJECTION, THAT IS ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 185 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 186 MS. CLARK:

CONCLUSION.

# 187 DET. TOM LANGE:

AS FAR AS WHO WAS KILLED FIRST?

# 188 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: YES.

# 189 A:

IT WOULD BE SPECULATION BECAUSE I MIGHT HAVE TWO OR THREE VERSIONS OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, ACCORDING TO THE EVIDENCE.

# 190 Q:

ALL RIGHT. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS THERE IS ONLY ONE BODY THAT WILL MAKE THAT DETERMINATION IN THIS CASE, ISN'T THAT RIGHT, AND THAT IS THE TWELVE PEOPLE OVER THERE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 191 MS. CLARK:

SAME OBJECTION.

# 192 THE COURT:

THAT IS ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 193 MR. COCHRAN:

ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 194 THE COURT:

YES.

# 195 MR. COCHRAN:

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

# 196 Q:

NOW, SO THAT WE ARE CLEAR, THE PATTERNS ON MR. GOLDMAN'S SHOES, YOU DID NOT FIND THOSE PATTERNS IN ANY OF THAT BLOOD WHICH WAS VERY PLENTIFUL THERE AT THE SCENE AT BUNDY; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 197 A:

THERE WAS PLENTY OF BLOOD, YES.

# 198 Q:

AND YOU DID NOT FIND THE PATTERN OF THOSE SHOES; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 199 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 200 MR. COCHRAN:

IF I WERE TO SHOW YOU -- SO THAT WE ARE CLEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO MARK AN EXHIBIT, COUNSEL.

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

# 202 THE COURT:

1028.

# 203 MR. COCHRAN:

WHAT IS OUR NEXT ONE?

# 204 THE COURT:

1028.

# 205 (DEFT'S 1028 FOR ID = PHOTOGRAPH)

# 206 MR. COCHRAN:

I HAVE SHOWN THIS TO COUNSEL. MAY I APPROACH THE WITNESS?

# 207 THE COURT:

YOU MAY.

# 208 MR. COCHRAN:

I HAVE WHAT PURPORTS TO BE A WHITE PATTERNED ATHLETIC SHOE.

# 209 Q:

AND I WOULD LIKE TO PLACE THIS BEFORE DETECTIVE LANGE AND ASK HIM, DOES THAT APPEAR TO YOU TO BE A FAIR PORTRAYAL OF THE BOTTOM OF MR. GOLDMAN'S SHOE THAT APPEARED AT THE CORONER'S OFFICE THERE WHERE THAT PICTURE WAS ALLEGEDLY TAKEN?

# 210 A:

I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS TAKEN AT THE CORONER'S OFFICE, SIR.

# 211 Q:

WHERE WAS IT TAKEN?

# 212 A:

THIS APPEARS TO BE TAKEN AT THE CRIME SCENE.

# 213 Q:

OKAY.

# 214 A:

YES, THAT APPEARS TO BE MR. GOLDMAN'S RIGHT FOOT, THE BOTTOM OF HIS SHOE.

# 215 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND DO YOU WANT TO CHECK ANY NOTES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DID NOT SEE OR FIND THAT PATTERN ANYWHERE? ARE YOU PRETTY SURE ABOUT THAT?

# 216 A:

I DON'T RECALL SEEING THAT PATTERN.

# 217 Q:

ALL RIGHT.

# 218 A:

I HAVE SEVERAL PAGES OF NOTES. I COULD REVIEW THEM, I SUPPOSE, BUT I DON'T RECALL SEEING THAT THERE.

# 219 Q:

ALL RIGHT. IF DURING THE BREAK, IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND ON THAT OR CHANGE YOUR TESTIMONY, YOU WILL LET US KNOW?

# 220 A:

I CERTAINLY WILL.

# 221 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, WITH REGARD TO -- AND THIS PICTURE -- PICTURE HERE, 1028, WAS, AS BEST YOU CAN TELL, TAKEN AT THE SCENE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 222 A:

YES.

# 223 Q:

AND THERE IS A PERSON DRESSED IN BLUE WHO HAS A GLOVE ON. DO YOU RECALL SEEING ONE OF THE CORONER'S REPRESENTATIVES WITH A GLOVE ON?

# 224 A:

YES.

# 225 Q:

THAT MORNING?

# 226 A:

YES.

# 227 Q:

DID -- WERE YOU ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE CORONERS, IN MOVING THE BODY, GOT OR TOUCHED MR. GOLDMAN'S SHOES WITH THE BLOOD THAT WAS THERE? DO YOU RECALL THAT?

# 228 A:

I'M NOT SURE I'M CLEAR ON YOUR QUESTION.

# 229 Q:

AT ANY POINT WHEN YOU WERE AT THE SCENE, WHEN THE CORONER'S REPRESENTATIVES MOVED MR. GOLDMAN'S BODY FROM ONE LOCATION TO THE OTHER, DID YOU SEE THEM HAVE HIS SHOES COME IN CONTACT WITH ANY OF THAT BLOOD THAT WAS THERE ON THE SIDEWALK AND AROUND?

# 230 A:

I DON'T RECALL EVER SEEING THE SHOES COME IN CONTACT WITH ANY BLOOD.

# 231 Q:

YOU DID AT SOME POINT SEE STAINS ON THE SHOES, DID YOU NOT, BLOOD STAINS?

