Day 25 — Friday, February 24, 1995

Lopez's credibility challenged as court grants motion to preserve testimony

Judge Lance A. Ito • Criminal Trial • 37 proceedings • 2524 lines

Appearing:

🛡️ Johnnie Cochran 🗣️ Rosa Lopez 🏛️ Christopher Darden ⚖️ Lance A. Ito 🗣️ Zulema Iida 🏛️ Marcia Clark 🏛️ Cheri Lewis 👤 Carl Jones

tense

The trial day centered on a motion hearing to determine whether testimony from Rosa Lopez, a housekeeper who said media harassment was driving her to leave for El Salvador, should be conditionally preserved. Prosecutor Darden challenged her credibility through cross-examination, highlighting contradictions about flight reservations, questioning her English proficiency, and raising disputed suggestions of coaching. Judge Ito granted the motion after acknowledging the contradictory record, reasoning that the cautious course was to preserve her testimony because Lopez had left California and voluntarily returned.

Rosa Lopez underwent an evidentiary hearing under Evidence Code 1335/1336 on whether her testimony should be conditionally preserved, testifying that she intended to return to El Salvador and not come back for a long time
Prosecutor Darden exposed multiple contradictions in Lopez's testimony about flight reservations and the timeline of when she made travel plans
Travel agent Zulema Iida's testimony raised credibility questions because Lopez called her that morning before testifying to 'remind' her of a February 15th reservation
Darden caught Lopez contradicting herself on the same day about when she actually booked her El Salvador departure
Judge Ito granted the motion to preserve Lopez's testimony despite finding the record deeply contradictory
Trial day ended in scheduling chaos when the judge forgot about Marcia Clark's childcare obligations and had to negotiate with Lopez to return Monday morning

administrative Court reporters identified 3 lines
sidebar Sidebar (1) 2 lines
in chambers In chambers: sealed proceedings 4 lines
motion hearing Motion: Fuhrman impeachment evidence 🎞️ 41 lines
motion hearing Motion: Rosa Lopez testimony 🎞️ 50 lines
administrative Court convenes 🎞️ 17 lines
witness examination Direct examination of Rosa Lopez 🎞️ 129 lines
administrative Transition to cross-examination 🎞️ 5 lines
witness examination Cross-examination of Rosa Lopez (morning, part 1) 🎞️ 503 lines
sidebar Sidebar: airline information 8 lines
witness examination Cross-examination of Rosa Lopez (morning, part 2) 🎞️ 86 lines
administrative Noon recess 🎞️ 23 lines
witness examination Cross-examination of Rosa Lopez (afternoon, part 1) 🎞️ 177 lines
witness examination Cross-examination of Rosa Lopez (afternoon, part 2) 🎞️ 182 lines
witness examination Redirect examination of Rosa Lopez 🎞️ 415 lines
witness examination Recross-examination of Rosa Lopez 🎞️ 143 lines
administrative Back on record 🎞️ 6 lines
witness examination Recross-examination of Rosa Lopez (part 2) 🎞️ 57 lines
witness examination Redirect examination of Rosa Lopez (part 2) 🎞️ 44 lines
witness examination Recross-examination of Rosa Lopez (part 3) 🎞️ 16 lines
administrative Rosa Lopez excused 🎞️ 9 lines
sidebar Sidebar: witness management 🎞️ 5 lines
witness examination Direct examination of Zulema Iida 🎞️ 114 lines
witness examination Cross-examination of Zulema Iida 🎞️ 185 lines
witness examination Redirect examination of Zulema Iida 🎞️ 81 lines
witness examination Recross-examination of Zulema Iida 🎞️ 15 lines
witness examination Redirect examination of Zulema Iida (part 2) 🎞️ 21 lines
administrative Zulema Iida excused 🎞️ 3 lines
sidebar Sidebar: motion hearing witnesses 4 lines
motion hearing Motion: conditional examination of Rosa Lopez 🎞️ 68 lines
administrative Court session opening 5 lines
sidebar Sidebar (2) 1 lines
administrative Recess 5 lines
administrative Witness and scheduling logistics 🎞️ 78 lines
sidebar Sidebar (3) 1 lines
administrative Jury communication discussion 🎞️ 12 lines
administrative Court address to jury 🎞️ 3 lines

Day 25 • 37 proceedings • 2524 lines

Criminal Trial

Department 103