Direct examination of John Edwards (morning, part 1)

📄 Direct examination of John Edwards (morning, part 1) — Tuesday, January 31, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JAN\31\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-JOHN-EDW.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 9 of 167

◀ Sidebar: courtroom configuration Session reconvenes ▶

Witness: Det. John Edwards
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Tuesday, January 31, 1995 • Utterances: 220

Detective John Edwards testified about responding to a 911 domestic violence call at 360 North Rockingham on January 1, 1989 — the incident that would later be central to establishing OJ Simpson's history of abuse. Edwards described Nicole Brown Simpson running out of the gate in a bra and pajama bottoms, hysterical and screaming 'He's going to kill me,' with visible injuries including a cut lip, swollen forehead, blackening eye, cheek imprint, and finger marks on her throat. The testimony ended at a recess just as Edwards was about to describe OJ Simpson emerging from the house in a bathrobe.

# 1 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. MR. DARDEN, DO YOU WISH TO CALL YOUR NEXT WITNESS?

# 2 MR. DARDEN:

YES, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU. THE PEOPLE CALL DETECTIVE EDWARDS, YOUR HONOR.

JOHN EDWARDS, CALLED AS A WITNESS BY THE PEOPLE, WAS SWORN AND TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS:

# 3 THE CLERK:

PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE IN THE CAUSE NOW PENDING BEFORE THIS COURT, SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD.

# 4 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

YES, I DO.

# 5 THE CLERK:

PLEASE BE SEATED. PLEASE STATE AND SPELL YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME FOR THE RECORD.

# 6 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

JOHN EDWARDS, E-D-W-A-R-D-S.

# 7 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN.

# 8 MS. CLARK:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

# 9

DIRECT EXAMINATION

# 10

BY MR. DARDEN:

# 11 Q:

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

# 12 A:

GOOD MORNING.

# 13 Q:

SIR, ON JANUARY 1, 1989, WERE YOU EMPLOYED BY THE LAPD?

# 14 A:

YES, I WAS.

# 15 Q:

WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT RANK TODAY?

# 16 A:

DETECTIVE, VAN NUYS HOMICIDE.

# 17 Q:

OKAY. AND WHAT WAS YOUR RANK AND ASSIGNMENT ON JANUARY 1, 1989?

# 18 A:

TRAINING OFFICER FOR WEST L.A. PATROL.

# 19 Q:

OKAY. SO YOU WERE A PATROL OFFICER?

# 20 A:

YES, I WAS.

# 21 Q:

AT WEST L.A. DIVISION?

# 22 A:

YES.

# 23 Q:

DOES WEST L.A. DIVISION COVER BRENTWOOD?

# 24 A:

YES, IT DOES.

# 25 Q:

OKAY. NOW, DID YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR UNIT DESIGNATION ON JANUARY 1?

# 26 A:

YES. I WAS 8 ADAM 69. I WAS ASSIGNED TO AN AREA AROUND CADILLAC AND LA CIENEGA.

# 27 Q:

YOU SAY THAT YOU WERE A TRAINING OFFICER?

# 28 A:

YES.

# 29 Q:

WHAT IS A TRAINING OFFICER?

# 30 A:

A TRAINING OFFICER TRAINS NEW RECRUITS OUT OF THE ACADEMY WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO THE FIELD IN THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF POLICE WORK AND STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES OF POLICE DEPARTMENT.

# 31 Q:

OKAY. AND WERE YOU ACCOMPANIED BY A ROOKIE TRAINEE?

# 32 A:

YES, I WAS.

# 33 Q:

WHO WAS THAT?

# 34 A:

PATRISHA MILEWSKI.

# 35 THE COURT:

HOW DO YOU SPELL THAT?

# 36 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

M-I-L-W-I-S-K-I, I BELIEVE. I HAVE THE SPELLING, IF YOU NEED IT.

# 37 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WERE ON YOU DUTY BETWEEN 3:00 AND 4:00 A.M. ON THAT DATE?

# 38 A:

YES, I WAS.

# 39 Q:

WERE YOU IN UNIFORM?

# 40 A:

YES.

# 41 Q:

WAS YOUR PARTNER IN UNIFORM?

# 42 A:

YES, SHE WAS.