# 232 A:

YES.

# 233 Q:

BOTH ON THE TOP OF THE SHOES AND KIND OF UNDER AND TO THE SIDE OF THE SHOES; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 234 A:

I BELIEVE SO.

# 235 MR. COCHRAN:

MAY I HAVE JUST A SECOND, YOUR HONOR?

# 236 THE COURT:

CERTAINLY.

# 237 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN DEFENSE COUNSEL.)

# 238 MR. COCHRAN:

MAY I HAVE JUST ONE SECOND?

# 239

(DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN DEFENSE COUNSEL.) MR. COCHRAN: THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. SORRY.

# 240 Q:

WHILE AT THE SCENE THERE DID YOU EVER INSTRUCT THE CORONER'S REPRESENTATIVES TO BAG THE HANDS OF BOTH MR. SIMPSON AND MRS. -- MRS. SIMPSON AND MR. GOLDMAN?

# 241 A:

NO.

# 242 Q:

AND WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE OF BAGGING HANDS, REGARDING DECEDENTS?

# 243 A:

IF THERE APPEARS TO BE PERHAPS EVIDENCE ON THE HANDS OR IF THERE WAS PERHAPS A FIREARM INVOLVED, THE CORONER'S INVESTIGATOR MAY IN FACT WANT TO BAG THE HANDS.

# 244 Q:

ALL RIGHT.

# 245 A:

I DON'T RECALL SEEING THAT IN THIS CASE.

# 246 Q:

YOU DON'T RECALL SEEING THAT?

# 247 A:

NO.

# 248 Q:

AND IF THERE WERE EVIDENCE, LET'S SAY, UNDER MISS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON'S FINGERNAILS, BAGGING THE HANDS WOULD HELP PRESERVE ANY TRACE EVIDENCE THAT MIGHT BE UNDER HER FINGERNAILS OR ON HER HANDS; ISN'T THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?

# 249 MS. CLARK:

OBJECTION. THAT IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS WITNESS' EXPERTISE.

# 250 THE COURT:

OVERRULED. YOU CAN ANSWER.

# 251 MS. CLARK:

CALLS FOR SPECULATION.

# 252 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 253 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 254 A:

AGAIN THAT WOULD BE SPECULATIVE ON MY PART. I --

# 255 Q:

WELL, LET'S SEE NOW. YOU ARE A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE OF OVER TWENTY YEARS EXPERIENCE, RIGHT?

# 256 MS. CLARK:

OBJECTION, ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 257 MR. COCHRAN:

THAT IS FOUNDATIONAL.

# 258 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED. THE WAY IT IS PHRASED IT IS ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 259 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: YOU ARE A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE OF TWENTY YEARS EXPERIENCE, AREN'T YOU?

# 260 A:

YES.

# 261 Q:

AND IN THAT CONNECTION YOU HAVE SEEN HANDS BAGGED BEFORE; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 262 A:

YES, I HAVE.

# 263 Q:

AND IF YOU KNEW THERE WERE TRACE EVIDENCE UNDER THE FINGERNAILS OF MISS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON, WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO TRY AND PRESERVE THAT?

# 264 A:

I BELIEVE THAT WAS PRESERVED WITHOUT THE BAGS IS WHAT I'M GETTING AT.

# 265 Q:

THE QUESTION IS WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO TRY AND PRESERVE THAT?

# 266 MS. CLARK:

OBJECTION, ASKED AND ANSWERED.

# 267 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 268 DET. TOM LANGE:

CERTAINLY.

# 269 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND WOULDN'T THE BEST WAY TO PRESERVE IT SO IT WOULDN'T BECOME DEGRADED OR CONTAMINATED IN ANY WAY WOULD BE TO PUT BAGS OVER THE HANDS SO THEY ARE PROTECTED FOR LATER ANALYSIS? ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 270 A:

WELL, THAT IS ONE WAY. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS.

# 271 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WHAT ARE THE OTHER WAYS?

# 272 A:

TO WRAP THE BODY IN PLASTIC AND PRESERVE THE WHOLE BODY.

# 273 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DID THE CORONER'S OFFICE DO THAT IN THIS CASE?

# 274 A:

YES.

# 275 Q:

THEY WRAPPED THE BODY IN PLASTIC, BOTH BODIES?

# 276 A:

PLASTIC -- THE BODIES WERE WRAPPED IN A PLASTIC SHEET INITIALLY, YES.

# 277 Q:

BUT WHEN YOU WRAP THE BODY IN PLASTIC SHEETS, DON'T YOU THEN WRAP ALL OF THE CLOTHES AND ANY TRACE EVIDENCE ON THE CLOTHES IS ALL WRAPPED UP AND BROUGHT TOGETHER? ISN'T THAT ANOTHER DOWN SIDE OF THAT?

# 278 A:

NO. THAT IS EXACTLY THE PURPOSE IN DOING THAT, TO KEEP EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

# 279 Q:

I SEE. SO IN THIS CASE YOU ARE SAYING TO US THAT A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO BAGGING THE HANDS IS TO WRAP THESE BODIES IN PLASTIC?

# 280 MS. CLARK:

SAME OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. BEYOND THIS WITNESS' EXPERTISE.

