📄 Motion: opening statement boards — Monday, January 23, 1995
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JAN\23\MOTION-OPENING-STATEMENT-BOARD.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 4 of 167

Motion: opening statement boards

Date: Monday, January 23, 1995 • Utterances: 174
Before opening statements began, the court worked through prosecution objections to roughly 20 defense boards and exhibits intended for use during Cochran's opening. The session covered disputes over a sock timeline board, a blood-vial accounting chart, OJ's calendar (whose authenticity was contested between Shapiro and Darden), aerial photos of the estate, and several photographs. Cochran voluntarily withdrew a videotape from the opening, citing logistics.
1 MS. CLARK:

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE OBJECTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO THOSE EXHIBITS, THOSE FEW EXHIBITS WE WERE SHOWN BY THE DEFENSE ON FRIDAY.

2 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. MISS CLARK, WHY DON'T YOU USE THE PODIUM.

3 MS. CLARK:

BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO STAY OFF CAMERA. YOU ASKED ME WHY I'M NOT. SO -- WITH RESPECT TO THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT -- DEFENSE PROPOSES TO USE A PHOTOGRAPH OF CLAUDIA RATCLIFFE STANDING NEAR THE BODIES. IS THAT WITHDRAWN AS WELL? THERE WAS SOME STILLS THAT DEFENSE INDICATED THEY WITHDREW. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS ONE OF THEM.

KEY QUOTE
4 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND DEFENSE COUNSEL.)
5 MR. SCHECK:

JUST THE POLICE OFFICER WALKING DOWN --

6 MS. CLARK:

SO THERE WOULD BE AN OBJECTION TO THAT ONE.

7 THE COURT:

THAT IS WHAT, A PHOTOGRAPH OF WHAT?

8 MS. CLARK:

CLAUDIA RATCLIFFE STANDING NEAR THE BODIES.

9 THE COURT:

AND WHO IS CLAUDIA RATCLIFFE?

10 MS. CLARK:

I'M SORRY, YOUR HONOR. SHE'S A CORONER'S INVESTIGATOR.

11 THE COURT:

WAS SHE THE YOUNG LADY DEPICTED IN THE VIDEOTAPE THAT WE JUST SAW?

12 MS. CLARK:

SHE WAS.

13 THE COURT:

WHAT'S THE BASIS FOR YOUR OBJECTION TO THE PHOTOGRAPH OF MS. RATCLIFFE BY THE BODY?

14 MS. CLARK:

WE WOULD OBJECT THAT IT IS IRRELEVANT AND ASK FOR AN OFFER OF PROOF.

15 THE COURT:

WELL, COUNSEL, THIS IS OPENING STATEMENT.

16 MS. CLARK:

I UNDERSTAND.

17 THE COURT:

WHAT DOES THE PHOTOGRAPH DEPICT? DO WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE FOR THE COURT TO LOOK AT?

18 MR. SCHECK:

IT'S A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WOMAN FROM THE CORONER'S OFFICE STANDING IN HER SHOES WITH GLOVES ON TOP OF MR. GOLDMAN'S JEANS, A PHOTOGRAPH THAT THEY TURNED OVER TO US.

19 MS. CLARK:

MAY I HAVE A MOMENT, YOUR HONOR?

20 (BRIEF PAUSE.)
21 THE COURT:

NO. I RECALL THE PHOTOGRAPH.

22 (BRIEF PAUSE.)
23 THE COURT:

NO. I RECALL THE PHOTOGRAPH.

24 (BRIEF PAUSE.)
25 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)
26 MR. COCHRAN:

WHILE THEY'RE -- MAY I APPROACH, YOUR HONOR? I HAVE AN OFFER --

27 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND DEFENSE COUNSEL.)
28 THE COURT:

COUNSEL, YOU SHOULD BE WEARY OF THE INCREDIBLE INSENSITIVITY OF THOSE MICROPHONES.

29 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND DEFENSE COUNSEL.)
30 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, IF I MIGHT ADDRESS THE COURT. TO SAVE TIME, YOUR HONOR, I WILL WITHDRAW THE REQUEST TO USE THE VIDEOTAPE DURING THE OPENING STATEMENT. I WAS INDICATING TO THE PROSECUTION THAT I NOW UNDERSTAND FROM TALKING TO MY OFFICE THERE IS A GOOD LIKELIHOOD IT IS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND WON'T BE HERE UNTIL LATER THIS AFTERNOON. RATHER THAN DELAY THESE PROCEEDINGS, SO WE CAN PROCEED, WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE, MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND THEY KNOW WE HAVE IT, THEY'LL HAVE A COPY AND WE'LL DEAL WITH IT IN EVIDENCE.

31 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. COCHRAN.

32 MR. COCHRAN:

CERTAINLY, YOUR HONOR.

33 THE COURT:

COUNSEL, THEN THAT LEAVES ONLY THE INSTRUCTIONS TO PROCEED WITH BEFORE OPENING STATEMENTS.