# 43 Q:

DID YOU HAVE A POLICE VEHICLE?

# 44 A:

YES.

# 45 Q:

WAS THAT A PLAIN CLOTHES VEHICLE?

# 46 A:

IT WAS A BLACK AND WHITE PATROL CAR.

# 47 Q:

SO YOU HAD "LAPD, TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE" AND ALL OF THAT ON THE DOORS?

# 48 A:

YES, IT DID.

# 49 Q:

ON THAT DATE, AROUND FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, DID YOU RECEIVE A RADIO CALL?

# 50 A:

I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND 3:30 IN THE MORNING.

# 51 Q:

OKAY. DO YOU KNOW THE EXACT TIME?

# 52 A:

NOT REALLY, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 3:30, 3:40, SOMEWHERE IN THERE.

# 53 Q:

OKAY. BUT YOU DID RECEIVE A RADIO CALL?

# 54 A:

YES.

# 55 Q:

AND WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THAT CALL?

# 56 A:

IT WAS A 911 RADIO CALL AT 360 NORTH ROCKINGHAM, WOMAN BEING BEATEN. THE OPERATOR COULD OVERHEAR IT, AND ACCORDING TO THE COMMENT, THE OPERATOR COULD OVERHEAR THE WOMAN BEING BEATEN ON THE PHONE.

# 57 Q:

AND WHERE WERE YOU, IF YOU RECALL, WHEN YOU RECEIVED THAT RADIO CALL?

# 58 A:

I WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE GENERAL AREA OF LA CIENEGA AND CADILLAC, ROBERTSON IN THERE, NEAR THE FREEWAY.

# 59 Q:

AND DID YOU PROCEED TO 360 NORTH ROCKINGHAM?

# 60 A:

YES, I DID.

# 61 Q:

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GET THERE, IF YOU RECALL?

# 62 A:

LESS THAN TEN MINUTES.

# 63 Q:

OKAY. A MOMENT AGO YOU TESTIFIED THAT YOU HAD A SPECIFIC OR PARTICULAR UNIT DESIGNATION; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 64 A:

YES.

# 65 Q:

WERE YOU ALSO ASSIGNED A PARTICULAR OR SPECIFIC PATROL AREA?

# 66 A:

YES, I WAS.

# 67 Q:

WHAT WAS YOUR PATROL AREA?

# 68 A:

IT WAS FROM BASICALLY VENICE BOULEVARD TO OLYMPIC AND BASICALLY ROBERTSON TO LA CIENEGA.

# 69 Q:

SO 360 NORTH ROCKINGHAM THEN WAS OUT OF YOUR NORMAL PATROL AREA?

# 70 A:

YES, QUITE A WAYS.

# 71 Q:

HAD YOU EVER BEEN TO 360 NORTH ROCKINGHAM, THAT IS, PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1989?

# 72 A:

NO, I HAD NOT.

# 73 Q:

HAD YOU EVER MET THE DEFENDANT HERE SEATED AT THE END OF COUNSEL TABLE?

# 74 A:

NO, I HAD NOT.

# 75 Q:

SO YOU AND YOUR PARTNER PROCEEDED TO THAT ADDRESS?

# 76 A:

YES.

# 77 Q:

TELL THE JURY WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

# 78 A:

WELL, WHEN I ARRIVED IN THE SUNSET/ROCKINGHAM AREA AND WENT INTO THE HILLS ON ROCKINGHAM, IT WAS -- IT WAS DARK, IT WAS MISTY, IT HAD BEEN RAINING EARLIER IN THE EVENING, AND AS I WENT BY THE FIRST PART OF THE ESTATE, I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THERE WAS A GATE ON ROCKINGHAM. I PASSED IT AND I ENDED UP ON THE NEXT GATE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS ON ASHFORD, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AN ELECTRONIC GATE, AND I STOPPED MY BLACK AND WHITE PATROL CAR THERE AND NOTED THAT IT WAS A LOCKED SECURITY GATE WITH A LITTLE CALL BOX OUT FRONT WITH A BUTTON.

# 79 Q:

DID YOU GET OUT OF THE CAR AT THAT TIME?