# 281 THE COURT:

OVERRULED. OVERRULED.

# 282 DET. TOM LANGE:

I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT. I'M SAYING THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF DOING THINGS --

# 283 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT. BUT CERTAINLY BAGGING THE HANDS WOULD --

# 284 THE COURT:

MR. COCHRAN, YOU NEED TO LET HIM FINISH HIS ANSWER.

# 285 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. I'M SORRY. EXCUSE ME, YOUR HONOR.

# 286 Q:

DID YOU FINISH?

# 287 A:

I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT THIS IS COMMON, VERY COMMON IN GUNSHOT CASES WHERE PERHAPS YOU WANT TO PRESERVE THE HANDS TO TAKE GUNSHOT RESIDUE EXAMINATIONS ON THE HANDS.

# 288 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WELL, IN THIS CASE WE DIDN'T HAVE GUNSHOTS, SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, IS THAT ONE OF THE WAYS OF PRESERVING TRACE EVIDENCE UNDER FINGERNAILS AND ON THE HAND WOULD HAVE BEEN TO BAG THE HANDS; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 289 A:

I SUPPOSE ONE COULD SAY THAT.

# 290 Q:

AND THAT WAS NOT DONE, WAS IT?

# 291 A:

I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS.

# 292 Q:

FOR EITHER MISS SIMPSON OR MR. GOLDMAN; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 293 A:

YES.

# 294 Q:

NOW, YESTERDAY YOU HAD TOLD US IN YOUR DISCUSSION OF RIGOR MORTIS, YOU GAVE US, I BELIEVE, A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE RIGOR MORTIS TO BE AND I BELIEVE YOU TOLD US THAT YOU BELIEVE IT WAS COAGULATION OF PROTEINS IN THE BLOOD. DO YOU REMEMBER SAYING THAT YESTERDAY?

# 295 A:

IT IS A STIFFENING OF THE MUSCLES IN THE BODY AFTER DEATH CAUSED BY A COAGULATION OF THE BLOOD IN THE MUSCLES.

# 296 Q:

ALL RIGHT. IS IT NOT TRUE THAT RIGOR MORTIS IS CAUSED BY THE COAGULATION OF PROTEINS IN MUSCLE AND NOT -- NOT PROTEINS IN THE BLOOD? IT IS THE COAGULATION OF PROTEINS IN THE MUSCLE?

# 297 MS. CLARK:

OBJECTION. THIS IS BEYOND THE WITNESS' EXPERTISE.

# 298 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 299 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 300 A:

BLOOD AND BLOOD THAT WOULD BE IN THE MUSCLE TISSUE.

# 301 Q:

IN THE MUSCLE TISSUE?

# 302 A:

YES.

# 303 MS. CLARK:

I GUESS NOT. WITHDRAWN.

# 304 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: DID YOU NOTICE ANY KIND OF PURPLEISH COLOR TO MISS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON'S FACE AS SHE LAID AT THE SCENE THERE?

# 305 A:

I DON'T RECALL ANY PURPLEISH COLOR.

# 306 Q:

YOU DON'T RECALL THAT?

# 307 A:

NO.

# 308 Q:

NOW, WITH REGARD TO MR. GOLDMAN, BECAUSE OF THE STRUGGLE HE WAS INVOLVED IN, WASN'T THAT AN INDICATION TO YOU, AS A SEASONED HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR, THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO PRESERVE ANY POSSIBLE TRACE EVIDENCE UNDER HIS FINGERNAILS ALSO?

# 309 A:

THAT WOULD BE A CONSIDERATION, YES.

# 310 Q:

AND DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT THAT MORNING?

# 311 A:

CERTAINLY.

# 312 Q:

AND DID YOU THEN INSTRUCT THE CORONER TO BAG THE HANDS?

# 313 A:

NO.

# 314 Q:

NOW, WITH REGARD TO THE CORONER, WE KNOW THAT THE CORONER'S REPRESENTATIVES GOT THERE AT ABOUT 9:10 AND 9:20; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 315 A:

APPROXIMATELY, YES.

# 316 Q:

AT WHAT POINT DID YOU INSTRUCT OR DID YOU CALL FOR THE CRIMINALIST TO COME TO THE SCENE?

# 317 A:

I DID NOT SPECIFICALLY REQUEST THE CRIMINALIST TO THE SCENE. THE CRIMINALIST HAD BEEN ORIGINALLY DISPATCHED TO THE ROCKINGHAM LOCATION AND IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN THE CRIMINALIST WAS THROUGH AT ROCKINGHAM THEY WOULD PROCEED TO BUNDY.

# 318 Q:

LET ME SEE IF I UNDERSTAND THIS. THE CRIMINALIST IN THIS CASE WENT TO ROCKINGHAM FIRST BEFORE THEY CAME TO THE BUNDY CRIME SCENE?

# 319 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 320 Q:

WHO CALLED THEM TO COME TO THE ROCKINGHAM CRIME SCENE -- ROCKINGHAM SCENE?

# 321 A:

I BELIEVE THAT WAS DONE BY MY PARTNER.

# 322 Q:

AND WHAT YOUR PARTNER'S NAME?

# 323 A:

VANNATTER.

# 324 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, SO THERE IS NO CONFUSION, AS BETWEEN YOU AND VANNATTER, WITH REGARD TO TIME IN GRADE AS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE, IS HE SENIOR TO YOU?