34 MS. CLARK:

YOUR HONOR, I HAVEN'T ADDRESSED OUR OBJECTIONS TO THE EXHIBITS WE WERE SHOWN ON FRIDAY, AND THEN WE HAVE OBJECTIONS TO ALL OF THE -- ABOUT 20 BOARDS THAT THEY PRODUCED --

35 THE COURT:

DO YOU HAVE OBJECTIONS TO ALL OF THESE?

36 MS. CLARK:

NOT ALL OF THEM.

37 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. WHAT ARE YOUR OBJECTIONS?

38 MS. CLARK:

WITH RESPECT TO -- I'M PREPARED RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS WHAT WE OBJECT TO WITH RESPECT TO THE EXHIBITS SHOWN US ON FRIDAY; AND THAT IS THE PICTURE OF THE DEFENDANT AND SIDNEY AT THE RECITAL ON JUNE THE 12TH.

39 THE COURT:

WHAT'S THE BASIS OF THAT OBJECTION?

40 MS. CLARK:

UNDER -- WE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO A DEPICTION OF THE DEFENDANT ALONE. BUT WE THINK THAT DEPICTING HIM WITH SIDNEY IS IRRELEVANT, AND UNDER 352, WE WOULD ASK THAT THE COURT LIMIT THE PRESENTATION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH TO JUST THE DEFENDANT. WE CAN SEE HOW THE DEFENDANT'S DEPICTION MAY BE RELEVANT, BUT THAT WOULD BE ALL.

41 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. WHAT ELSE ARE YOU OBJECTING TO?

42 MS. CLARK:

DEFENDANT'S CALENDAR PAGES, JANUARY TO JUNE. WE -- JANUARY TO MAY, HAS NO RELEVANCE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS.

43 THE COURT:

WHAT ELSE?

44 MS. CLARK:

THE REST, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS WHAT WE SEE IN THE BOARDS.

45 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. WHICH ONE OF THE BOARDS?

46 MS. CLARK:

MAY I HAVE A MOMENT, YOUR HONOR?

47 THE COURT:

SURE.

48 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)
49 MR. HODGMAN:

YOUR HONOR, MAY WE APPROACH?

50 THE COURT:

I THOUGHT THESE WERE OBJECTIONS TO THESE BOARDS HERE. I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

51 MS. CLARK:

YES, YOUR HONOR. WE HAVE JUST FOR THE FIRST TIME SEEN THEM THIS MORNING. I HAD FIVE MINUTES TO LOOK AT THEM DURING A BREAK IN THE PROCEEDINGS, AND WE NEED TO CONFER FOR A MOMENT TO PRESENT OUR OBJECTIONS BECAUSE THESE WERE JUST PRESENTED TO US.

52 THE COURT:

WELL, COUNSEL, THEY'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY. THEY WERE HERE ALL THROUGH THE LUNCH HOUR. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THROUGH THEM ALL. I MEAN CAN WE DO THIS -- JUST GO THROUGH ONE AT A TIME, SEE IF YOU OBJECT TO IT.

53 MS. CLARK:

YES.

54 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. NUMBER ONE, TOP BOARD. WHERE'S THE EASEL THAT YOU ARE GOING TO USE TO PRESENT THESE THINGS, MR. DOUGLAS?

55 MR. DOUGLAS:

SORRY, YOUR HONOR?

56 THE COURT:

WHERE IS THE EASEL YOU WERE GOING TO USE TO PRESENT THE BOARDS HERE? SET ONE UP SO I CAN SEE THESE THINGS.

57 MR. DOUGLAS:

VERY WELL.

58 THE COURT:

MADAM REPORTER, YOU WANT TO SWITCH?

59 THE COURT REPORTER:

NO, YOUR HONOR.

60 MS. CLARK:

APPARENTLY, YOUR HONOR, THERE'S YET ANOTHER EXHIBIT THAT'S JUST BEING PRODUCED FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE HAVE NOT --

61 MR. COCHRAN:

MR. DOUGLAS DID TELL THEM.

62 MS. CLARK:

I JUST WAS TOLD ABOUT IT THIS MORNING. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT.

63 THE COURT:

LET'S START WITH THIS ONE.

64 MS. CLARK:

WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE RELEVANCE OF THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE.

65 THE COURT:

THAT APPEARS TO BE A LARGE BLOWUP COLOR PHOTOGRAPH, APPEARS TO BE OF MR. SIMPSON AND FOUR OTHER INDIVIDUALS. WHAT'S THE RELEVANCE OF THIS?

