Cross-examination of Mike Farrell (part 1) (2 of 2)

📄 Cross-examination of Mike Farrell (part 1) (2 of 2) — Tuesday, January 31, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JAN\31\CROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-MIKE-FARR.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 9 of 167

◀ Cross-examination of Mike Farrell (part 2) Sidebar: plea discussion ▶

Witness: Det. Mike Farrell
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Tuesday, January 31, 1995 • Utterances: 8

Christopher Darden conducts a brief redirect examination of Detective Farrell, clarifying that OJ Simpson pleaded no contest — not guilty — to the spousal battery charge, and that he struck a plea bargain. The examination is cut short when Johnnie Cochran requests to approach the bench, suggesting an objection or dispute over where Darden is heading.

# 1 MR. DARDEN:

YES, THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

REDIRECT-EXAMINATION

# 2

BY MR. DARDEN:

# 3 Q:

DETECTIVE, YOU INDICATED THAT DEFENDANT PLED NO CONTEST TO THE SPOUSAL BATTERY CHARGE?

# 4 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 5 Q:

HE DIDN'T PLEAD GUILTY?

# 6 A:

NO CONTEST.

# 7 Q:

AND IN FACT, HE STRUCK A PLEA BARGAIN IN THIS CASE, DIDN'T HE?

KEY QUOTE

# 8 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, MAY WE APPROACH?

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (2)

Christopher Darden

AND IN FACT, HE STRUCK A PLEA BARGAIN IN THIS CASE, DIDN'T HE?

Darden is drawing a distinction between a guilty plea and a negotiated no-contest plea, implying calculated legal maneuvering rather than admission of guilt — or lack thereof.

Witness

NO CONTEST.

The precise nature of the plea is the crux of the redirect — Darden wants the jury to understand the distinction between no contest and a full admission.

Notable Exchanges (1)

Christopher Darden•Johnnie Cochran

As Darden presses toward the plea bargain framing, Cochran immediately requests to approach the bench, cutting off the line of questioning before it could land.

strategic

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 0 overruled)

Proceeding 4602 • 8 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103