# 80 A:

YES, I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND PRESSED THE BUTTON AND WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO SPEAK TO ME AND A FEMALE CAME OVER THE SPEAKER, SAID SHE WAS THE HOUSEKEEPER, THAT HER NAME WAS MICHELLE, AND THAT SHE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT I WANTED. AND I SAID, WELL, I JUST RESPONDED THERE ON A 911 CALL, A WOMAN HAD BEEN BEATEN --

# 81 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, OBJECT. THIS IS HEARSAY.

# 82 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 83 MR. COCHRAN:

MOVE TO STRIKE AND THE JURY ADMONISHED.

# 84 MR. DARDEN:

TIMELY OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR.

# 85 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU ARE TO DISREGARD THE LAST STATEMENT REGARDING WHAT THE HOUSEKEEPER SAID. ALL RIGHT, MR. DARDEN.

# 86 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE HOUSEKEEPER?

# 87 A:

I TOLD HER THAT I WAS THERE ON A 911 CALL, THAT A WOMAN HAD PLACED A 911 CALL AND SAID SHE WAS BEING BEATEN AND THE OPERATOR COULD HEAR HER BEING BEATEN OVER THE PHONE AND I NEEDED TO SEE AND TALK TO THE PERSON WHO MADE THAT CALL.

# 88 Q:

OKAY. DID THE PERSON YOU SPOKE TO, MICHELLE, DID SHE ALLOW YOU ENTRY INTO THE COMPOUND OR ESTATE AT THAT POINT?

# 89 A:

NO. ON THE CONTRARY, SHE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM THERE.

# 90 Q:

WHAT DID YOU DO?

# 91 A:

I TOLD HER I WAS NOT LEAVING UNTIL I SAW THE PERSON THAT MADE THE 911 CALL.

# 92 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 93 A:

THEN A WOMAN CAME RUNNING OUT OF THE BUSHES TO MY LEFT, ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY. SHE WAS A FEMALE CAUCASIAN, BLOND HAIR. SHE WAS WEARING A BRA ONLY AS AN UPPER GARMENT AND SHE HAD ON DARK -- I BELIEVE IT WAS A DARK LIGHTWEIGHT SWEATPANTS OR NIGHT PAJAMA BOTTOM AND SHE RAN ACROSS AND COLLAPSED ON THE SPEAKER -- THE IDENTICAL KIND OF A SPEAKER POST ON THE INSIDE OF THE GATE. SHE COLLAPSED ON IT AND STARTED YELLING, "HE'S GOING TO KILL ME, HE'S GOING TO KILL ME." THEN SHE PRESSED THE BUTTON WHICH ALLOWED THE GATE TO OPEN AND THEN SHE RAN OUT AGAIN YELLING "HE'S GOING TO KILL ME."

KEY QUOTE

# 94 Q:

DID YOU HAVE A FLASHLIGHT WITH YOU AT THAT TIME?

# 95 A:

YES, I DID.

# 96 Q:

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? HOW DO YOU REACT WHEN YOU SAW THIS WOMAN RUN OUT OF THE DARKNESS IN HER BRA AND NIGHT CLOTHES?

# 97 A:

WELL, SHE -- SHE SEEMED TO BE EXHAUSTED.

# 98 MR. COCHRAN:

MOVE TO STRIKE, YOUR HONOR, AS NONRESPONSIVE. WHAT WAS HIS REACTION?

# 99 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED. THE JURY IS ORDERED TO DISREGARD THE LAST QUESTION AND ANSWER. MR. DARDEN, ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN, PLEASE.

# 100 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE WHEN YOU SAW THIS WOMAN RUNNING TOWARD YOU SCREAMING, "HE'S GOING TO KILL ME, HE'S GOING TO KILL ME"?

# 101 A:

ILLUMINATED HER BRIEFLY WITH MY FLASHLIGHT AND THEN ILLUMINATED THE BUSHES AROUND HER OR NEAR HER AND AS MUCH OF THE HOUSE AS I COULD.

# 102 Q:

DID YOU SEE ANYONE ELSE AT THAT TIME?

# 103 A:

NO, I DIDN'T.

# 104 Q:

WHAT WAS HER DEMEANOR AS SHE RAN TOWARD YOU SHOUTING, "HE'S GOING TO KILL ME, HE'S GOING TO KILL ME"?

# 105 A:

SHE WAS HYSTERICAL.

