Direct examination of Zulema Iida

📄 Direct examination of Zulema Iida — Friday, February 24, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\FEB\24\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-ZULEMA-I.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 25 of 167

◀ Sidebar: witness management Cross-examination of Zulema Iida ▶

Witness: Zulema Iida
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Defense • Date: Friday, February 24, 1995 • Utterances: 114

Zulema Iida, a travel agent at Pan Americana Travel System in Glendale, was called by the defense to establish that Rosa Lopez had previously booked a one-way flight to El Salvador for February 15th (which expired), and that seats remained available on nonstop flights the following night for approximately $317 cash. The testimony lasted only minutes and appears to have been arranged same-day to demonstrate Lopez's ability and means to leave the country.

# 1 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. WE WOULD NEXT LIKE TO CALL AS OUR NEXT WITNESS TO THE WITNESS STAND ZULEMA IIDA.

# 2 MR. DARDEN:

FOR THE RECORD, YOUR HONOR, JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO, WHEN HER NAME WAS MENTIONED, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THE PEOPLE WERE APPRISED SHE WOULD TESTIFY IN THIS HEARING. WE RECEIVED NO DISCOVERY.

# 3 MR. COCHRAN:

I HAVE NO DISCOVERY.

# 4 MR. DARDEN:

WE RECEIVED VERY LITTLE INFORMATION IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS WITNESS IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY TO. SO I OBJECT TO COUNSEL CALLING HER AT THIS TIME.

# 5 THE COURT:

NOTED. OVERRULED. ALL RIGHT. MA'AM, WOULD YOU STEP OVER HERE, STAND OVER HERE BY THE PROJECTOR HERE, FACE THE COURT CLERK AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLEASE.

ZULEMA IIDA,

CALLED AS A WITNESS BY THE DEFENDANT, WAS SWORN AND TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS:

# 6 THE CLERK:

YOU DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE IN THE CAUSE NOW PENDING BEFORE THIS COURT SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD?

# 7 ZULEMA IIDA:

YES.

# 8 THE CLERK:

PLEASE HAVE A SEAT IN THE WITNESS STAND AND STATE AND SPELL YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAMES FOR THE RECORD.

# 9 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MA'AM. WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE AND SPELL YOUR NAME.

# 10 ZULEMA IIDA:

SPELL MY NAME?

# 11 THE COURT:

STATE AND SPELL YOUR NAME, PLEASE.

# 12 ZULEMA IIDA:

OKAY. MY NAME IS ZULEMA, AND IT'S SPELLED Z-U-L-E-M-A.

# 13 THE COURT:

AND WHAT IS YOUR LAST NAME?

# 14 ZULEMA IIDA:

MY LAST NAME IS IIDA, I-I-D-A.

# 15 THE COURT:

THANK YOU, MA'AM. MR. COCHRAN.

# 16 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU VERY KINDLY.

# 17

DIRECT EXAMINATION

# 18

BY MR. COCHRAN:

# 19 Q:

MISS IIDA, WHEN IS THE FIRST TIME WE EVER MET?

# 20 A:

TODAY RIGHT BY THE DOOR.

KEY QUOTE

# 21 Q:

A SHORT TIME AGO IN THE HALLWAY THERE?

# 22 A:

YES.

# 23 Q:

AND WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION, MA'AM?

# 24 A:

I AM A TRAVEL AGENT.

# 25 Q:

AND BY WHOM ARE YOU EMPLOYED?

# 26 A:

PAN AMERICANA TRAVEL SYSTEM.

# 27 Q:

AND WHERE IS YOUR OFFICE? WHERE WAS IT LOCATED?

# 28 A:

THE ADDRESS?

# 29 Q:

YES, MA'AM.

# 30 A:

IT'S 6344 SAN FERNANDO ROAD IN THE CITY OF GLENDALE.

# 31 Q:

AND DID YOU SEE THE LADY WHO JUST WENT OUT IN THE HALL JUST BEFORE YOU CAME IN WHOSE NAME IS ROSA LOPEZ, ROSA MARIA LOPEZ? DO YOU KNOW HER?

# 32 A:

YES, I DO.

# 33 Q:

AND HOW DO YOU KNOW ROSA LOPEZ?

# 34 A:

BECAUSE SHE BUYS TICKETS FROM ME TO GO TO EL SALVADOR.

# 35 Q:

AND OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME HAVE YOU COME TO KNOW ROSA LOPEZ, IF YOU CAN TELL US?

# 36 A:

FOR ALMOST A YEAR. ABOUT A YEAR.

