Cross-examination of Robert Riske (part 6)

📄 Cross-examination of Robert Riske (part 6) — Thursday, February 9, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\FEB\9\CROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-ROBERT-RI.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 16 of 167

Witness: Off. Robert Riske
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Thursday, February 9, 1995 • Utterances: 252

Johnnie Cochran cross-examines Officer Riske by using side-by-side photographs to demonstrate that both the Bundy glove and a nearby envelope had visibly moved between crime scene photos — evidence Riske acknowledges he did not witness being taken. Cochran also probes why all four detectives went to Rockingham after Robbery-Homicide took over the case, why Fuhrman returned to Bundy afterward, and catches Riske in a minor but notable admission that he showed the blood at the rear gate only to Fuhrman and Phillips, not to lead detectives Lange and Vannatter.

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

# 2 THE COURT:

THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. PLEASE BE SEATED. ALL RIGHT. WE'VE NOW BEEN REJOINED BY ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR JURY PANEL. OFFICER ROBERT RISKE IS STILL ON THE WITNESS STAND STILL UNDER OATH. AND, MR. COCHRAN, YOU MAY CONTINUE WITH YOUR CROSS-EXAMINATION.

# 3 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU VERY KINDLY, YOUR HONOR. MAY I APPROACH AGAIN?

# 4 THE COURT:

YOU MAY.

# 5 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: JUST WHEN WE BROKE, OFFICER RISKE, I ASKED YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT MOVEMENT OF THE ENVELOPE AND I NOW WANTED TO ASK YOU IF I COULD TO LOOK AT EXHIBIT 56, AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU ON EXHIBIT 56 TWO PHOTOGRAPHS SIDE BY SIDE.

# 6 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, THESE AREN'T OTHERWISE NUMBERED, BUT IF THEY WERE -- SHOULD I MAKE THEM A THROUGH WHATEVER?

# 7 THE COURT:

YES.

# 8 MR. COCHRAN:

G AND H --

# 9 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT.

# 10 MR. COCHRAN:

-- EXHIBIT 56.

# 11 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: I WANT YOU TO STEP DOWN IF YOU CAN AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE GLOVE UNDER THIS FOLIAGE HERE, THIS PLANT. CAN YOU SEE IT FROM THERE?

# 12 A:

YES, SIR.

# 13 Q:

BY THE LASER POINTER?

# 14 A:

YES, SIR.

# 15 Q:

IF YOU'LL NOTICE, THE FINGERS OF THE GLOVE ARE POINTED TOWARD A TENNIS SHOE. DO YOU SEE THAT?

# 16 A:

YES, SIR.

# 17 Q:

AND DO YOU NOTICE THAT THE "V" PART OF THE GLOVE IS ALMOST UP AGAINST THE WALKWAY THERE? DO YOU SEE THAT?

# 18 A:

YES, SIR.

# 19 Q:

I'M INDICATING THAT.

# 20 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT.

# 21 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: DO YOU SEE?

# 22 A:

YES, SIR, I DO.

# 23 Q:

OKAY. NOW, I WANT YOU NOW TO SHIFT YOUR ATTENTION OVER TO THIS NEXT EXHIBIT WHERE THERE'S A 102 MARKED HEREIN. CAN YOU SEE WHERE THE "V" PART OF THE GLOVE IS NOW POINTING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION?

# 24 A:

YES, SIR.

# 25 Q:

AND THAT THE FINGERS OF THE GLOVE ARE NOW POINTED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ALSO?

# 26 A:

YES, SIR.

# 27 Q:

THE GLOVE HAS BEEN MOVED? DO YOU SEE THAT?

# 28 A:

YES, SIR.

# 29 Q:

WERE YOU THERE WHEN THIS HAPPENED?

# 30 A:

NO, I WASN'T.

# 31 Q:

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU TRIED TO DO AT THIS SCENE WAS TO PRESERVE IT SO THAT EVIDENCE WAS NOT MOVED; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 32 A:

YES.

# 33 THE COURT:

MR. COCHRAN?