# 325 A:

NOT AS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE, BUT TIME AND GRADE AND RANK HE IS PERHAPS THREE MONTHS SENIOR TO ME IN RANK.

# 326 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO HE OUTRANKS YOU AT THE SCENE THERE?

# 327 A:

THAT IS NOT REALLY THE WAY IT WORKS.

# 328 Q:

WELL, I'M JUST ASKING YOU FROM THE STANDPOINT OF TIME AND GRADE IN THIS POSITION, FIRST OF ALL?

# 329 A:

AS FAR AS OUR RANK STRUCTURE, YES, BY THREE MONTHS.

# 330 Q:

ALL RIGHT. BY THREE MONTHS?

# 331 A:

HE WAS PROMOTED THREE MONTHS BEFORE I WAS.

# 332 Q:

OKAY. NOW, SO THAT THE JURY IS CLEAR, THOUGH, AS BETWEEN YOU AND VANNATTER, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THIS INVESTIGATION ON THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JUNE 12, JUNE 13 -- JUNE 13 ACTUALLY?

# 333 A:

IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WOULD BE SHARED BY BOTH PARTNERS.

# 334 Q:

SO YOU WERE CO-LEADERS?

# 335 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 336 Q:

YOU BOTH HAD EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY?

# 337 A:

INITIALLY AT A CRIME SCENE THAT IS THE WAY IT STARTS OUT. IT DEPENDS. ALL CRIME SCENES ARE DIFFERENT.

# 338 Q:

ALL RIGHT. LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CRIME SCENE. WHEN THIS CASE STARTED OUT, HE ARRIVED FIRST; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 339 A:

YES.

# 340 Q:

HE WAS SENIOR IN GRADE, RIGHT?

# 341 A:

YES.

# 342 Q:

AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE? THOSE THINGS WILL NEVER CHANGE, WILL THEY?

# 343 A:

NO.

# 344 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND WITH REGARD TO HOW THE INVESTIGATION OF THIS CASE HAS CONTINUED, HAVE YOU CONTINUED AS CO-LEAD INVESTIGATORS IN THIS CASE?

# 345 A:

YES.

# 346 Q:

TO THIS DAY?

# 347 A:

WELL, THE -- THE ROLES HAVE SOMEWHAT CHANGED AROUND A BIT, BUT BASICALLY THAT IS WHAT WE DO, WE WORK AS PARTNERS.

# 348 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND YOU HAVE WORKED AS PARTNERS FOR HOW LONG?

# 349 A:

WITH VANNATTER?

# 350 Q:

YES, WITH VANNATTER?

# 351 A:

I WANT TO SAY AS A REGULAR PARTNER APPROXIMATELY FOUR TO FIVE YEARS.

# 352 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, WHAT TIME DID THE CRIMINALISTS ARRIVE AT THE ROCKINGHAM SCENE, IF YOU KNOW, THAT MORNING, JUNE 13?

# 353 A:

I BELIEVE IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 10:10 A.M.

# 354 Q:

AND THAT IS AT ROCKINGHAM?

# 355 A:

I'M SORRY. I WASN'T AT ROCKINGHAM WHEN THE CRIMINALISTS ARRIVED.

# 356 Q:

SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME THEY GOT THERE. WOULD THE LOG OR REVIEW OF THE LOG ASSIST YOU IN THAT REGARD AND REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION?

# 357 A:

CERTAINLY.

# 358 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 359 MR. COCHRAN:

I AM PLACING BEFORE THE WITNESS, YOUR HONOR, DEFENDANT'S EXHIBIT NO. 1006 AND I WILL ASK HIM TO READ IT TO HIMSELF AND SEE WHETHER OR NOT A REVIEW OF THAT DOCUMENT WOULD REFRESH HIS RECOLLECTION REGARDING WITH TIME THE CRIMINALISTS ARRIVED AT THE ROCKINGHAM SCENE.

# 360 DET. TOM LANGE:

(WITNESS COMPLIES.) I BELIEVE THIS IS THE BUNDY LOG YOU HAVE HERE, SIR.

# 361 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT. THAT IS THE BUNDY LOG?

# 362 A:

YES.

# 363 Q:

IS THERE A ROCKINGHAM LOG?

# 364 A:

I AM NOT AWARE OF ONE.

# 365 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN A ROCKINGHAM LOG?

# 366 A:

I AM NOT AWARE OF ONE.

# 367 Q:

DO YOU HAVE ANY NOTES THAT WILL REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION WITH REGARD TO WHAT TIME THEY ARRIVED THERE?

# 368 A:

I WASN'T THERE.

# 369 Q:

ALL RIGHT.

# 370 A:

SO I WOULDN'T --

# 371 Q:

LET'S TRACE BACK. YOU ARRIVED AT ROCKINGHAM AT ABOUT 5:00 OR 5:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING?

# 372 A:

I BELIEVE IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 5:05 A.M.

# 373 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND YOU LEFT ABOUT 6:35, 6:45 IN THE MORNING?

# 374 A:

ABOUT 6:45, YES.

# 375 Q:

AND WHEN YOU -- WHEN YOU LEFT AT 6:45 THEY HAD NOT ARRIVED?