# 106 Q:

AND YOU SAY THAT SHE PUSHED THE BUTTON TO THE GATE?

# 107 A:

WELL, SHE HAD PUSHED IT MORE THAN ONCE. SHE PUSHED IT THREE OR FOUR TIMES LIKE SHE WAS PANICKING. SEVERAL TIMES SHE KEPT PUSHING IT.

# 108 Q:

DID THE GATE OPENED?

# 109 A:

YES, IT OPENED, AND SHE RAN OUT TO ME. I DIDN'T ENTER.

# 110 Q:

OKAY. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN SHE RAN OUT TO YOU?

# 111 A:

SHE -- SHE CLUNG ON TO ME AND THEN MADE SEVERAL STATEMENTS TO ME AT THAT TIME.

# 112 Q:

NOW, YOU SAY THAT SHE RAN TO YOU AND CLUNG TO YOU?

# 113 A:

WELL, SHE COLLAPSED ON ME.

# 114 Q:

SHE COLLAPSED ON YOU?

# 115 A:

YES.

# 116 Q:

AND WHAT WAS HER PHYSICAL DEMEANOR AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AT THAT TIME?

# 117 A:

WELL, SHE -- SHE WAS WET. SHE WAS -- SHE WAS SHIVERING, SHE WAS COLD. I COULD -- I COULD FEEL HER -- HER BONES AND SHE WAS REAL COLD AND SHE WAS BEAT UP.

# 118 Q:

AND AT SOME POINT DID YOU IDENTIFY THIS WOMAN?

# 119 A:

YES.

# 120 Q:

WHO WAS THIS WOMAN THAT YOU?

# 121 A:

NICOLE SIMPSON.

# 122 Q:

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID SHE SAY TO YOU AFTER SHE COLLAPSED?

# 123 A:

SHE SAID, "HE'S GOING TO -- HE'S GOING TO KILL ME." I SAID "WELL, WHO IS GOING TO KILL YOU?" SHE SAID, "O.J."

# 124 Q:

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

# 125 A:

I SAID -- WELL, I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED.

# 126 MR. COCHRAN:

MOVE TO STRIKE, YOUR HONOR.

# 127 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED. OFFICER, IF YOU WOULD JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION.

# 128 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

ALL RIGHT. MR. DARDEN.

# 129 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

I SAID, "O.J. WHO? DO YOU MEAN THE -- THE FOOTBALL PLAYER, O.J. THE FOOTBALL PLAYER?" AND SHE SAID, "YES, O.J. SIMPSON, THE FOOTBALL PLAYER."

KEY QUOTE

# 130 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: A MOMENT AGO YOU SAID AS YOU SAW THIS WOMAN NICOLE SIMPSON RUNNING TOWARD YOU, THAT SHE SEEMED HYSTERICAL; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 131 A:

YES.

# 132 Q:

WAS SHE STILL HYSTERICAL WHEN SHE CLUNG ON TO YOU?

# 133 A:

YES.

# 134 Q:

WAS SHE HYSTERICAL WHEN SHE TOLD YOU THAT IT WAS O.J. SIMPSON?

# 135 A:

YES.

# 136 Q:

HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU HEAR HER SHOUT, "HE'S GOING TO KILL ME, HE'S GOING TO KILL ME"?

# 137 A:

UMM, FOUR OR FIVE TIMES.

# 138 Q:

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID YOU SAY TO MISS SIMPSON AFTER SHE TOLD YOU THAT THE PERSON WHO WAS GOING TO KILL HER WAS O.J. SIMPSON?

# 139 A:

WELL, AT THAT POINT I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY --

# 140 MR. COCHRAN:

MOVE TO STRIKE AS NONRESPONSIVE AGAIN, YOUR HONOR.

# 141 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED. OFFICER, IF YOU WOULD LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE QUESTION. ANSWER ONLY THE QUESTION THAT IS BEING ASKED OF YOU.

# 142 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

YES.

# 143 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN.

# 144 THE COURT:

THANK YOU.

# 145 MR. DARDEN:

MAY I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION, YOUR HONOR?

# 146 THE COURT:

YOU MAY.

