Direct examination of John Edwards (morning, part 2)

📄 Direct examination of John Edwards (morning, part 2) — Tuesday, January 31, 1995

Address:

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

TRIAL

▲ Day 9 of 167

◀ Session reconvenes Sidebar: witness statement objection ▶

Witness: Det. John Edwards
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Tuesday, January 31, 1995 • Utterances: 193

Detective John Edwards testifies about the 1989 domestic violence call to the Simpson estate, describing OJ Simpson emerging from his home in a bathrobe, furious, and shouting at Nicole Brown in the patrol car. Edwards recounts OJ's key statements — denying the beating while admitting he 'pushed her out of the bed' — and OJ's complaint that police had been called to the house eight times before without arresting him. The examination concludes with an unknown woman coming through the gate and attempting to pull Nicole out of the patrol car.

# 1 MR. DARDEN:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

# 2 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DETECTIVE EDWARDS, I BELIEVE WHEN WE LEFT OFF, YOU HAD JUST TOLD US THAT YOU TURNED YOUR ATTENTION BACK TOWARD THE GATE AND THAT IT WAS THEN THAT YOU SAW THE DEFENDANT; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 3 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 4 Q:

AND WHAT WAS THE DEFENDANT WEARING WHEN YOU SAW HIM?

# 5 A:

HE WAS WEARING AN OPEN BATHROBE WITH A PAIR OF SHORTS, UNDERWEAR AND NO SHOES.

# 6 Q:

AND DID YOU STILL HAVE YOUR FLASHLIGHT IN YOUR HAND?

# 7 A:

YES. I ILLUMINATED HIM WITH THE FLASHLIGHT AS HE APPROACHED ME.

# 8 Q:

YOU SHINED IT IN HIS DIRECTION?

# 9 A:

YES.

# 10 Q:

COULD YOU SEE HIS FACE AT THAT TIME?

# 11 A:

YES.

# 12 Q:

YOU COULD SEE THE DEFENDANT'S FACE?

# 13 A:

YES. IT WAS O.J. SIMPSON.

# 14 Q:

WERE YOU STILL OUTSIDE THE GATE?

# 15 A:

YES, I WAS OUTSIDE THE GATE.

# 16 Q:

AND THE DEFENDANT, WHICH SIDE OF THE GATE WAS HE ON?

# 17 A:

HE WAS ON THE -- INSIDE THE GATE ON THE DRIVEWAY.

# 18 Q:

SO THE GATE WAS BETWEEN YOU AND THE DEFENDANT?

# 19 A:

YES.

# 20 Q:

IS THERE A WALL OR A FENCE AT ALL AROUND THIS COMPOUND OR ESTATE?

# 21 A:

YES, THERE IS.

# 22 Q:

AND HOW HIGH IS THE WALL AND THE FENCE?

# 23 A:

I THINK IT'S ABOUT SIX FEET FROM MY REMEMBERING IT. IT'S ABOUT SIX FEET HIGH.

# 24 Q:

AND WHEN YOU SAW THE DEFENDANT, HE WAS WALKING; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 25 A:

YES.

# 26 Q:

AND IN WHAT DIRECTION?

# 27 A:

HE WAS WALKING DIRECTLY TOWARDS ME AND THE GATE.

# 28 Q:

NOW, WHERE WAS NICOLE BROWN IN PROXIMITY TO YOU?

# 29 A:

AS I WAS FACING THE GATE, SHE WAS TO MY RIGHT IN THE PATROL CAR WHICH WAS BEHIND THE WALL.

# 30 Q:

SO YOU WERE BETWEEN THE DEFENDANT AND NICOLE BROWN; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 31 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 32 Q:

WHEN YOU SHINED YOUR FLASHLIGHT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DEFENDANT'S FACE, DID HE SEEM ANGRY AT ALL?

# 33 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO THAT. CALLS FOR CONCLUSION, SPECULATION.

# 34 THE COURT:

IT'S A LEADING QUESTION. WHY DON'T YOU REPHRASE THE QUESTION.

# 35 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WHEN YOU SHINED YOUR FLASHLIGHT IN THE DEFENDANT'S DIRECTION, WHAT IF ANYTHING DID YOU NOTICE ABOUT HIS FACE?

# 36 A:

HE SEEMED FURIOUS.