# 34 MR. COCHRAN:

I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW IT TO THE OTHER JURORS.

# 35 THE COURT:

I WAS ABOUT TO SUGGEST THAT.

# 36 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. I HAVE SOME HELP. I HAVE SOME HELP FROM THESE TWO LAWYERS. APPRECIATE IT.

# 37 THE COURT:

I THINK WE'RE JUST WORKING WITH ONE OF THESE RIGHT NOW. WELL, LET'S HAVE THE JURY DOWN AT THE SHORT END DOWN HERE TAKE A LOOK.

# 38 MR. COCHRAN:

MAY I HAVE OFFICER RISKE COME DOWN ALSO?

# 39 THE COURT:

YOU MAY.

# 40 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: NOW, OFFICER RISKE, FIRST OF ALL, WITH REGARD TO THE ENVELOPE WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT FIRST, REFERRING TO THE ENVELOPE IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH HERE ON -- IS THAT 56 -- PEOPLE'S 56 FOR IDENTIFICATION, DO YOU SEE -- OFFICER RISKE, AS I POINTED OUT, DO YOU SEE THE GROUTING THERE AND THE ENVELOPE LOCATION?

# 41 A:

YES, I DO.

# 42 Q:

THE ENVELOPE IS BEYOND THE GROUTING?

# 43 A:

YES, SIR.

# 44 Q:

SEE THAT?

# 45 MR. COCHRAN:

NOW, MR. DOUGLAS, CAN YOU PUT THAT DOWN JUST A SECOND? I WANT TO SHOW HIM THE OTHER ENVELOPE, THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPH.

# 46 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: NOW, WE NOW HAVE EXHIBITS 56 AND 54. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE, DO YOU SEE THE GROUTING, OFFICER RISKE, ON THIS, WHERE THE GROUTING IS THERE AND THE ENVELOPE? DO YOU SEE THAT?

# 47 A:

YES, SIR.

# 48 Q:

AND UP HERE, YOU SEE WHERE THE GROUTING IS AND THE ENVELOPE?

# 49 A:

YES, SIR.

# 50 Q:

YOU SEE IT'S BEEN MOVED IN THOSE TWO PICTURES, RIGHT?

KEY QUOTE

# 51 A:

YES, SIR.

# 52 Q:

OKAY. AND FROM 56 TO 54.

# 53 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE NOW, GENTLEMEN, TO 56 WITH REGARD TO THE GLOVE, REFERRING TO THE GLOVE. FOR THE RECORD, MADAM REPORTER, WE'RE REFERRING NOW TO PEOPLE'S 56 FOR IDENTIFICATION.

# 54 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: NOW, OFFICER RISKE, WITH REGARD TO THE GLOVE HERE IN WHAT IS NOW 56-G, 56-G, DO YOU SEE THE "V" PART OF THE GLOVE THERE --

# 55 A:

YES, SIR, I DO.

# 56 Q:

-- UP AGAINST THE WALKWAY THERE?

# 57 A:

YES.

# 58 Q:

SEE THE FINGERS OF THE GLOVE POINTED TOWARDS THE SHOES THERE, TENNIS SHOES?

# 59 A:

YES.

# 60 Q:

AND IF YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT AT 56-H, SEE THE "V" PART OF THE GLOVE IS POINTING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, THE FINGERS ARE POINTING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION?

# 61 A:

YES.

# 62 Q:

AND IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH, 56-G -- 56-H, IS THERE ALSO A CAP SOMEWHERE IN THIS FOLIAGE?

# 63 A:

YES, SIR.

# 64 Q:

IT'S HIDDEN PRETTY MUCH BY THE FOILAGE HERE?

# 65 A:

WOULD BE RIGHT HERE (INDICATING).

# 66 Q:

NOW, SO THAT WE'RE CLEAR --

# 67 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. YOU MAY RESUME YOUR SEAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

# 68 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: I BELIEVE THAT YOU TOLD US EARLIER THAT YOU WERE PRESENT WHEN DETECTIVE FUHRMAN RETURNED FROM ROCKINGHAM; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 69 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 70 Q:

ALTHOUGH YOU COULDN'T TELL US THE EXACT TIME THAT HE GOT BACK, IT WAS YOUR BELIEF THAT HE HAD BEEN AWAY, HAD GONE TO ROCKINGHAM FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND THAT HE RETURNED SOMEWHERE PERHAPS AFTER 6:30; IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?