66 MR. COCHRAN:

THE RELEVANCE, YOUR HONOR, OF THIS IS -- IF I MIGHT, THIS IS MR. SIMPSON. THIS PHOTOGRAPH WILL BE EVIDENCE -- THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 11TH, JUST PRIOR -- THERE WILL BE A LOT OF EVIDENCE BY THE PROSECUTION ABOUT MR. SIMPSON, THINGS HE WAS DOING ON OR AROUND THE 11TH AND 12TH. THIS IS -- AND WITHOUT GOING INTO DETAIL REGARDING THE OFFER OF PROOF, THIS IS WHERE HE WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE. WE TALKED ABOUT EVIDENCE DOCUMENTING WHO HE WAS WITH, AND THE PEOPLE WHO HE WAS WITH ARE IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH WE JUST OBTAINED TODAY, BLOWN UP NOW AND BROUGHT TO COURT. WE ADVISED MISS CLARK ABOUT IT WHEN WE FOUND OUT THIS MORNING AND WE'RE NOW PRESENTING IT, AND AS AN OFFICER OF THIS COURT, I WILL LINK THIS UP ALONG WITH THE OTHER EVIDENCE IN THE CASE.

67 MS. CLARK:

LINK IT TO WHAT?

68 MR. COCHRAN:

RELEVANT ISSUES AS I UNDERSTAND THEM.

69 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. NEXT ARE THE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS.

70 MS. CLARK:

THE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH, YOUR HONOR, IS AN ISSUE OF REPRESENTATIVENESS. IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE ARE TARPS ON THE GATES, AND WE KNOW THAT THEY WERE NOT PLACED ON THOSE GATES UNTIL SOME TIME AFTER THE EVENTS IN QUESTION. AND THERE IS AN ISSUE OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES AS TO WHETHER THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RENDITIONS THAT WERE IN EXISTENCE AT THE TIME OF THE MURDERS.

71 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, I THINK THAT COUNSEL IS SAYING ESSENTIALLY THERE HAS BEEN NO SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE. I THINK AGAIN, THE EVIDENCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEALS WITH SEEMS TO BE WEIGHT IF ANYTHING, NOT ADMISSIBILITY. THESE ARE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS. THAT'S THE SITUATION.

72 THE COURT:

MR. COCHRAN, DO YOU KNOW WHEN THOSE AERIAL SHOTS WERE TAKEN?

73 MR. COCHRAN:

GIVE ME JUST A SECOND, YOUR HONOR. I'LL CONFER WITH MR. BAILEY. IF IT'S NOT AUGUST, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

74 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. NEXT.

75 MS. CLARK:

THE GATES ARE NOT CHANGED.

76 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND DEFENSE COUNSEL.)
77 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. SECOND AREA.

78 MS. CLARK:

IS THAT THE SAME --

79 THE COURT:

COUNSEL, WHAT I NEED IS ONE PERSON TO PRESENT -- MISS CLARK, WHY DON'T YOU STEP BACK. WE NEED TO MAKE A RECORD. THE COURT REPORTER CAN'T HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT THE EXHIBITS. WHY DON'T YOU STEP BACK TO COUNSEL TABLE. PERHAPS WE COULD HAVE MR. DOUGLAS HOLD THESE UP. WHY DON'T YOU TURN THE EASEL AROUND. MISS CLARK, WHY DON'T YOU STEP BACK, PLEASE. WHY DON'T YOU TURN THE EASEL AROUND, MR. DOUGLAS, SO COUNSEL CAN SEE IT AND I CAN SEE IT. PERFECT.

80 MR. DOUGLAS:

THIS NEXT BOARD, YOUR HONOR --

81 THE COURT:

SOCK TIME LINE. MISS CLARK.

82 MS. CLARK:

WELL, YOUR HONOR, THE CHART IS MISLEADING. AS TO JUNE 13TH, 24TH AND 29TH, THERE IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CHART THE INDICATION NO BLOOD WAS FOUND. THAT ASSUMES THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR BLOOD ON THOSE DATES. THEY WERE NOT. THE EVIDENCE WILL SHOW THAT THERE WAS NO EXAMINATION FOR BLOOD.

83 MR. DOUGLAS:

THAT, YOUR HONOR, IS GOING MORE TO THE WEIGHT THAN ADMISSIBILITY OF THE BOARD.

84 MS. CLARK:

WELL, ACTUALLY IT GOES BEYOND THAT. IT GOES TO ADMISSIBILITY WHEN THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO ASSERT SOMETHING FOR WHICH THERE -- IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF THERE WAS SOME INDICATION THAT THEY WERE SUBMITTED FOR SEROLOGICAL TESTING, AND THEN IT WOULD BE AN ISSUE. BUT THERE WAS NONE. AND COUNSEL IS AWARE OF IT. IN DISCOVERY, THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO LOOK FOR BLOOD UNTIL AUGUST 4TH. SO SAYING THERE WAS NO BLOOD FOUND ATTEMPTS TO INFER SOMETHING THAT THERE CAN BE NO PREDICATE FOR, THERE CAN BE NO FOUNDATION FOR, THAT THERE WAS A SEARCH FOR --