# 37 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, THAT IS -- EVEN HE HAS TO LAUGH. I WOULD MOVE TO STRIKE THAT. EVEN COUNSEL HAS TO LAUGH ABOUT THIS. THE WITNESS IS TESTIFYING, NOT MR. DARDEN.

# 38 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN.

# 39 MR. DARDEN:

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT QUESTION? IS THAT A LEGAL OBJECTION?

# 40 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT.

# 41 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: YOU SAW THE DEFENDANT'S FACE?

# 42 A:

YES.

# 43 Q:

WHAT WAS HIS DEMEANOR AT THAT TIME?

# 44 THE COURT:

BETTER QUESTION.

# 45 MR. DARDEN:

THANK YOU.

# 46 THE COURT:

YOU ARE WELCOME.

# 47 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

HE SEEMED VERY FURIOUS.

KEY QUOTE

# 48 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DID HE SAY ANYTHING AT THAT TIME?

# 49 A:

NO. HE WAS STILL APPROACHING THE FENCE.

# 50 Q:

AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HIS PACE OR HIS GAIT OR HIS WALK AT THAT TIME?

# 51 A:

IT WAS RAPID AND DELIBERATE.

# 52 Q:

TOWARD YOU?

# 53 A:

TOWARDS ME.

# 54 Q:

WERE YOU CONCERNED FOR YOUR SAFETY AT THAT POINT?

# 55 MR. COCHRAN:

LEADING AND SUGGESTIVE AGAIN, YOUR HONOR.

# 56 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 57 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

I ILLUMINATED HIS HANDS AND HIS WAISTLINE AREA --

# 58 MR. COCHRAN:

MOVE TO STRIKE, NONRESPONSIVE.

# 59 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 60 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

-- FOR ANY POSSIBLE WEAPONS BECAUSE OF STATEMENTS MADE TO ME ABOUT HIM HAVING LOTS OF GUNS.

# 61 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: AND DID YOU NOTICE THE DEFENDANT CARRYING A GUN AT THAT TIME?

# 62 A:

I COULD SEE NO WEAPONS IN HIS HANDS AND HIS WAISTBAND WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE AND I SAW NOTHING IN HIS WAISTBAND AREA.

# 63 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, DETECTIVE?

# 64 A:

THE DEFENDANT APPROACHED DIRECTLY TO ME AT THE GATE WHERE HE WAS ON ONE SIDE AND I WAS ON THE OTHER. WE WERE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. THEN HE PEERED TOWARDS THE BLACK AND WHITE POLICE VEHICLE AND HE STARTED MAKING SOME STATEMENTS.

# 65 Q:

NOW, WHEN YOU SAY THE DEFENDANT PEERED TOWARD THE BLACK AND WHITE POLICE VEHICLE, YOU ARE SAYING HE LOOKED TOWARD YOUR POLICE CAR?

# 66 A:

YES.

# 67 Q:

AND WHERE WAS NICOLE BROWN AT THAT TIME?

# 68 A:

SHE WAS SEATED IN THE RIGHT REAR SEAT OF THE PATROL VEHICLE WITH THE DOOR CLOSED.

# 69 Q:

AND WOULD THAT BE THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CLOSEST TO THE GATE?

# 70 A:

YES.

# 71 Q:

AND YOU SAY THE DEFENDANT STARTED SAYING THINGS?

# 72 A:

YES.

# 73 Q:

AND WHAT WAS HIS TONE OF VOICE AS HE SAID THOSE THINGS?

# 74 A:

EXTREMELY ANGRY AND LOUD AND RAPID.

# 75 Q:

WHAT DID THE DEFENDANT SAY AT THAT TIME?

# 76 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. HEARSAY.

# 77 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 78 DET. JOHN EDWARDS:

HE SAID, "I DON'T WANT THAT WOMAN IN MY BED ANYMORE. I GOT TWO OTHER WOMEN. I DON'T WANT THAT WOMAN IN MY BED ANYMORE."

KEY QUOTE

# 79 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: NOW, DID HE SAY THIS OR DID HE SHOUT IT OR --

# 80 A:

HE SHOUTED IT I BELIEVE TWICE AND HE POINTED AT HER -- WELL, HE POINTED AT MY PATROL VEHICLE WHILE HE WAS MAKING THE STATEMENT.