# 147 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WHAT WERE YOUR CONCERNS AT THAT POINT, DETECTIVE?

# 148 A:

THAT IF SOMEONE WAS GOING TO KILL HER, THE PERSON MAY HAVE A WEAPON AND MAY COME OUT AT ANY SECOND.

# 149 Q:

DID YOU ASK MRS. SIMPSON ANYTHING AT THAT POINT?

# 150 A:

YES. I ASKED HER IF HE HAD ANY WEAPONS AND SHE SAID YES.

# 151 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR -- OBJECT TO THE RESPONSE, YOUR HONOR.

# 152 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 153 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DID SHE SAY WHAT KIND OF WEAPONS HE HAD?

# 154 A:

SHE SAID HE HAD LOTS OF -- LOTS OF GUNS.

# 155 Q:

YOU TESTIFIED A MOMENT AGO THAT YOU -- THAT YOU HAD IN YOUR HAND A FLASHLIGHT; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 156 A:

YES.

# 157 Q:

OKAY. DID YOU ILLUMINATE MRS. SIMPSON'S FACE AT ALL AT THAT TIME?

# 158 A:

YES, I DID.

# 159 Q:

NICOLE SIMPSON?

# 160 A:

YES.

# 161 Q:

DID YOU NOTICE ANY INJURIES AT ALL ON HER FACE?

# 162 A:

YES, I DID.

# 163 Q:

WHAT WERE THOSE INJURIES?

# 164 A:

SHE HAD A CUT APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH, I BELIEVE, ON HER LEFT UPPER LIP. SHE HAD A SWOLLEN RIGHT FOREHEAD AND HER -- I BELIEVE HER LEFT EYE OR RIGHT EYE WAS STARTING TO BLACKEN, IT WAS SWOLLEN, AND SHE HAD SOME SORT OF AN IMPRINT OR SOME SORT OF A SWOLLEN MARK THAT YOU COULD SEE ON HER CHEEK. I BELIEVE THAT WAS ALSO ON THE RIGHT CHEEK. AND SHE HAD A HAND IMPRINT ON HER THROAT, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HER THROAT.

KEY QUOTE

# 165 Q:

YOU SAW A HAND IMPRINT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HER NECK?

# 166 A:

JUST THE FINGERS MR. COCHRAN: YOUR HONOR, THAT HAS BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED.

# 167 MR. COCHRAN:

THE QUESTION WAS ASKED AND ANSWERED. REPEATING THE SAME QUESTION.

# 168 THE COURT:

OVERRULED. THE ANSWER WILL STAND.

# 169 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DID YOU ASK OR POSE ANY QUESTION TO NICOLE BROWN AT THAT TIME?

# 170 A:

YES. I ASKED HER WHAT HAPPENED TO HER FACE.

# 171 Q:

AND WAS SHE STILL HYSTERICAL AT THAT POINT?

# 172 A:

YES.

# 173 Q:

WHAT DID SHE SAY?

# 174 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO THAT, YOUR HONOR. HEARSAY.

# 175 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 176 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

SHE SAID THAT O.J. HAD SLAPPED HER, HIT HER WITH HIS FIST AND KICKED HER AND PULLED HER -- I THINK PULLED HER BY THE HAIR.

# 177 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, DETECTIVE?

# 178 A:

I HAD MY PARTNER PUT HER UNIFORM JACKET ON HER BECAUSE SHE WAS SHIVERING SO BAD, AND HAD HER PLACED IN THE RIGHT REAR SEAT OF OUR PATROL VEHICLE.

# 179 Q:

AND WHERE WAS YOUR PARTNER AT THAT POINT IN TIME?

# 180 A:

AFTER NICOLE WAS PLACED IN THE RIGHT REAR SEAT OF THE PATROL VEHICLE, MY PARTNER GOT IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE PATROL VEHICLE AND I TOLD HER TO START TAKING A CRIME REPORT AND SHE GOT THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION REPORT, PUT IT ON A NOTEBOOK, AND AT THAT POINT NICOLE WAS REPEATING THINGS RAPIDLY.

# 181 Q:

OKAY. NOW, YOU INDICATED EARLIER THAT THE GATE OPENED AFTER NICOLE HIT THE BUTTON FOUR OR FIVE TIMES?

# 182 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 183 Q:

DID THE GATE CLOSE AFTER SHE EXITED THROUGH THE GATE?