85 MR. DOUGLAS:

YOUR HONOR, THE SOCKS THAT WERE LOCATED AT THE FOOT OF THE BED IN MR. SIMPSON'S BEDROOM WERE EXAMINED ON THE 13TH, WERE EXAMINED BY CRIMINALISTS ALONG WITH DRS. BADEN AND WOLF AND WERE ASKED FOR THE THIRD TIME ON THE 29TH. THERE WAS NEVER ANY NOTATIONS ON ANY OF THE DOCUMENTS FOR THE PRESENCE OF BLOOD ON THOSE SOCKS UNTIL THE 4TH OF AUGUST, AND THAT IS WHAT IS REFLECTED ON THE CHART. THOSE ARE TRUE STATEMENTS THAT CAN BE SPUN ON CROSS-EXAMINATION OR ON REDIRECT, HOWEVER THEY CHOOSE TO SPIN THEM. BUT THE BOARD IS ACCURATE.

86 MS. CLARK:

THE PROBLEM IS, THEY'RE MISLEADING THE JURY, YOUR HONOR. THEY'RE TRYING TO INFER -- THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE JURY TO INFER THERE WAS SEARCH FOR BLOOD AND THEY CAME UP WITH NONE. THAT NEVER OCCURRED. IF THERE WAS NO SEARCH, THEN OF COURSE NO BLOOD WAS FOUND, BUT THAT DOESN'T PROVE ANYTHING. IF YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED, OF COURSE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND ANY, AND THAT'S MISLEADING.

KEY QUOTE
87 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM.

88 MR. BAILEY:

YOUR HONOR RAISED THE TIME OF THE TAKING OF THE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS?

89 THE COURT:

YES.

90 MR. BAILEY:

I TOOK THEM IN EARLY AUGUST.

91 THE COURT:

THANK YOU.

92 MR. DOUGLAS:

THIS WAS A PHOTOGRAPH OF MR. SIMPSON AND HIS DAUGHTER SIDNEY AT THE RECITAL. THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS MADE IN VARIOUS OFFERS OF PROOF DURING THE DOMESTIC DISCORD AND OTHER HEARINGS THAT MR. SIMPSON WAS NEVER ABLE TO SEE HIS DAUGHTER AND IN FACT WAS NEVER ABLE TO PRESENT THE FLOWERS TO HER. THIS IS GOING TO BE A PHOTOGRAPH CONTRADICTING THAT DIRECTLY.

93 THE COURT:

MISS CLARK. I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY MADE YOUR OBJECTION TO THAT PHOTOGRAPH.

94 MS. CLARK:

MAY I? I THINK I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL STATEMENT TO MAKE ABOUT IT NOW THAT I HEAR COUNSEL'S OFFER OF PROOF. IF I MAY.

95 THE COURT:

SURE.

96 MS. CLARK:

YOUR HONOR, COUNSEL'S OFFER OF PROOF MAKES IT CLEARLY IRRELEVANT. WE ARE NEVER GOING -- WE ARE GOING TO DO THE OPPOSITE ACTUALLY. WE ARE GOING TO ESTABLISH THROUGH EVIDENCE THAT HE DID SEE HIS DAUGHTER, HE DID GIVE HER FLOWERS, THERE WAS CONTACT. WE ARE GOING TO ESTABLISH THAT THROUGH MORE THAN ONE WITNESS.

97 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. NEXT MATTER.

98 MS. CLARK:

SO THERE'S NO ISSUE THAT REQUIRES THAT PHOTOGRAPH TO BE SHOWN.

99 MR. DOUGLAS:

THIS IS ANOTHER BOARD, YOUR HONOR, WHICH WE WILL CONTEND REFLECTS THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD THAT WAS TAKEN FROM MR. SIMPSON AND PLACED IN A BLOOD VIAL. IT WILL ACCOUNT, AS BEST AS OUR RECORDS CAN CONFIRM, THE OCCASIONS WHEN BLOOD WAS REMOVED AND IT WILL SUGGEST, AS FAR AS OUR RECORDS ARE CONCERNED, AND WHAT WE INTEND TO OFFER TO THE JURY, THAT THERE IS BLOOD UNACCOUNTED FOR.

100 MS. CLARK:

AND BY THIS -- MAY I?

101 THE COURT:

YES.

102 MS. CLARK:

AND BY THIS CHART, COUNSEL IS ATTEMPTING TO ARGUE THAT 2.6 MILLILITERS IS UNACCOUNTED FOR OR .8 IS UNACCOUNTED FOR?

103 MR. BAILEY:

1.8.

104 MS. CLARK:

I FIND IT CONFUSING TO DISPLAY THEN BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT 2. -- I DON'T KNOW. IT'S HARD TO -- BUT THAT'S NOT --

105 MR. DOUGLAS:

IT'S NOT A QUESTION WHETHER THE BOARD IS UNDULY PREJUDICIAL. AFTER WE LISTEN TO OPENING STATEMENT, WE'LL UNDERSTAND IT CLEARLY.