# 71 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 72 Q:

AND THAT THE PHOTOGRAPH OF FUHRMAN WITH NOTHING ON HIS SHOES, WITH HIS SHOES IN THE AREA WHERE MR. GOLDMAN'S BODY WAS FOUND WAS TAKEN AFTER HE RETURNED BACK FROM ROCKINGHAM; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 73 A:

RIGHT.

# 74 Q:

AND IT'S CLEAR, IS IT NOT -- AND YOU RECALL, DO YOU NOT, THAT THE CORONER, THE L.A. COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE HAD NOT ARRIVED AT THAT SCENE BY THE TIME THAT YOU LEFT AT 7:15; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 75 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 76 Q:

SO WHEN YOU LEFT THAT MORNING, BOTH OF THE BODIES WERE STILL IN THEIR SAME RELATIVE POSITIONS; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 77 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 78 Q:

IF YOU KNOW, SIR, HAD THE CORONER'S OFFICE BEEN CALLED AT ALL BY THE TIME THAT YOU LEFT?

# 79 A:

I HAVE NO IDEA.

# 80 Q:

YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE AT ALL OF THAT? BUT YOU KNOW THE BODIES WERE STILL THERE?

# 81 A:

YES.

# 82 Q:

SO THAT THE PICTURES WHICH I'VE JUST SHOWN YOU WHERE THE EVIDENCE APPARENTLY HAS BEEN MOVED, WHILE YOU WERE THERE AT LEAST, DID YOU SEE THE PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING ANY OF THESE PICTURES?

# 83 A:

NO, I DIDN'T. I SAW HIM TAKE A PICTURE OF FUHRMAN. THAT'S IT.

# 84 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, THE PICTURE OF FUHRMAN WAS IN THIS SAME GENERAL AREA; WAS IT NOT?

# 85 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 86 Q:

AND SO AT THIS POINT, THE PHOTOGRAPHER WAS NO LONGER IN THE BACK; HE WAS NOW UP IN THE FRONT PART OF THE LOCATION, RIGHT?

# 87 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 88 Q:

DID HE CONTINUE TO SHOOT PICTURES AFTER THAT?

# 89 A:

I SAW HIM TAKE A PICTURE OF MARK FUHRMAN. THAT'S THE ONLY ONE I SAW BESIDES THE REAR.

# 90 Q:

DID YOU CONTINUE TO WATCH THE PHOTOGRAPHER AFTER THAT?

# 91 A:

YES.

# 92 Q:

AND DID YOU WATCH HIM UNTIL YOU LEFT OR DID YOU GO AND DO SOMETHING ELSE?

# 93 A:

I STAYED IN THE FRONT, FRONT OF THE CRIME SCENE THE WHOLE TIME UNTIL I LEFT.

# 94 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, WHEN YOU WERE OUTSIDE THE CRIME SCENE AND OUTSIDE IN YOUR CAR WRITING YOUR REPORT, YOU WEREN'T WATCHING THE PHOTOGRAPHER AT THAT POINT, WERE YOU?

# 95 A:

I WROTE MY REPORT IN THE REAR.

# 96 Q:

IN THE REAR OF WHAT?

# 97 A:

OF THE REAR OF -- IN THE ALLEY.

# 98 Q:

THAT WAS THE REPORT THAT I READ TO YOU EARLIER?

# 99 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 100 Q:

YOU WROTE THAT IN THE REAR AT 5:15?

# 101 A:

I WROTE THAT IN THE REAR, YES.

# 102 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WHEN YOU WERE BACK IN THE FRONT, YOU WEREN'T AT ALL TIMES WATCHING THE PHOTOGRAPHER, WERE YOU, AS HE TOOK THESE PICTURES?

# 103 A:

NO.