# 37 Q:

AND DO YOU RECALL THAT SHE HAS PURCHASED MORE THAN ONE TICKET TO EL SALVADOR FROM YOU?

# 38 A:

YES.

# 39 Q:

AND IS THAT THROUGH PAN AMERICANA TRAVEL SYSTEM?

# 40 A:

YES.

# 41 Q:

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED AT THAT TRAVEL SYSTEM?

# 42 A:

THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION, FOR ONE YEAR.

# 43 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND BEFORE THAT, DID YOU WORK FOR SOME OTHER LOCATION FOR THE SAME COMPANY?

# 44 A:

YES.

# 45 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, ON THE OTHER TIME OR TIMES THAT MISS LOPEZ HAS PURCHASED TICKETS, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT COUNTRY SHE WAS GOING TO?

# 46 A:

YES.

# 47 Q:

AND WHAT COUNTRY WAS THAT?

# 48 A:

EL SALVADOR.

# 49 Q:

AND DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT AIRLINE SHE FLEW ON?

# 50 A:

TACA OR UNITED.

# 51 Q:

ALL RIGHT. IN THAT CONNECTION, IF YOU RECALL, DID YOU HAVE OCCASION TO MAKE ANY RESERVATIONS FOR MISS ROSA LOPEZ AT ANY TIME DURING THE FIRST PART OF FEBRUARY TO GO TO EL SALVADOR?

# 52 A:

YES.

# 53 Q:

AND WHEN WAS THAT? WHEN DID YOU MAKE THOSE OBSERVATIONS, IF YOU RECALL?

# 54 A:

IT WAS ABOUT BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY THAT SHE WANTED TO LEAVE ON 15 OF FEBRUARY JUST ONE WAY.

KEY QUOTE

# 55 Q:

15TH OF FEBRUARY?

# 56 A:

YES.

# 57 Q:

AND THAT WAS A WEDNESDAY. AND DID YOU MAKE ANY RESERVATIONS FOR HER?

# 58 A:

YES, I DID.

# 59 Q:

AND DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT AIRLINE THOSE WERE MADE ON?

# 60 A:

NOT EXACTLY, BUT I THINK TACA OR UNITED.

# 61 Q:

AND OBVIOUSLY SHE DIDN'T GO ON FEBRUARY 15TH; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 62 A:

NO.

# 63 Q:

THOSE RESERVATIONS EXPIRED?

# 64 A:

YES.

# 65 Q:

ALL RIGHT. YOU RECEIVED A CALL OVER THE LUNCH HOUR FROM A MR. PAT MC KENNA, DID YOU, TODAY?

# 66 A:

YES.

# 67 Q:

AND WERE YOU ASKED TO COME DOWN TO COURT THIS AFTERNOON?

# 68 A:

YES.

# 69 Q:

AT MY REQUEST, HAVE YOU HAD OCCASION TO CHECK TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A FLIGHT TO EL SALVADOR TOMORROW NIGHT LEAVING LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT 11:00 O'CLOCK P.M.?

# 70 A:

YES.

# 71 Q:

AND WHAT AIRLINE IS THAT ON?

# 72 A:

UNITED.

# 73 Q:

AND WHAT -- IS THERE ALSO A TACA FLIGHT?

# 74 A:

YES.

# 75 Q:

THERE ARE TWO FLIGHTS, ONE TACA, ONE UNITED?

# 76 A:

THERE'S SEVERAL.

# 77 Q:

OKAY. SEVERAL FLIGHTS?

# 78 A:

UH-HUH.

# 79 Q:

AND IS THERE A NONSTOP FLIGHT TOMORROW NIGHT?

# 80 A:

I BELIEVE THIS FLIGHT SHE -- IT'S NONSTOP THAT LEAVES TOMORROW NIGHT.

# 81 Q:

AND IF -- IS THAT FLIGHT -- AND AT MY REQUEST, DID YOU CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS A NONSTOP FLIGHT AVAILABLE TO EL SALVADOR LEAVING LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TOMORROW NIGHT, THAT THERE ARE TICKETS AVAILABLE OR SEATS AVAILABLE?

# 82 A:

YES, THERE ARE.

# 83 Q:

ON THE OTHER OCCASION THAT OR OCCASIONS THAT YOU RECALL MISS LOPEZ TRAVELING WITH YOUR AGENCY, DO YOU RECALL HOW SHE PAID FOR HER FARE?

# 84 A:

YES.

# 85 Q:

AND HOW DID SHE?

# 86 A:

CASH.