106 MS. CLARK:

MAYBE THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE, YOUR HONOR, IS THAT I DON'T WANT -- I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE JURY NOT BE CONFUSED AND MISLED. THERE ARE ASSERTIONS THERE -- THE PROBLEM IS, YOUR HONOR, THAT WE HAVE ASSERTIONS OF PRESUMPTION WITH RESPECT TO THOSE NUMBERS. THAT IS UNTRUE. I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THE EXPERTS HAVE STATED IN THEIR REPORTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR, THAT THE AMOUNT USED WAS ABOUT, WAS APPROXIMATE, WAS JUST ABOUT. AND WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSERTION OF EIGHT MILLILITERS, THAT ISN'T BORNE OUT BY THE TESTIMONY EITHER. NURSE PERATIS, WHO TOOK THE BLOOD, INDICATED HE WAS UNSURE PRECISELY HOW MUCH. IN HIS TESTIMONY, HE'S NOT AWARE -- HE THINKS HE FILLED THE TUBE UP. HE COULDN'T GIVE A PRECISE NUMBER AS TO HOW MUCH HE TOOK. HE GAVE AN ESTIMATED RANGE I BELIEVE. SO COUNSEL'S CHART IS MISLEADING IN DEROGATION OF THE FACTS.

107 MR. DOUGLAS:

YOUR HONOR, THE WITNESS TESTIFIED THAT THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD HE COLLECTED WAS BETWEEN 7.9 AND 8.1. WE ARE TRIAL LAWYERS AND WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE MAKE REPRESENTATIONS THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SUPPORT, WE DO IT AT OUR OWN PERIL. THAT IS NOT A QUESTION OF RELEVANCE OR ADMISSIBILITY OF THIS BOARD. THAT IS A QUESTION THAT THEY WILL SEEK TO CONTRADICT IN TRIAL.

108 THE COURT:

MISS CLARK, WHERE IS IT IN THE -- DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND WHERE IN THE PRELIMINARY HEARING TRANSCRIPT WE HAVE THAT TESTIMONY REGARDING HOW MUCH BLOOD WAS TAKEN?

109 MS. CLARK:

I'M GOING TO LOCATE IT RIGHT NOW, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU.

110 MR. DOUGLAS:

MS. CLARK, NO OBJECTION TO THIS BOARD?

111 MS. CLARK:

NO OBJECTION TO THAT BOARD.

112 THE COURT:

THANK YOU.

113 MR. COCHRAN:

FIRST ONE, YOUR HONOR.

114 THE COURT:

A MAP OF LOS ANGELES.

115 MS. CLARK:

I FIND IT LIGHTLY PREJUDICIAL, BUT NO.

116 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT.

117 MS. CLARK:

RIGHT. NO OBJECTION.

118 MR. DOUGLAS:

AMERICAN AIRLINES BOARD.

119 MS. CLARK:

NO OBJECTION.

120 MR. DOUGLAS:

THIS IS A BOARD ENTITLED BRONCO TIME LINE. WHAT WE AGAIN ARE SEEKING TO DISPLAY BY THIS BOARD, WHICH WILL BE NARRATED BY MR. COCHRAN DURING HIS OPENING STATEMENT, IS OUR BELIEF THAT CERTAIN THINGS OCCURRED ON CERTAIN DATES AS IT CONCERNS THE BRONCO. WHETHER THERE IS A DISPUTE FACTUALLY THAT SOMETHING DID OR DID NOT OCCUR ON THE DATES ALLEGED WILL BE QUESTIONS FOR THE JURY TO ULTIMATELY DECIDE.

121 THE COURT:

MISS CLARK?

122 MS. CLARK:

MAY I SEE IT? NO OBJECTION.

123 MR. DOUGLAS:

YOU DON'T OBJECT TO THIS ONE?

124 MS. CLARK:

NO OBJECTION.

125 MR. DOUGLAS:

THE OTHER ONE?

126 MS. CLARK:

NO OBJECTION.

127 MR. DOUGLAS:

THERE ARE SEVERAL CALENDARS, YOUR HONOR, FROM JANUARY 1994 TO JUNE 1994. WE UNDERSTAND OUR OBLIGATION TO PROPERLY AUTHENTICATE AND LAY THE PROPER FOUNDATION FOR THE INTRODUCTION. WE BELIEVE IN GOOD FAITH THAT WE WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY LINK-UPS TO JUSTIFY THE ADMISSIBILITY OF EACH OF THESE DOCUMENTS, AND THAT IS WHY IT'S DISPLAYED ON BOARDS. THEY WILL ALSO BE SHOWN ON THE OVERHEAD AS WELL.

128 THE COURT:

MISS CLARK?

129 MS. CLARK:

THAT WASN'T AN OFFER OF PROOF. I THOUGHT THAT COUNSEL WAS GOING TO MAKE AN OFFER OF PROOF.

130 THE COURT:

WHAT'S THE RELEVANCE OF THESE ITEMS?