# 104 Q:

IN OTHER WORDS, HE WAS DOING HIS JOB, YOU WERE DOING YOUR JOB?

# 105 A:

NO. HE WASN'T TAKING PHOTOS. HE DIDN'T TAKE THESE PICTURES WHEN I WAS THERE.

# 106 Q:

OKAY. HE TOOK THESE PICTURES LATER?

# 107 A:

I WOULD ASSUME. HE DIDN'T TAKE THEM WHEN I WAS THERE.

# 108 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WELL, YOU SEE THE PICTURES NOW, RIGHT?

# 109 A:

YEAH.

# 110 Q:

YOU DIDN'T SEE THEM TAKEN WHEN YOU WERE THERE?

# 111 A:

NO, I DIDN'T.

# 112 Q:

OKAY. NOW, YOU DESCRIBED FOR US THAT AT ONE POINT, SIR, AS PART OF YOUR DUTIES THERE, YOU SEARCHED IN AND AROUND THE ALLEYWAY FROM DOROTHY I THINK TO BUNDY TO GORHAM. RECALL THAT?

# 113 A:

YES.

# 114 Q:

AND WHAT WERE YOU SEARCHING FOR?

# 115 A:

ANYTHING, ANY OTHER EVIDENCE WE MIGHT FIND.

# 116 Q:

WERE YOU SEARCHING FOR BLOODY CLOTHES?

# 117 A:

BLOODY CLOTHES, A BLOODY HANDPRINT ON A TRASH CAN, MAYBE EVIDENCE FROM A TRASH CAN, ADDITIONAL BLOOD DROPS.

# 118 Q:

SEARCHING FOR KNIVES?

# 119 A:

ANYTHING.

# 120 Q:

WHEN YOU WERE SEARCHING, WERE YOU SEARCHING BY YOURSELF OR IN COMPANY WITH SOME OTHER OFFICER?

# 121 A:

I WAS ALONE.

# 122 Q:

AND WHO HAD DIRECTED YOU TO DO THIS SEARCH?

# 123 A:

NOBODY.

# 124 Q:

AND AS YOU SEARCHED, HOW LONG DID YOU SEARCH, SIR?

# 125 A:

10 MINUTES MAYBE.

# 126 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND DURING THE TIME THAT YOU SEARCHED, DID YOU EVER FIND ANY BLOODY CLOTHES OR KNIFE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE AT ALL?

# 127 A:

NO, I DIDN'T.

# 128 Q:

WERE ANY OF THE OTHER OFFICERS WHO YOU PREVIOUSLY TOLD US WHO WERE AT THE SCENE THAT MORNING, WERE ANY OF THEM SEARCHING DO YOU RECALL?

# 129 A:

I KNOW THEY WERE KNOCKING ON DOORS TALKING TO NEIGHBORS, BUT IF THEY WERE SEARCHING, I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE.

# 130 Q:

YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE SEARCHING OR NOT?

# 131 A:

NO.

# 132 Q:

ALL RIGHT. BUT YOU SAW A NUMBER OF OFFICERS FANNING OUT IN THE AREA. IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?

# 133 A:

YES.

# 134 Q:

NOW, WHEN THE FOUR DETECTIVES WENT TO -- LEFT BUNDY AND WENT TO ROCKINGHAM, DID THEY ALL GO TOGETHER?

# 135 A:

I DIDN'T SEE THEM LEAVE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WENT.

# 136 Q:

ALL RIGHT. YOU KNEW AT SOME POINT THEY HAD LEFT, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THEY LEFT, RIGHT?

# 137 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 138 Q:

DO YOU KNOW WHY ALL FOUR OF THEM WENT OVER THERE?

# 139 A:

PARDON ME?

# 140 Q:

DO YOU KNOW WHY ALL FOUR OF THEM WENT OVER THERE?

# 141 A:

NO, I DON'T.

# 142 Q:

IT'S TRUE, IS IT NOT, THAT ONCE VANNATTER AND LANGE WERE ASSIGNED TO THIS CASE, FUHRMAN AND PHILLIPS WERE OFF THE CASE, RIGHT?

