Direct examination of Cynthia Shahian (part 3)

📄 Direct examination of Cynthia Shahian (part 3) — Monday, February 6, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\FEB\6\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-CYNTHIA-.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 13 of 167

◀ Sidebar: Evidence Code 1240 Jury reading ▶

Witness: Cynthia Shahian
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Monday, February 6, 1995 • Utterances: 24

Darden concludes his direct examination of Cynthia Shahian by walking her through a letter signed 'O.J.' that was found in Nicole Brown's possession on June 7. The witness confirms she discussed the letter's contents with Nicole, whose reaction Darden attempted to characterize as 'devastated and horrified' before Cochran's objection cut him off. Darden closes by asking the jury be allowed to read the letter.

# 1 (THE FOLLOWING PROCEEDINGS WERE HELD IN OPEN COURT:)

# 2 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN.

# 3 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: MR. FAIRTLOUGH, COULD YOU FOCUS ON THE FIRST THREE LINES OF THE LETTER, THE NARRATIVE PORTION OF THE LETTER?

# 4 CYNTHIA SHAHIAN:

CAN YOU -- IT'S TOO LARGE.

# 5 THE COURT:

LITTLE WIDE HERE.

# 6 CYNTHIA SHAHIAN:

BRING IT DOWN.

# 7 MR. DARDEN:

IS THAT AS GOOD AS YOU CAN DO?

# 8 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: MISS SHAHIAN, DO YOU SEE WHERE THE LETTER INDICATES SOMETHING ABOUT A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES?

# 9 A:

YES.

# 10 Q:

DID YOU DISCUSS THE CONTENT OF THE LETTER WITH NICOLE BROWN?

# 11 A:

DID I?

# 12 Q:

YES.

# 13 MR. COCHRAN:

THAT CAN BE ANSWERED YES OR NO.

# 14 CYNTHIA SHAHIAN:

YES.

# 15 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: AND WAS IT DURING YOUR DISCUSSION WITH HER, THE CONTENT OF THAT LETTER, THAT SHE SEEMED DEVASTATED --

KEY QUOTE

# 16 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO THIS.

# 17 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: -- AND HORRIFIED?

# 18 MR. COCHRAN:

ASKED AND ANSWERED, YOUR HONOR.

# 19 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED. SUSTAINED. YOU ARE ARGUING YOUR OBJECTION AS WELL, MR. COCHRAN. SUSTAINED.

KEY QUOTE

# 20 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: LOOKING DOWN AT THE BASE OR THE BOTTOM OF THE LETTER, SEE THE WORDS "O.J." THERE?

# 21 A:

YES.

# 22 Q:

THIS IS THE LETTER YOU SAW IN NICOLE BROWN'S POSSESSION ON JUNE 7; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 23 A:

ABSOLUTELY, YES.

# 24 MR. DARDEN:

I WOULD ASK THAT THE JURY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE LETTER, YOUR HONOR. OTHER THAN THAT, I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

Cynthia Shahian

ABSOLUTELY, YES.

Unequivocal confirmation that the letter displayed in court is the same letter she saw in Nicole Brown's possession on June 7 — a clean, emphatic ID for the jury.

Christopher Darden

AND WAS IT DURING YOUR DISCUSSION WITH HER, THE CONTENT OF THAT LETTER, THAT SHE SEEMED DEVASTATED -- ... -- AND HORRIFIED?

Darden tries to smuggle Nicole's emotional reaction into the record; Cochran cuts it off. The jury heard 'devastated' even if the answer was blocked.

Lance A. Ito

SUSTAINED. SUSTAINED. YOU ARE ARGUING YOUR OBJECTION AS WELL, MR. COCHRAN. SUSTAINED.

Ito sustains but also scolds Cochran for grandstanding — a double rebuke.

Evidence (1)

Informal

Letter signed 'O.J.' referencing a 'change in circumstances,' found in Nicole Brown's possession on June 7

displayed to court via projection, witness identified it, Darden requested jury be given opportunity to read it

Notable Exchanges (1)

Christopher Darden•Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

Darden attempts to elicit that Nicole seemed 'devastated and horrified' after discussing the letter's contents; Cochran objects asked-and-answered; Ito sustains twice and also rebukes Cochran for arguing his objection aloud.

strategic

Objections

1 objections (1 sustained, 0 overruled)

Proceeding 4749 • 24 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103