131 MR. DOUGLAS:

BECAUSE, YOUR HONOR, THEY ARE VERY RELEVANT TO SHOW A CERTAIN COURSE OF CONDUCT INCONSISTENT WITH CERTAIN SUGGESTIONS THAT MR. SIMPSON IS A STALKER, THAT MR. SIMPSON HAD CERTAIN PREOCCUPATIONS, AND THIS WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO DISPEL FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT PARTICULAR NOTION IN THE WEEKS AND THE MONTHS LEADING TO JUNE THE 12TH. THEY'VE HAD THIS CALENDAR FOR MONTHS.

132 THE COURT:

IS THIS MR. SIMPSON'S HANDWRITING ON THIS CALENDAR?

133 MR. DOUGLAS:

CATHY RANDA'S, YOUR HONOR, WHO IS A WITNESS ON BOTH INDIVIDUALS' WITNESS LIST.

134 THE COURT:

CATHY RANDA BEING HIS PERSONAL ASSISTANT WHO MAINTAINS HIS RECORDS, CALENDAR --

135 MR. DOUGLAS:

FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS SHE HAS, YES.

136 MS. CLARK:

YOUR HONOR, THAT IS A REPRODUCTION. THAT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, CATHY RANDA ADMITTED THAT'S A REPRODUCTION SHE CREATED. SO WE HAVE ISSUES OF AUTHENTICITY. FURTHERMORE, IT'S BEEN THE DEFENSE'S CONTENTION ALL ALONG THAT THIS IS IRRELEVANT. MR. UELMEN HAS REPEATEDLY SO ARGUED, THAT THIS IS IRRELEVANT, THAT THIS WHOLE CALENDAR IS IRRELEVANT AND --

137 THE COURT:

WELL, WHAT IS YOUR ARGUMENT REGARDING THAT THIS IS A REPRODUCTION, QUOTE, UNQUOTE?

138 MS. CLARK:

WELL, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS RECENTLY CREATED, NOT CREATED AT THE TIME. SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR COUNSEL TO ESTABLISH THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS DOCUMENT LET ALONE ITS RELEVANCE GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A STATEMENT OF THE WITNESS WHO RECREATED IT THAT SHE WAS THE ONE WHO CREATED IT AND THAT SHE IS NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE ORIGINAL.

139 MR. DOUGLAS:

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, YOUR HONOR, THAT MR. SHAPIRO TURNED OVER THE ORIGINAL TO MR. DARDEN. THE PEOPLE HAVE THE ORIGINAL THEMSELVES.

140 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN. BREAKING MY OWN RULE.

141 MR. DARDEN:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. I FINALLY GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK.

KEY QUOTE
142 THE COURT:

YOU ARE WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

143 MR. DARDEN:

GOOD AFTERNOON, YOUR HONOR. YOUR HONOR, IN THE GRAND JURY, CATHY RANDA TESTIFIED THAT SHE HAD GIVEN THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR TO AN ATTORNEY FOR MR. SIMPSON AND THAT SHE THEN WENT ABOUT CREATING OR RECREATING A SECOND CALENDAR. AND THAT SECOND CALENDAR WAS SEIZED FROM MR. SIMPSON'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO A SEARCH WARRANT. THIS IS THE RECREATION. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE -- THAT EITHER THE PROSECUTION OR JUDGE CZULEGER HAS THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR, BUT THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR AND IT IS NOT ACCURATE -- IT IS NOT AN ACCURATE RECREATION OF THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR. BUT STILL, THERE IS AN ISSUE OF RELEVANCY, AND I DON'T SEE IT.

144 THE COURT:

MR. DOUGLAS, I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL.

145 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, COULD YOU HEAR FROM MR. SHAPIRO SINCE YOU BROKE THE RULE THAT ONE TIME?

146 THE COURT:

SINCE MR. SHAPIRO IS THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY HAD CUSTODY OF THE DOCUMENT. MR. SHAPIRO, GOOD AFTERNOON.

147 MR. SHAPIRO:

YES, YOUR HONOR. I WAS SERVED WITH A SUBPOENA TO PRODUCE THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. I CALLED MR. DARDEN ON THE PHONE. I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T HAVE THEM, BUT I WOULD ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THEM. IN THE MEANTIME, REPRODUCTIONS HAD BEEN MADE OF THE ORIGINAL, WHICH I TOLD HIM I HAD AND WHICH HE TOLD ME HE HAD. AT THAT POINT IN TIME, ATTORNEY MEL SACHS DELIVERED TO ME UNDER SEAL THE ORIGINAL DIARY. I BROUGHT IT TO YOUR HONOR UNDER SEAL BECAUSE I DID NOT THINK IT WAS PROPER FOR MR. DARDEN, WHO WAS THEN OSTENSIBLY IN CHARGE OF THE AL COWLINGS INVESTIGATION AND WHO IS OPERATING UNDER SOME TYPE OF WALL OF SEPARATION, TO HAVE THIS. YOUR HONOR THEN DIRECTED ME TO TAKE THE MATTER UP WITH JUDGE CZULEGER, WHICH I DID. JUDGE CZULEGER TOOK CUSTODY OF IT AND TURNED IT OVER TO MR. DARDEN AND SENT ME A NOTICE THAT HE HAD DONE SO.

