In just a handful of questions, Darden asked Rosa Lopez whether she would return from El Salvador if Judge Ito ordered it and provided travel accommodations. Lopez warmly but firmly told the court she would not return — and would flee to another country if necessary. Darden then attempted to suggest her attorney had coached her to say this, an objection was overruled, and Lopez denied it.
# 1 MR. DARDEN: JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.
# 2 THE COURT: A COUPLE.
FURTHER RECROSS-EXAMINATION
# 4 Q: MISS LOPEZ, YOU HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR JUDGE ITO, DON'T YOU?
# 6 Q: IF HE PROVIDES YOU WITH A PLANE TICKET AND A HOTEL ROOM AND IF HE ORDERS YOU TO RETURN FROM EL SALVADOR TO TESTIFY, WILL YOU RETURN?
# 7 A: I LIKE YOU VERY MUCH, YOUR HONOR, BUT I WON'T COME BACK. I WILL GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY, SIR. AND I RESPECT YOU VERY MUCH.
KEY QUOTE # 8 THE COURT: THANK YOU, MISS LOPEZ.
# 9 Q: BY MR. DARDEN: DID YOUR LAWYER TELL YOU TO TELL THE JUDGE THAT YOU WILL NOT COME BACK?
KEY QUOTE # 10 MR. COCHRAN: NO. I OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THE QUESTION.
# 11 THE COURT: OVERRULED.
# 13 Q: BY MR. DARDEN: DID YOU UNDERSTAND MR. COCHRAN'S OBJECTION?
# 15 THE COURT: THANK YOU.
# 16 MR. DARDEN: THAT'S ALL.