# 184 A:

YES, IT DID.

# 185 Q:

DID YOU ENTER THE COMPOUND OR THE ESTATE AT THAT TIME?

# 186 A:

NO, I DID NOT.

# 187 Q:

YOU REMAINED ON THE OUTSIDE?

# 188 A:

YES.

# 189 Q:

AND AS YOU PLACED NICOLE BROWN INTO THE POLICE VEHICLE, WAS SHE STILL HYSTERICAL?

# 190 A:

OH, YES.

# 191 Q:

WAS SHE STILL SHAKING?

# 192 A:

YES.

# 193 Q:

AND DID SHE SAY ANYTHING AT THAT TIME?

# 194 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECTION, HEARSAY, YOUR HONOR.

# 195 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 196 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DID SHE SAY ANYTHING AT THAT TIME, DETECTIVE?

# 197 A:

YES. SHE MADE A SERIES OF SPONTANEOUS STATEMENTS PRIOR TO US ATTEMPTING TO ASK HER ANY QUESTIONS.

# 198 Q:

WHAT DID SHE SAY?

# 199 A:

SHE SAID, "YOU GUYS NEVER DO ANYTHING" SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT, THAT "YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT HIM. YOU COME OUT. YOU HAVE BEEN OUT HERE EIGHT TIMES. YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT HIM." AND SHE SAYS, "I WANT HIM ARRESTED. I WANT MY KIDS BACK. I WANT TO GO IN THE HOUSE."

KEY QUOTE

# 200 Q:

HAD YOU BEEN OUT TO 360 ROCKINGHAM, NORTH ROCKINGHAM, EIGHT TIMES PRIOR?

# 201 MR. COCHRAN:

ASKED AND ANSWERED.

# 202 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 203 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

NO, I HAD ONLY BEEN IN THE DIVISION FOR --

# 204 MR. COCHRAN:

ASKED AND ANSWERED. HE ANSWERED THE QUESTION, YOUR HONOR. HE SAID "NO."

# 205 THE COURT:

OVERRULED. HE CAN ANSWER THAT WAY.

# 206 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

I HAD ONLY BEEN IN THAT DIVISION FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND I HAD NEVER BEEN ON THAT STREET.

# 207 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: AND DID YOU RESPOND TO NICOLE BROWN WHEN SHE SAID, "YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN OUT HERE EIGHT TIMES BEFORE AND YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING"?

# 208 A:

NOT MUCH I COULD SAY ABOUT THAT, NO.

# 209 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, DETECTIVE?

# 210 A:

I TOLD MY PARTNER TO HAND HER THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION REPORT AND WE ASKED -- AND I ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD SIGN A CRIME REPORT AGAINST O.J. SIMPSON. SHE SAID "YES." SHE GRABBED THE NOTEBOOK FROM MY PARTNER AND THE PEN AND SHE SIGNED HER NAME ON THE DOCUMENT WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING, AND AS FAST AS SHE COULD.

# 211 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 212 A:

AND THEN I TURNED MY ATTENTION BACK TO THE GATE AS MY PARTNER WAS GETTING THE REST OF THE DETAILS FOR THE REPORT, AND I SAW MR. SIMPSON WALKING TOWARDS ME FROM THE HOUSE WEARING A BATHROBE.

# 213 Q:

WHEN YOU SAY "MR. SIMPSON," YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE DEFENDANT SEATED HERE IN FRONT TODAY?

# 214 A:

YES, O.J. SIMPSON, WEARING THE GRAY JACKET, SUIT JACKET.

# 215 THE COURT:

INDICATING THE DEFENDANT. ALL RIGHT. MR. DARDEN, DO YOU HAVE MUCH MORE?

# 216 MR. DARDEN:

YES.

# 217 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A 15-MINUTE RECESS. PLEASE REMEMBER MY ADMONITION TO YOU. DON'T DISCUSS THE CASE AMONG YOURSELVES, FORM ANY OPINIONS ABOUT THE CASE OR ALLOW ANYBODY TO TALK TO YOU. THIS WILL BE A 15-MINUTE RECESS. AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO STEP BACK INTO THE JURY ROOM AND WE WILL RESUME AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK.