# 376 A:

THE CRIMINALISTS?

# 377 Q:

THE CRIMINALISTS.

# 378 A:

THEY HAD NOT ARRIVED, CORRECT.

# 379 Q:

HAD THEY BEEN SUMMONED AT THAT POINT?

# 380 A:

I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT THE TIME I LEFT THAT I WAS TOLD A CRIMINALIST WAS GOING TO COME BY THE LOCATION TO DO A PRESUMPTIVE TEST ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN PROCEED TO BUNDY RIGHT AFTER THAT.

# 381 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WHO TOLD YOU THAT?

# 382 A:

I BELIEVE IT WAS VANNATTER.

# 383 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND VANNATTER REMAINED AT THE -- AT THE ROCKINGHAM LOCATION; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 384 A:

YES.

# 385 Q:

WHEN YOU WENT BACK OVER TO BUNDY?

# 386 A:

CORRECT.

# 387 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO IT WAS SOME TIME AFTER 6:45 THIS MORNING THAT THEY ARRIVED; IS THAT CORRECT, AT ROCKINGHAM?

# 388 A:

THAT WOULD BE MY ASSUMPTION, YES.

# 389 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND SINCE YOU WEREN'T THERE YOU DON'T KNOW THE EXACT TIME, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEY ARRIVED AT THE BUNDY CRIME SCENE AT WHAT TIME?

# 390 A:

I BELIEVE THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 10:10 A.M.

# 391 Q:

AND THE BODIES WERE STILL THERE AT THAT POINT; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 392 A:

YES.

# 393 Q:

AND WHEN THE CRIMINALISTS ARRIVED -- LET'S GIVE THESE CRIMINALISTS SOME NAMES. YOU SAW MAZZOLLA, DID YOU NOT?

# 394 A:

YES.

# 395 Q:

AND YOU SAW FUNG? YOU SAW TWO OF THEM; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 396 A:

YES.

# 397 Q:

AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE BUNDY CRIME SCENE DID YOU GIVE THEM SOME INSTRUCTIONS?

# 398 A:

NOT IMMEDIATELY, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, YES.

# 399 Q:

AND AS YOU HAD DONE WITH RATCLIFFE, THE CORONER'S INVESTIGATOR, YOU WOULD TAKE -- YOU TOOK RATCLIFFE AROUND THE SCENE AND ADVISED HER OF WHAT YOU HAD THERE AND WHAT YOU HAD FOUND; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 400 A:

AT THE LOCATIONS OF THE BODIES AND JUST SUBSEQUENTLY IN THE HOUSE IN THE UPPER BEDROOM, YES.

# 401 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND WITH REGARD TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE CRIMINALISTS, DID YOU TAKE THEM AROUND AND SHOW THEM WHAT YOU HAD THERE?

# 402 A:

YES.

# 403 Q:

AND IT IS IMPORTANT, IS IT NOT, DETECTIVE, FOR YOU TO COLLECT APPROPRIATELY EVIDENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO IT CAN BE SUBJECTED TO ANALYSIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE? THAT IS APPROPRIATE, IS IT NOT?

# 404 A:

WELL, IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE, BUT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN.

# 405 Q:

WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT BEING PREFERABLE. YOU WOULD ALWAYS PREFER TO HAVE THE EVIDENCE COLLECTED AS SOON AS YOU SEE IT OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 406 A:

AGAIN, YOU WOULD PREFER THAT, BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY.

# 407 Q:

WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS: YOU SAID IN YOUR TESTIMONY YOU SAW SOME BLOOD SPOTS ON THE BACK -- ON THE REAR GATE THERE AT BUNDY, ON JUNE 13, 1994; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 408 A:

YES.

# 409 Q:

THOSE SPOTS HAD BEEN POINTED OUT TO YOU BY DETECTIVE PHILLIPS?

# 410 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 411 Q:

YOU IN TURN POINTED THEM OUT TO MR. FUNG?

# 412 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 413 Q:

DID YOU DIRECT MR. FUNG TO COLLECT THOSE PARTICULAR BLOOD SPOTS?

# 414 A:

I DIRECTED HIM TO DO THAT AND I BELIEVE I MENTIONED TO CHECK THE ENTIRE GATE.

# 415 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND YOU EXPECTED THAT TO BE DONE; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 416 A:

YES.

# 417 Q:

NOW, IT WAS NOT DONE ON JUNE 13TH, WAS IT?

# 418 A:

NO.

# 419 Q:

IN FACT, IT WASN'T DONE ON JUNE 14TH, WAS IT?

# 420 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 421 Q:

AND NEITHER THE 15TH?

# 422 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 423 MR. COCHRAN:

I WON'T GO ANY FURTHER.

# 424 Q:

IN FACT, IT WAS NOT DONE UNTIL JULY 3RD, THREE WEEKS LATER; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 425 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 426 Q:

SO DID FUNG COME BACK OUT THERE ON JULY 3RD? IS THAT CORRECT?

# 427 A:

YES.

# 428 Q:

NOW, YOU ARE AWARE THAT THE -- THIS CRIME SCENE AT BUNDY HAD BEEN WASHED DOWN AT SOME POINT ON JUNE 13 OR JUNE 14; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 429 A:

I AM AWARE THAT THE FRONT WALKWAY WAS WASHED DOWN.