148 MR. DARDEN:

THAT STILL ISN'T THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR. THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR HAS OTHER NOTATIONS REGARDING BIRTHDAYS AND THINGS AND GIRL'S NAMES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND THIS ISN'T IT.

149 MR. SHAPIRO:

YOUR HONOR, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS THE OPENING STATEMENT. AND AGAIN, IF THERE ARE AREAS THAT MR. DARDEN HAS WITNESSES TO THAT THIS CALENDAR IS INCORRECT AND DOES NOT PROPERLY DEPICT MR. SIMPSON'S SCHEDULE IN THE MONTHS OF JANUARY THROUGH JUNE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE BROUGHT UP. I THINK A SIMPLE QUESTION CAN BE ASKED; WHETHER OR NOT A CALENDAR WAS TURNED OVER BY ME TO JUDGE CZULEGER AND IF JUDGE CZULEGER RELEASED THAT CALENDAR TO MR. DARDEN AND IF IN FACT THAT IS A PHOTOCOPY OF A CALENDAR OR THE ORIGINAL OF A CALENDAR, AND WE SHOULD PUT THIS MATTER TO REST.

150 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN.

151 MR. DARDEN:

THAT IS NOT A PHOTOCOPY OF THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR. AND AS FAR AS AUTHENTICATION IS CONCERNED, THE LAST TIME I SAW CATHY RANDA, SHE WAS TAKING THE FIFTH. AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW COUNSEL INTENDS TO AUTHENTICATE ANY OF THE CALENDARS AT THIS POINT ACTUALLY.

KEY QUOTE
152 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. DOES THE PROSECUTION HAVE IN ITS POSSESSION THE ORIGINAL OR AN ORIGINAL CALENDAR SIMILAR TO THIS?

153 MR. DARDEN:

EITHER WE HAVE IT OR JUDGE CZULEGER HAS IT.

154 MR. SHAPIRO:

THAT WAS THE SIMPLE QUESTION, YOUR HONOR.

155 MR. DARDEN:

I SAID THAT.

156 THE COURT:

WAIT.

157 MR. SHAPIRO:

I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE. THANK YOU. THAT'S THE QUESTION WE NEEDED ANSWERED.

158 MR. DARDEN:

THAT IS NOT A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL.

159 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN, THE QUESTION IS, WHO HAS THE ORIGINAL DIARY? WHERE IS IT?

160 MR. DARDEN:

EITHER WE HAVE IT OR JUDGE CZULEGER HAS IT, OKAY. AND IF WE HAVE IT, WE'LL -- I'M SURE SOMEONE IS UPSTAIRS NOW LOOKING FOR IT. SO BRING IT DOWN, FELLOWS, IF IT'S THERE, AND WE CAN RESOLVE THAT ISSUE. BUT THERE'S STILL THE ISSUE OF RELEVANCY. BUT THAT ISN'T A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR.

161 THE COURT:

OKAY.

162 MR. DOUGLAS:

YOUR HONOR, THE REMAINING BOARDS -- THERE IS A LEGEND FOR OUR TIME LINE TO WHICH THERE IS NO OBJECTION. THERE ARE THEN JURY INSTRUCTIONS TO WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE'S AN OBJECTION, ONE ON CREDIBILITY OF WITNESSES.

163 MS. CLARK:

WITH RESPECT TO THE JURY INSTRUCTIONS, YOUR HONOR, THERE WILL BE NO OBJECTION PROVIDING WE CAN READ THEM, MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT ALTERED.

164 MR. DOUGLAS:

THEY'RE CONSISTENT WITH THE COURTS RULING, MISS CLARK.

165 MS. CLARK:

I JUST WANT A CHANCE TO READ IT IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

166 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. CREDIBILITY OF WITNESSES, STANDARD 220.

167 MS. CLARK:

WAIT. CAN I READ IT?

168 THE COURT:

COUNSEL, I THINK WE WILL MOVE ON. I DON'T -- YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPARE IT. ASSUMING THE TEXT TO BE ACCURATE, DO YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION?

169 MS. CLARK:

NO.

170 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT.

171 MR. DOUGLAS:

THE NEXT IS PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE, BURDEN OF PROOF, REASONABLE DOUBT WITH THE MORAL CERTAINTY LANGUAGE STRICKEN. NEXT IS ALIBI. AND THE LAST ONE, YOUR HONOR, IS SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE GENERALLY OR SUFFICIENCY OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE GENERALLY.

172 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT?

173 MS. CLARK:

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A TWO-PAGE INSTRUCTION. DID IT GET CONDENSED?