# 143 A:

MEANING --

# 144 Q:

THE DETECTIVES ON THE CASE.

# 145 A:

THEY COULD BE ASSISTING DETECTIVES. THEY JUST WEREN'T IN CHARGE.

# 146 Q:

LET ME ASK YOU THIS. DO YOU KNOW THAT FOR A FACT?

# 147 A:

NO.

# 148 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO AS AN OFFICER OF SOME FOUR YEARS EXPERIENCE, HAD YOU EVER BEEN AT A SCENE WHERE ROBBERY-HOMICIDE DETECTIVES CAME AND TOOK OVER?

# 149 A:

THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU MEAN. I'VE HANDLED CASES WHERE THE K CAR WAS WORKING FOR ROBBERY-HOMICIDE COMES OUT AND TAKES A REPORT.

# 150 Q:

I'M TALKING ABOUT A CASE WHERE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE CASE, ROBBERY-HOMICIDE DETECTIVES ARE ASSIGNED TO THE CASE AND DETECTIVES WHO ARE ON THE CASE ARE THEN TAKEN OFF. HAVE YOU HAD THAT SITUATION BEFORE?

# 151 A:

NO.

# 152 Q:

AND WHEN YOU TALKED TO DETECTIVE FUHRMAN, WHEN THE TWO OF YOU WERE TALKING AND YOU WERE ADVISED THAT ROBBERY-HOMICIDE WAS TAKING OVER THE CASE FROM PHILLIPS AND FUHRMAN -- REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION?

# 153 A:

YES.

# 154 Q:

WAS FUHRMAN DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE HE WAS BEING RELIEVED BY VANNATTER AND LANGE?

# 155 A:

HE DIDN'T TELL ME HE WAS DISAPPOINTED, NO.

# 156 Q:

WHAT DID HE TELL YOU ABOUT THAT? DID HE TELL YOU THAT THEY WERE RELIEVING HIM?

# 157 A:

YEAH. HE JUST SAID THAT ROBBERY-HOMICIDE WAS ON THE WAY TO TAKE OVER.

# 158 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, IF ROBBERY-HOMICIDE ARRIVED THEN SOMETIME AFTER 4:00 O'CLOCK TO TAKE OVER, DO YOU KNOW WHY IT WAS THEN THAT ALL FOUR OF THE DETECTIVES THEN WENT OVER TO ROCKINGHAM?

# 159 A:

NO.

# 160 Q:

OKAY. AND IF ROBBERY-HOMICIDE HAD TAKEN OVER AT 4:00, DO YOU KNOW WHY IT WAS THAT FUHRMAN RETURNED BACK TO THE ADDRESS THERE AT BUNDY AFTER 6:30 AND WAS PARTICIPATING IN TAKING PICTURES? DO YOU KNOW WHY THAT WAS?

KEY QUOTE

# 161 A:

NO, I DON'T.

# 162 Q:

WHEN FUHRMAN CAME BACK TO BUNDY, WAS HE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS PARTNER ALSO, DETECTIVE PHILLIPS?

# 163 A:

YES.

# 164 Q:

WAS HE THERE ALSO WHEN HE CAME BACK?

# 165 A:

HE WAS IN THE STREET.

# 166 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND DID YOU GIVE HIM THE PHONE BACK AT THAT POINT?

# 167 A:

YES, I DID.

# 168 Q:

BY THE WAY, WITH REGARD TO YOUR TESTIMONY HERE, HAVE YOU WATCHED TELEVISION AT ALL IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CASE BEFORE TODAY?

# 169 A:

WELL, YOU CAN'T REALLY HELP IT. IT'S ALWAYS ON.

# 170 Q:

IT'S ALWAYS ON, ISN'T IT? WERE YOU TOLD THAT YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO WATCH TELEVISION?

# 171 A:

NO.

# 172 Q:

THE D.A.'S DIDN'T TELL YOU THE JUDGE HAD ORDERED ALL WITNESSES NOT TO WATCH TELEVISION? THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU THAT?