# 218 (THE JURY EXITS THE COURTROOM.)

# 219 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. DETECTIVE, YOU CAN STEP DOWN.

# 220 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

THANK YOU.

Temperature

emotional

Key Quotes (5)

John Edwards

THEN A WOMAN CAME RUNNING OUT OF THE BUSHES TO MY LEFT, ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY. SHE WAS A FEMALE CAUCASIAN, BLOND HAIR. SHE WAS WEARING A BRA ONLY AS AN UPPER GARMENT AND SHE HAD ON DARK -- I BELIEVE IT WAS A DARK LIGHTWEIGHT SWEATPANTS OR NIGHT PAJAMA BOTTOM AND SHE RAN ACROSS AND COLLAPSED ON THE SPEAKER -- THE IDENTICAL KIND OF A SPEAKER POST ON THE INSIDE OF THE GATE. SHE COLLAPSED ON IT AND STARTED YELLING, "HE'S GOING TO KILL ME, HE'S GOING TO KILL ME."

Vivid first-person account of Nicole's panicked flight from the estate, establishing the emergency nature of the scene.

John Edwards

O.J. WHO? DO YOU MEAN THE -- THE FOOTBALL PLAYER, O.J. THE FOOTBALL PLAYER? AND SHE SAID, YES, O.J. SIMPSON, THE FOOTBALL PLAYER.

Edwards' incredulous reaction underscores the moment he realized the suspect was a celebrity; also establishes Nicole's clear identification of her attacker while hysterical.

John Edwards

SHE SAID, "YOU GUYS NEVER DO ANYTHING" SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT, THAT "YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT HIM. YOU COME OUT. YOU HAVE BEEN OUT HERE EIGHT TIMES. YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT HIM." AND SHE SAYS, "I WANT HIM ARRESTED. I WANT MY KIDS BACK. I WANT TO GO IN THE HOUSE."

Nicole's spontaneous statement implies a long, documented pattern of abuse that police failed to act on — devastating for the defense's narrative and LAPD's credibility.

John Edwards

SHE HAD A CUT APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH, I BELIEVE, ON HER LEFT UPPER LIP. SHE HAD A SWOLLEN RIGHT FOREHEAD AND HER -- I BELIEVE HER LEFT EYE OR RIGHT EYE WAS STARTING TO BLACKEN, IT WAS SWOLLEN, AND SHE HAD SOME SORT OF AN IMPRINT OR SOME SORT OF A SWOLLEN MARK THAT YOU COULD SEE ON HER CHEEK... AND SHE HAD A HAND IMPRINT ON HER THROAT, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HER THROAT.

Clinical inventory of Nicole's injuries, including the distinctive hand/finger imprint on her throat suggesting strangulation — highly prejudicial to the defense.

John Edwards

SHE GRABBED THE NOTEBOOK FROM MY PARTNER AND THE PEN AND SHE SIGNED HER NAME ON THE DOCUMENT WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING, AND AS FAST AS SHE COULD.

Nicole's immediate, urgent willingness to sign the crime report against OJ undercuts any suggestion she was hesitant or fabricating.

Evidence (1)

Informal

Preliminary investigation report (crime report) that Nicole Brown Simpson signed in the back of the patrol car

described; Nicole signed it rapidly without looking

Notable Exchanges (3)

John Edwards•Michelle (housekeeper, off-screen)

Edwards refused to leave the gate until he saw the 911 caller, telling the housekeeper 'I was not leaving until I saw the person that made the 911 call.' The housekeeper insisted there was no problem.

tense

John Edwards•Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

Cochran repeatedly objected to Edwards volunteering his own reactions and internal thoughts rather than answering questions directly; Ito sustained twice and instructed the witness to answer only what was asked.

procedural

Christopher Darden•Johnnie Cochran

Cochran objected to Nicole's statements (weapons, what OJ did, the '8 times' accusation) as hearsay; Darden's theory — that these were excited utterances — prevailed on all but the housekeeper's statement.

strategic

Light Moments (1)

John Edwards

Edwards asked to confirm OJ was 'the football player' twice, clearly startled — his disbelief momentarily breaks the gravity of the scene.

Objections

8 objections (3 sustained, 5 overruled)

Proceeding 4516 • 220 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103