174 THE COURT:

NO. THERE IS A SECOND PAGE THAT GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT 2.01, SUFFICIENCY OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, DIRECT AND CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. THAT'S PAGE 2. THAT'S 2.01, COUNSEL.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (5)

Marcia Clark
BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO STAY OFF CAMERA.
Clark explains why she isn't using the podium — a candid moment revealing the unusual media dynamics of the trial.
Marcia Clark
THE PROBLEM IS, THEY'RE MISLEADING THE JURY, YOUR HONOR. THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE JURY TO INFER THERE WAS SEARCH FOR BLOOD AND THEY CAME UP WITH NONE. THAT NEVER OCCURRED.
Core prosecution objection to the sock timeline board — the defense chart implied a negative finding where no testing had actually been done.
Christopher Darden
THAT IS NOT A PHOTOCOPY OF THE ORIGINAL CALENDAR. AND AS FAR AS AUTHENTICATION IS CONCERNED, THE LAST TIME I SAW CATHY RANDA, SHE WAS TAKING THE FIFTH.
Darden undercuts defense's calendar exhibit on two grounds simultaneously — authenticity and the witness who created it invoking the Fifth.
Christopher Darden
THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. I FINALLY GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
Dry aside after Ito calls on him — rare moment of levity from Darden.
Carl Douglas
WE ARE TRIAL LAWYERS AND WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE MAKE REPRESENTATIONS THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SUPPORT, WE DO IT AT OUR OWN PERIL.
Defense pushes back on blood chart objections by invoking professional accountability rather than debating the underlying numbers.

Evidence (12)

Informal
Photograph of coroner's investigator Claudia Ratcliffe standing near Ron Goldman's body, with gloves resting on his jeans
objected to by prosecution; court recalled the photograph; fate not formally ruled on
Informal
Videotape (logistics unknown, reportedly in San Francisco)
withdrawn by Cochran from opening statement use
Informal
Large blowup color photograph of OJ Simpson with four other individuals, taken Saturday evening June 11
introduced day-of; Cochran offered proof tying it to OJ's whereabouts the night before the murders
Informal
Aerial photographs of Simpson estate, taken early August by F. Lee Bailey
objected to on grounds of post-murder change in circumstances (tarps on gates); Bailey confirmed August date
Informal
Photograph of OJ Simpson with daughter Sidney at her dance recital, June 12
objected to under Evidence Code 352; defense offered proof it rebuts stalking/no-contact narrative; prosecution then argued the photo was unnecessary because they would themselves prove the contact occurred
Informal
Sock timeline board showing dates socks were examined and notations regarding presence or absence of blood
objected to as misleading; defense argued accuracy and weight for jury
+ 6 more

Notable Exchanges (4)

Christopher DardenRobert Shapiro
Dispute over whether the calendar in court was the original or a recreation. Shapiro explained the chain of custody through Mel Sachs, himself, Ito, and Judge Czuleger. Darden insisted the item in court was still not the original and that the original contained additional notations (birthdays, girls' names) not present in the reproduction.
strategic
Marcia ClarkCarl Douglas
Argument over the sock timeline board: Clark contended the 'no blood found' notations misled the jury by implying active testing had occurred when it had not. Douglas countered that the statements were literally true and subject to cross-examination.
heated
Marcia ClarkCarl Douglas
After Douglas offered proof that the Sidney recital photo rebutted stalking allegations, Clark reversed course: the prosecution intended to prove OJ did see Sidney and give her flowers through their own witnesses, making the photo unnecessary.
strategic
Lance A. ItoJohnnie Cochran
Cochran voluntarily withdrew the videotape from the opening, explaining it was likely still in San Francisco and wouldn't arrive until later that afternoon. Ito accepted without issue.
procedural

Light Moments (4)

Marcia Clark
Clark explained she wasn't using the podium because she was 'trying to stay off camera' — an unguarded admission about her camera-consciousness during the televised trial.
Christopher Darden
After Ito addressed him directly — breaking his own rule about one spokesperson per side — Darden said 'Thank you, Your Honor. I finally get a chance to speak.'
Lance A. Ito
Ito noted to counsel: 'You should be weary of the incredible insensitivity of those microphones' — reminding lawyers that sidebar whispers were being picked up.
Lance A. Ito
After calling on Shapiro, Ito acknowledged he was 'breaking my own rule' about limiting participation to one lawyer per side.

Credibility Attacks (2)

⚔ Cathy Randa
Fifth Amendment invocation / authenticity challenge
Darden noted that the last time he saw Cathy Randa she was taking the Fifth, undermining the defense's ability to authenticate the calendar she recreated.
⚔ Nurse Thano Peratis
Prior inconsistent/imprecise statement
Clark argued Peratis's testimony on blood volume drawn from Simpson was approximate and hedged, making the defense's precise blood accounting chart misleading.

Objections

7 objections (0 sustained, 0 overruled)
Proceeding 4415 • 174 utterances
Criminal Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 JAN 23, 1995 📄 Motion: opening statement boar
JAN 23, 1995 KRT DvH TD