# 430 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WHAT DATE WAS THAT?

# 431 A:

I DON'T KNOW. I ASSUMED IT WAS A DAY OR TWO AFTER THE CRIME SCENE WAS STRUCK.

# 432 Q:

WOULD I BE SAFE IN SAYING IT WAS DONE -- IT WAS WASHED DOWN AT LEAST BY THE 14TH OF JUNE, SIR? WOULD THAT BE SAFE?

# 433 A:

I DON'T KNOW.

# 434 Q:

A DAY OR TWO AFTER JUNE 13TH WOULD BE THE 14TH OR 15TH, RIGHT?

# 435 A:

I JUST ASSUMED THAT. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN IT WAS WASHED DOWN.

# 436 Q:

ALL RIGHT. CERTAINLY THE CRIME SCENE ITSELF WAS BROKEN DOWN BY THREE O'CLOCK OR SO IN THE AFTERNOON ON THE 13TH; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 437 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 438 Q:

YOU READ THE LOG YESTERDAY, RIGHT?

# 439 A:

RIGHT.

# 440 Q:

ALL RIGHT. THAT MEANT THAT PEOPLE WERE FREE TO GO AND COME WITH REGARD TO THOSE PREMISES; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 441 A:

NO.

# 442 Q:

THAT MEANT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD FINISHED THEIR BUSINESS AT THAT LOCATION; ISN'T THAT CORRECT, SIR?

# 443 A:

NO.

# 444 Q:

SIR, IF YOU HAD KNOWN THAT FUNG HAD NOT COLLECTED AND SOUGHT TO PRESERVE ANY BLOOD SPOTS THAT WERE ALLEGEDLY ON THIS BACK FENCE, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE RELEASED THAT CRIME SCENE, WOULD YOU HAVE?

# 445 A:

I WOULDN'T HAVE.

# 446 Q:

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE, WOULD YOU?

# 447 A:

NO.

# 448 Q:

OKAY. BUT IT WAS RELEASED ON THE 13TH; ISN'T THAT CORRECT.

# 449 A:

NO, IT WAS NOT RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.

# 450 Q:

WELL -- LET'S SEE NOW. WAS THE CRIME SCENE RELEASED ON THE 13TH, SIR?

# 451 MS. CLARK:

OBJECTION. THIS IS ASKED AND ANSWERED.

# 452 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 453 DET. TOM LANGE:

CRIME SCENE WAS SECURED. THE RESIDENCE WAS SECURED, THE GATES WERE LOCKED.

# 454 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: WAS THE CRIME SCENE RELEASED ON THE 13TH, DETECTIVE LANGE?

# 455 A:

WE COMPLETED OUR INITIAL CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION ON THE 13TH, YES, BUT I GOT THE INFERENCE THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO SAY IT WAS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

# 456 Q:

YOU SHOULDN'T TRY TO GET ANY INFERENCES FROM MY QUESTIONS.

# 457 A:

I APOLOGIZE.

# 458 Q:

DON'T GET ANY INFERENCES. LET ME APPROACH AND ASK YOU, I WANT YOU TO READ WHAT YOU READ FOR MISS CLARK. WHAT TIME WAS THAT CRIME SCENE RELEASED?

# 459 MS. CLARK:

OBJECTION, THIS IS -- OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. THIS IS MISLEADING.

# 460 THE COURT:

352?

# 461 MS. CLARK:

YES, YOUR HONOR.

# 462 DET. TOM LANGE:

I BELIEVE --

# 463 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 464 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT.

# 465 DET. TOM LANGE:

THE LAST ENTRY IT IS, KIND OF WRITTEN OVER, IT APPEARS TO BE 1545 PERHAPS.

# 466 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: 1545 ON JUNE 13 IS WHAT TIME?

# 467 A:

3:45 P.M.

# 468 Q:

IN THE AFTERNOON, RIGHT?

# 469 A:

YES.

# 470 Q:

THAT MEANS YOU TOOK THOSE -- YOU TOOK THOSE TAPES THAT HAD BEEN AROUND THAT SCENE DOWN AT THAT POINT; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 471 A:

THE OFFICER DID, YES.

# 472 Q:

AND BETWEEN THAT TIME, 3:45, ON JUNE 13TH, AND JULY 3RD, 1994, DID YOU EVER GO BACK OUT TO THE SCENE BETWEEN THOSE DATES?

# 473 A:

I BELIEVE I DID.

# 474 Q:

WHAT DATE DID YOU GO BACK?

# 475 A:

I BELIEVE I WAS THERE ON JUNE 23RD.

# 476 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO THERE WAS A TEN-DAY PERIOD BETWEEN THE TIME YOU WERE THERE ON THE 13TH AND THE TIME YOU CAME BACK ON THE 23RD?

# 477 A:

THAT WOULD BE TEN DAYS, BUT I'M NOT CLEAR ON WHETHER I MIGHT HAVE GONE BACK IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO DATES.

# 478 Q:

DO YOU HAVE SOME NOTES THAT WILL HELP YOU IN THAT REGARD?

# 479 A:

YES.

# 480 Q:

CAN YOU LOOK AT THEM?

# 481 A:

CERTAINLY.