# 87 Q:

AND WITH REGARD TO FLYING ON EITHER TACA OR UNITED, ARE YOU ABLE TO PAY FOR THE TICKETS THE SAME DAY YOU LEAVE IF SEATS ARE AVAILABLE?

# 88 A:

YES.

# 89 Q:

AND IF YOU CAN TELL US THE APPROXIMATE FARE ONE WAY TO EL SALVADOR FROM LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

# 90 A:

ABOUT 317.

# 91 Q:

ALL RIGHT.

# 92 A:

IT VARIES.

# 93 Q:

IT VARIES. IT'S 300 PLUS; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 94 A:

CORRECT.

# 95 Q:

AND THAT IF ONE HAD THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THERE ARE SEATS AVAILABLE TOMORROW NIGHT --

# 96 A:

YES.

# 97 Q:

-- ON THAT FLIGHT --

# 98 A:

YES.

# 99 Q:

-- WHAT TIME WOULD THAT FLIGHT ARRIVE IN EL SALVADOR, IF YOU KNOW?

# 100 A:

6:00 A.M. 6:10 A.M.

# 101 Q:

VERY WELL. AND YOU CAME DOWN PER OUR REQUEST WITHOUT SUBPOENA; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 102 A:

CORRECT.

# 103 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU VERY KINDLY.

# 104 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN.

# 105 MR. DARDEN:

MAY WE HAVE ONE MOMENT, YOUR HONOR?

# 106 THE COURT:

CERTAINLY.

# 107 MR. DARDEN:

EXCUSE ME, YOUR HONOR. WE NEED TO TAKE A COUPLE MOMENTS, YOUR HONOR.

# 108 MS. CLARK:

OUR COMPUTER WENT DOWN. WE'RE TRYING TO REMEMBER, TRYING TO BRING BACK WHAT --

# 109 MR. COCHRAN:

I COULDN'T HEAR.

# 110 THE COURT:

COUNSEL ARE INDICATING THAT THE REAL TIME COMPUTER ON THEIR DESK HAS FROZEN. THE COURT REPORTERS INDICATE THAT AFTER THE TRIPOD FELL ON THIS COURT REPORTER'S MACHINE, THAT IT'S BEEN FREEZING.

# 111 MR. DARDEN:

THEIR'S IS WORKING, YOUR HONOR?

# 112 THE COURT:

NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO. THE TESTIMONY WAS RATHER BRIEF THOUGH.

# 113 MR. COCHRAN:

WHAT DID THEY DO BEFORE THEY HAD THE REAL TIME? DON'T THEY TAKE NOTES?

KEY QUOTE

# 114 THE COURT:

WE'RE HAVING A SLIGHT TECHNICAL PROBLEM HERE.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Zulema Iida

IT WAS ABOUT BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY THAT SHE WANTED TO LEAVE ON 15 OF FEBRUARY JUST ONE WAY.

Establishes that Lopez had already tried to book a one-way departure, suggesting genuine flight risk.

Zulema Iida

CASH.

Lopez paid cash for previous tickets, meaning she could purchase a last-minute ticket without a paper trail.

Johnnie Cochran

WHAT DID THEY DO BEFORE THEY HAD THE REAL TIME? DON'T THEY TAKE NOTES?

Cochran's impatient aside when prosecution's computer froze, revealing tension under the surface of a brief proceeding.

Zulema Iida

TODAY RIGHT BY THE DOOR.

Established that Cochran and the witness had just met moments before she testified, underscoring how hastily she was called.

Evidence (2)

Informal

Travel reservation records for Rosa Lopez — one-way flight to El Salvador booked for February 15, subsequently expired

discussed verbally, no exhibit introduced

Informal

Available nonstop flights from LAX to El Salvador the following night on United and TACA, approximately $317 one-way

discussed to establish Lopez's means of departure

Notable Exchanges (2)

Christopher Darden•Lance A. Ito

Darden objected that the prosecution received no discovery about Iida and had just learned her name moments before she was called; the court overruled.

procedural friction

Lance A. Ito•Johnnie Cochran•Marcia Clark

After testimony concluded, the prosecution's real-time transcript computer froze (a tripod had earlier fallen on the court reporter's machine). Cochran quipped that lawyers used to take notes before real-time transcription.

light, mildly testy

Light Moments (1)

Johnnie Cochran

After the prosecution's computer froze, Cochran asked pointedly 'What did they do before they had the real time? Don't they take notes?' — drawing mild attention to the prosecution's reliance on technology.

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 1 overruled)

Proceeding 5073 • 114 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103