# 173 A:

NOT THAT I RECALL, NO.

# 174 Q:

SO YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TELLING YOU THAT; AND DID YOU HEAR THE TESTIMONY OF PABLO FENJVES WITH REGARD TO THE COLOR OF THAT JEEP?

# 175 A:

NO.

# 176 Q:

DID YOU SEE HIS TESTIMONY?

# 177 A:

NO, I DIDN'T.

# 178 Q:

YOU STILL BELIEVE THAT JEEP IS DARK GREEN?

# 179 A:

I BELIEVE IT WAS DARK GREEN.

# 180 Q:

YOU NEVER HEARD ANYBODY WHEN YOU WERE WATCHING TELEVISION SAY THAT, HAVE YOU?

# 181 A:

NO.

# 182 Q:

WELL, WHAT PART OF THIS PROCEEDING HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING ON TELEVISION?

# 183 A:

OF THIS TRIAL?

# 184 Q:

YES, OF THIS TRIAL.

# 185 A:

NONE OF THIS TRIAL. I SAW THE PRELIM.

# 186 Q:

YOU HAVE NOT BEEN WATCHING SINCE THAT TIME?

# 187 A:

NO.

# 188 Q:

YOU JUST SAID IT'S ALWAYS ON TELEVISION. WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN?

# 189 A:

JUST YOU TURN ON THE CHANNEL, IT'S ON. YOU CHANGE THE CHANNEL.

# 190 Q:

WELL, IF YOU TURN -- WELL, IF YOU CHANGE THE CHANNEL, YOU TURN TO ANOTHER CHANNEL THAT HAS IT ON, DON'T YOU?

# 191 A:

YEAH, BUT YOU JUST KEEP CHANGING THE CHANNEL.

# 192 Q:

KEEP DOING WHAT?

# 193 A:

YOU JUST KEEP CHANGING THE CHANNEL. THERE'S MORE THAN ONE CHANNEL, SIR.

KEY QUOTE

# 194 Q:

NO. I HOPE SO. BUT IF -- WHEN YOU TURN FROM ONE CHANNEL TO THE OTHER, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CASE AND THIS TRIAL BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T AWARE OF THE COURT'S ORDER? THAT'S THE QUESTION.

# 195 A:

I DON'T RECALL SEEING ANYTHING ON THIS CASE, ON THE TRIAL. I SAW THE PRELIM.

# 196 Q:

NONE OF THE TESTIMONY?

# 197 A:

NO.

# 198 Q:

NOW, WHEN THE FOUR DETECTIVES WENT OVER TO ROCKINGHAM, DO YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE PHOTOGRAPHER WENT WITH THEM?

# 199 A:

I DON'T KNOW.

# 200 Q:

DID YOU SEE HIM DURING THE TIME WHEN YOU DIDN'T SEE THE FOUR DETECTIVES?

# 201 A:

I BELIEVE HE WAS STILL AT BUNDY.

# 202 Q:

YOU THINK HE WAS STILL AT BUNDY?

# 203 A:

YES, SIR.

# 204 Q:

WOULD IT REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION TO LOOK AT THE LOG AT ALL?

# 205 A:

I DIDN'T WRITE THE LOG AGAIN. SO --

# 206 Q:

SO WOULD THAT REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION?

# 207 A:

I DIDN'T WRITE THE LOG. I DON'T KNOW --

# 208 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WELL, WHAT DID YOU SEE HIM DOING IF YOU BELIEVE HE WAS THERE DURING THE TIME THEY WERE AWAY?

# 209 A:

STANDING BY A CAR TALKING TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

# 210 Q:

AND IT'S YOUR BELIEF HE DID NOT GO TO ROCKINGHAM, RIGHT? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US?

# 211 A:

I BELIEVE HE STAYED. I'M NOT SURE.

# 212 Q:

YOU'RE NOT SURE?

# 213 A:

WELL, I BELIEVE HE STAYED AT BUNDY.