# 482 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN DEFENSE COUNSEL.)

# 483 DET. TOM LANGE:

MY NOTES INDICATE I WAS AT THE LOCATION ON JUNE 16TH, BUT I DIDN'T ENTER THE PREMISES. I JUST DID A -- A MILEAGE CHECK FROM THE LOCATION.

# 484 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? WHILE YOU WERE THERE ON JUNE 16 --

# 485 A:

CERTAINLY.

# 486 Q:

-- DID YOU NOTICE THAT THE BLOOD HAD BEEN WASHED DOWN?

# 487 A:

NO.

# 488 Q:

YOU DON'T RECALL OR YOU DIDN'T NOTICE IT?

# 489 A:

IF THE BLOOD HAD BEEN WASHED DOWN ON THE FRONT WALKWAY?

# 490 Q:

YES.

# 491 A:

I DON'T RECALL MAKING THAT OBSERVATION.

# 492 Q:

ALL RIGHT.

# 493 A:

THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT IT HADN'T BEEN DONE.

# 494 Q:

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

# 495 A:

MY NOTES DO INDICATE I WAS THERE ON JUNE 23RD AT 10:15 A.M.

# 496 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND WERE YOU THERE AFTER JUNE 23RD, BEFORE JULY 3RD? WERE YOU THERE ON JULY 3RD, BY THE WAY?

# 497 A:

YES, I WAS.

# 498 Q:

WERE THERE ANY VISIT BETWEEN THE 23RD OF JUNE AND JULY 3RD?

# 499 A:

THERE WAS A VISIT ON JUNE 27TH.

# 500 Q:

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER VISITS?

# 501 A:

NO.

# 502 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO YOU HAVE TOLD US ALL THE VISITS; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 503 A:

AS REFLECTED BY MY NOTES, THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES I HAVE HERE.

# 504 Q:

ALL RIGHT. BUT DESPITE ALL THOSE VISITS, THIS BLOOD THAT WAS ALLEGEDLY ON THIS BACK GATE WAS NOT COLLECTED ON ANY OF THOSE DATES THAT YOU CAME THERE, ON THE 17TH, 23RD, THE 27TH; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 505 (NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE.)

# 506 Q:

IT WAS NOT COLLECTED, WAS IT?

# 507 A:

I BELIEVE IT WAS THE 16TH, BUT THAT IS CORRECT.

# 508 Q:

16TH. AND IT WAS FINALLY COLLECTED ON JULY 3RD, 1994; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 509 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 510 Q:

AND WHAT TIME OF DAY WAS THAT?

# 511 A:

I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE MORNING.

# 512 Q:

WERE YOU PRESENT?

# 513 A:

APPROXIMATELY 10:00 A.M.

# 514 Q:

WERE YOU PRESENT?

# 515 A:

YES.

# 516 Q:

WITH REGARD TO BLOOD SPOTS AND BLOOD DROPS, YOU CAN'T TELL THE DATE THAT WAS PLACED THERE, CAN YOU?

# 517 A:

YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL THE AGE, NO. MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT. I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU A PHOTOGRAPH OF MR. FUNG. THIS, COUNSEL, IS DEFENDANT'S 1007. THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH D-1007, YOUR HONOR, AND I WANT TO PLACE IT BEFORE THE DETECTIVE AT THIS POINT.

KEY QUOTE

# 518 Q:

WHO IS DEPICTED IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH, SIR?

# 519 A:

IT IS A CRIMINALIST FUNG.

# 520 Q:

AND HE IS POINTING TO A GATE. IS THAT THE REAR GATE AT BUNDY?

# 521 A:

YES.

# 522 Q:

AND, UMM, WHAT DATE WAS THAT PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN, IF YOU KNOW?

# 523 A:

THAT WOULD BE ON JULY 3RD.

# 524 Q:

SO THIS WAS THE PHOTOGRAPH OF JULY 3RD, 1994, WHEN FUNG WAS POINTING TO THE FENCE; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 525 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 526 MR. COCHRAN:

MAY I PUT THIS ON THE ELMO, YOUR HONOR?

# 527 THE COURT:

YES.

# 528 MR. COCHRAN:

THIS IS D-1007.

# 529 THE COURT:

MR. HARRIS, DO YOU HAVE A SHIELD?

# 530 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 531 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: CAN YOU SEE THAT ON THE MONITOR?

# 532 A:

YES.

# 533 Q:

THAT IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF DENNIS FUNG, A CRIMINALIST, TAKEN ON JULY 3RD, 1994; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 534 A:

YES.

# 535 Q:

YOU WERE OUT THERE AT THAT LOCATION?

# 536 A:

YES.

# 537 Q:

YOU ARE AWARE THAT AFTER THE CRIME SCENE PERIMETER WAS TAKEN DOWN BY OFFICER JONES AND PERRIDINE, P-E-R-R-D-I-N-E, THEY HAD A NUMBER OF LOOKIE-LOOS AND OTHER TOURISTS FROM THE WORLD WHO CAME IN AND AROUND THAT LOCATION; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 538 A:

YES.

# 539 Q:

YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT, AREN'T YOU?

# 540 A:

YES.

# 541 Q:

YOU ALSO KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE PLACED FLOWERS ON THE WALKWAY AT VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE BUNDY LOCATION? YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT ALSO, AREN'T YOU?