# 214 Q:

NOW, THIS BLOOD THAT YOU DESCRIBED TOWARD THE REAR GATE, THE REAR GATE OF THAT PROPERTY, COULD YOU SEE THAT WITH THE NAKED EYE OR DID YOU SEE THAT WITH THE USE OF A FLASHLIGHT?

# 215 A:

FLASHLIGHT.

# 216 Q:

AND DID YOU AND YOUR PARTNER BOTH SEE IT OR DID YOU SEE IT FIRST?

# 217 A:

I SAW THE BLOOD ON THE INTERIOR. HE SAW THE BLOOD ON THE EXTERIOR.

# 218 Q:

AND DID YOU TELL THE DETECTIVES LANGE AND VANNATTER ABOUT THIS?

# 219 A:

I SHOWED IT TO FUHRMAN AND PHILLIPS. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY TOLD THEM OR NOT.

KEY QUOTE

# 220 Q:

YOU SHOWED IT TO FUHRMAN AND PHILLIPS?

# 221 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 222 Q:

YOU DID NOT SHOW IT TO LANGE AND VANNATTER?

# 223 A:

NO.

# 224 Q:

AND YOU FELT THAT WAS IMPORTANT EVIDENCE; DID YOU NOT?

# 225 A:

YES.

# 226 Q:

WITH REGARD TO ANY OR EITHER OF THESE FENCES, DID YOU EVER HAVE OCCASION TO CLOSE EITHER THE FRONT GATE WE'VE PREVIOUSLY SEEN OR THIS REAR GATE?

# 227 A:

NO, I DIDN'T.

# 228 Q:

SO YOU DON'T KNOW THE SOUND THAT THOSE GATES MIGHT MAKE WHEN THEY'RE CLOSED?

# 229 A:

NO.

# 230 Q:

YOU DIDN'T TEST THOSE AT ALL?

# 231 A:

NO.

# 232 Q:

I MAY HAVE ASKED YOU THIS. WITH REGARD TO HOW THAT FRONT GATE IS OPENED, WHILE YOU WERE THERE, DID YOU OR ANY OF THE OFFICERS CONDUCT ANY KIND OF AN EXPERIMENT TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS?

# 233 A:

NO.

# 234 Q:

HOW YOU GET IN THE FRONT GATE?

# 235 A:

NO.

# 236 Q:

YOU DIDN'T DO THAT?

# 237 A:

UH-UH.

# 238 Q:

WHILE YOU WERE THERE, DID THE FINGERPRINT DUSTERS OR THE TECHNICIANS WHO DO THAT, DID THEY COME TO THE SCENE AT ALL?

# 239 A:

NO.

# 240 Q:

AND WHILE YOU WERE THERE, YOU CONTINUED AS BEST YOU COULD TO TRY AND PRESERVE THAT CRIME SCENE WITHOUT MOVING EVIDENCE, RIGHT?

# 241 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 242 Q:

OR STEPPING IN BLOOD; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 243 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 244 Q:

YOU DID NOT RETURN TO THAT SCENE AGAIN IN ANY OFFICIAL CAPACITY AFTER YOU LEFT AT 7:15 OR 7:20 ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 13, 1994; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 245 A:

NOT WHILE I WAS STILL AT THE CRIME SCENE, NO.

# 246 Q:

WERE YOU AWARE THAT AT SOME POINT, THAT CRIME SCENE WAS HOSED DOWN? DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME AND WHAT DAY THAT WAS DONE?

# 247 A:

NO.

# 248 Q:

YOU DON'T KNOW?

# 249 A:

NO, I DON'T.

# 250 Q:

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT DATE IT WAS NO LONGER DESIGNATED A CRIME SCENE, DO YOU?

# 251 A:

NO.

# 252 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT, YOUR HONOR. PERHAPS THIS MIGHT BE AN APPROPRIATE PLACE. I'M NOT FINISHED.

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (4)

Johnnie Cochran

YOU SEE IT'S BEEN MOVED IN THOSE TWO PICTURES, RIGHT?

Core thesis of this examination — Cochran establishes through Riske's own acknowledgment that evidence was repositioned between photographs, raising tampering implications.