# 542 A:

YES.

# 543 Q:

BY THE WAY, WHEN DID YOU FIRST LEARN THAT NO BLOOD WAS ALLEGEDLY TAKEN FROM THE BACK GATE? WHEN DID YOU FIRST LEARN THAT?

# 544 A:

ON THAT DATE, JULY 3RD.

# 545 Q:

YOU WERE NOT AWARE OF IT ON ALL THOSE OTHER VISITS; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 546 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 547 Q:

AND WITH REGARD TO THAT LOCATION -- MAY I HAVE JUST A SECOND, YOUR HONOR?

# 548 THE COURT:

YES.

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

# 550 MR. COCHRAN:

MAY WE APPROACH, YOUR HONOR?

# 551 MS. CLARK:

YOUR HONOR, MAY WE APPROACH?

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (5)

Tom Lange

THAT'S CORRECT.

Lange confirmed that blood on the rear gate — which he had personally directed Fung to collect — was not collected on June 13th, 14th, 15th, 23rd, 27th, or any of his subsequent visits, but only on July 3rd, three weeks after the murders.

Tom Lange

YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL THE AGE, NO.

Lange admitted that blood drops cannot be dated, directly undermining the evidentiary value of the late-collected rear gate blood and opening the door to contamination arguments.

Tom Lange

I WOULDN'T HAVE. NO.

Lange conceded he would not have released the crime scene had he known Fung failed to collect the rear gate blood — but it was released anyway on June 13th at 3:45 PM.

Tom Lange

THE CRIMINALIST HAD BEEN ORIGINALLY DISPATCHED TO THE ROCKINGHAM LOCATION AND IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN THE CRIMINALIST WAS THROUGH AT ROCKINGHAM THEY WOULD PROCEED TO BUNDY.

Revealed that the criminalists went to OJ Simpson's home before the murder scene — a sequence the defense used to suggest evidence could have been transported.

Tom Lange

THAT WOULD BE SPECULATION BECAUSE I MIGHT HAVE TWO OR THREE VERSIONS OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, ACCORDING TO THE EVIDENCE.

Lange admitted that the order of the killings was speculative, undercutting prosecution's narrative certainty.

Evidence (4)

Defense 1028

Photograph of the sole of Ron Goldman's shoe, taken at the crime scene

Introduced and shown to witness to establish the shoe tread pattern; Lange confirmed no matching bloody footprints were found at scene

Defense 1007

Photograph of criminalist Dennis Fung pointing to the rear gate at Bundy, taken July 3rd, 1994

Introduced and displayed on ELMO to establish the three-week delay in collecting rear gate blood

Defense 1006

Bundy crime scene log

Shown to witness to refresh recollection on criminalist arrival times and scene release time (1545/3:45 PM on June 13th)

Informal

U.S. Department of Commerce weather report and National Weather Service report for June 12, 1994

Lange produced from his notes; established ambient temperature of 64-66°F at 11:00 PM–midnight on June 12

Notable Exchanges (4)

Johnnie Cochran•Tom Lange

Cochran walked Lange through each date he visited the Bundy scene after June 13th (June 16, 23, 27, July 3) and confirmed that blood on the rear gate was not collected on any of those visits until July 3rd — three weeks after Lange had personally directed Fung to collect it.

devastating

Johnnie Cochran•Tom Lange

Cochran established that the criminalists were dispatched to Rockingham first and arrived at the murder scene at Bundy at approximately 10:10 AM — over four hours after Lange arrived at the scene.

strategic

Johnnie Cochran•Tom Lange

Cochran pressed Lange on the failure to bag the hands of either victim, particularly given Goldman's visible signs of struggle; Lange admitted he considered it, thought about it that morning, but did not instruct the coroner to do so.

revealing

Johnnie Cochran•Tom Lange

Cochran confronted Lange about his claim of 'full rigor' in Nicole Brown Simpson's body, noting Lange never touched the body and based his conclusion solely on watching the coroner's investigator examine it.

strategic

Credibility Attacks (4)

⚔ Tom Lange

omission and failure to follow procedure

Cochran established that despite Lange personally directing criminalist Fung to collect blood from the rear gate, it went uncollected for three weeks across multiple visits, during which the crime scene perimeter was taken down and tourists visited the location.

⚔ Tom Lange

limited personal observation

Cochran challenged Lange's basis for key forensic claims: he never touched Nicole Brown Simpson's body to assess rigor, did not witness her liver temperature being taken, and could not confirm a hole from the procedure was present at autopsy.

⚔ Tom Lange

failure to follow best practice

Cochran elicited that hands were not bagged for either victim despite Lange knowing Goldman had been in a struggle and despite Lange acknowledging that bagging hands is standard for preserving trace evidence.

⚔ LAPD evidence collection (institutional)

sequencing and prioritization

Cochran established that criminalists went to Rockingham — OJ Simpson's residence — before the murder scene at Bundy, raising implicit questions about evidence chain of custody.

Witness Demeanor

(NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE) — when asked whether rear gate blood was collected before July 3rd

Lange searched through notes multiple times during testimony to refresh recollection on dates and temperatures

Judge Ito noted Lange was losing his microphone during weather report reading

Objections

10 objections (1 sustained, 9 overruled)

Proceeding 4917 • 551 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103