Officer Riske

I SHOWED IT TO FUHRMAN AND PHILLIPS. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY TOLD THEM OR NOT.

Riske admits he showed the crucial blood evidence at the rear gate to Fuhrman and Phillips rather than to the lead Robbery-Homicide detectives Lange and Vannatter — a chain-of-custody gap the defense would exploit.

Officer Riske

YOU JUST KEEP CHANGING THE CHANNEL. THERE'S MORE THAN ONE CHANNEL, SIR.

Riske's slightly sassy deflection when Cochran presses him on watching TV coverage in apparent violation of the court's sequestration order for witnesses — reveals he was exposed to the preliminary hearing at minimum.

Johnnie Cochran

IF ROBBERY-HOMICIDE HAD TAKEN OVER AT 4:00, DO YOU KNOW WHY IT WAS THAT FUHRMAN RETURNED BACK TO THE ADDRESS THERE AT BUNDY AFTER 6:30 AND WAS PARTICIPATING IN TAKING PICTURES?

Cochran plants a question he knows Riske cannot answer, highlighting that Fuhrman was still actively involved at the scene after nominally being relieved — central to the defense's Fuhrman narrative.

Evidence (4)

People's 56-G

Photograph of glove under foliage with fingers pointing toward tennis shoe and 'V' against walkway

Displayed to witness and jury to show original glove position

People's 56-H

Photograph of same glove area showing glove and cap repositioned in different orientation

Compared to 56-G to demonstrate movement; also reveals a cap partially hidden in foliage

People's 56

Photograph showing envelope position relative to grouting in walkway

Used to establish original envelope position

People's 54

Photograph showing envelope in different position relative to same grouting

Compared to People's 56 to demonstrate envelope had been moved

Notable Exchanges (3)

Johnnie Cochran•Officer Riske•Jury

Cochran has the jury step down and physically approach the photographs while Riske stands with them, using a laser pointer to walk through glove and envelope movement side-by-side. A collaborative, theatrical courtroom moment designed to make evidence movement viscerally clear.

strategic

Johnnie Cochran•Officer Riske

Cochran questions whether Riske watched TV in violation of a court order barring witnesses from following trial coverage. Riske admits watching the preliminary hearing, claims not to have seen trial testimony, but the 'always on' admission undermines his credibility on this point.

revealing

Johnnie Cochran•Officer Riske

Cochran establishes that Riske showed the rear gate blood evidence only to Fuhrman and Phillips, not to lead detectives Lange and Vannatter, and that he did not know whether Fuhrman and Phillips passed the information along.

strategic

Light Moments (2)

Officer Riske

Riske responds to Cochran's TV-watching inquisition with 'YOU JUST KEEP CHANGING THE CHANNEL. THERE'S MORE THAN ONE CHANNEL, SIR.' — a dry, slightly combative quip that drew a mild reaction.

Johnnie Cochran

Cochran introduces his colleagues helping move exhibit boards in front of the jury: 'I HAVE SOME HELP FROM THESE TWO LAWYERS. APPRECIATE IT.'

Credibility Attacks (3)

⚔ Officer Riske

Prior conduct / court order violation

Cochran establishes that witnesses were ordered not to watch television coverage of the trial, that the D.A.'s office apparently failed to inform Riske of this order, and that Riske had at minimum watched the preliminary hearing — raising questions about contaminated recollection.

⚔ Crime scene investigation (LAPD)

Demonstrative evidence / photograph comparison

Cochran uses side-by-side photographs to prove the glove and the envelope both moved between crime scene photos, with Riske confirming he did not witness these photographs being taken and could not account for who moved the evidence or when.

⚔ Officer Riske

Omission / chain of custody gap

Cochran elicits that Riske showed blood at the rear gate only to Fuhrman and Phillips — the detectives later relieved of the case — rather than directly to lead detectives Lange and Vannatter, undermining the integrity of evidence communication.

Witness Demeanor

Cooperative but increasingly clipped in answers as questioning extends

Slightly defensive and sardonic during TV-watching exchange

Answers 'UH-UH' once — notably informal for sworn testimony

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 4823 • 252 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103