# 81 Q:

DID YOU REALIZE AT THAT TIME THAT THE WOMAN IN THE PATROL CAR, NICOLE BROWN, WAS THE DEFENDANT'S WIFE?

# 82 A:

YES.

# 83 MR. COCHRAN:

HER NAME WAS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON, YOUR HONOR.

# 84 THE COURT:

AT THAT TIME, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

# 85 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU.

# 86 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN.

# 87 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: AND SO HE SHOUTED MORE THAN ONCE AT NICOLE?

# 88 A:

YES.

# 89 Q:

DID SHE RESPOND AT ALL?

# 90 A:

SHE WAS -- I BELIEVE THE DOME LIGHT WAS ON IN THE PATROL VEHICLE AND SHE WAS TALKING TO MY PARTNER.

# 91 Q:

OKAY. DID SHE APPEAR TO REACT AT ALL?

# 92 A:

AT THAT POINT, I DIDN'T TURN AROUND AND LOOK BACK AT HER. I DID A SIDESTEP TO GET BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

# 93 Q:

DID YOU NOTE ANY REACTION AT ALL OR ANY RESPONSE TO THE DEFENDANT'S STATEMENT THAT, "I DON'T WANT THAT WOMAN IN MY BED ANYMORE. I HAVE TWO WOMEN"?

# 94 A:

FROM THE VICTIM?

# 95 Q:

FROM NICOLE, YES.

# 96 A:

NO, I DON'T BELIEVE I DID.

# 97 Q:

AND WHEN YOU SAY "VICTIM", ARE YOU REFERRING TO NICOLE?

# 98 A:

YES.

# 99 Q:

DID YOU RESPOND TO THE DEFENDANT AFTER HE MADE THESE STATEMENTS REPEATEDLY?

# 100 A:

YES, I DID.

# 101 Q:

WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HIM?

# 102 A:

I TRIED TO MAKE EYE-TO-EYE CONTACT WITH HIM TO FOCUS HIM TO ME BECAUSE I WAS TALKING TO HIM, AND AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, I WAS ABLE TO GET HIM TO FOCUS ON ME AND --

# 103 Q:

LET ME INTERRUPT YOU THERE. WHERE WAS THE DEFENDANT FOCUSED DURING THE MEANTIME?

# 104 A:

ON THE REAR OF MY PATROL CAR.

# 105 Q:

AND ONCE YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THE DEFENDANT TO FOCUS ON YOU, DID HIS DEMEANOR CHANGE AT ALL?

# 106 A:

HE DID. HE SLOWED DOWN IN -- HIS TEMPERAMENT DROPPED DOWN ENOUGH TO WHERE I COULD TALK TO HIM.

# 107 Q:

DID YOU AND HE HAVE A CONVERSATION AT THAT POINT?

# 108 A:

YES.

# 109 Q:

WHAT WAS THAT CONVERSATION?

# 110 A:

I TOLD HIM THAT NICOLE HAD OBVIOUS PHYSICAL INJURIES TO HER FACE AND THAT SHE SAID THAT HE HAD HIT HER AND I COULD SEE TRAUMA IN OPEN WOUNDS TO HER AND THAT SHE WANTED HIM ARRESTED AND I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PLACE HIM UNDER ARREST FOR SPOUSAL BATTERY.

# 111 Q:

NOW, YOU TESTIFIED A MOMENT AGO THAT HIS TEMPERAMENT HAD CHANGED?

# 112 A:

IT HAD DROPPED ENOUGH TO WHERE HE WAS NOW LOOKING AT ME AND WE COULD -- IT APPEARED WE COULD COMMUNICATE.

# 113 Q:

OKAY. AND DID HIS TEMPERAMENT AND DEMEANOR REMAIN THE SAME AS YOU TOLD HIM THAT NICOLE WANTED HIM ARRESTED FOR BEATING HER?

# 114 A:

NO. IT FLARED UP BACK TO A VERY LOUD, FURIOUS, ANGRY MODE AGAIN.

# 115 Q:

AND DID HE SAY ANYTHING AT THAT TIME?

# 116 A:

HE SAID -- IF I REMEMBER, HE SAID, "I DIDN'T -- I DIDN'T HIT HER. I JUST -- I JUST PUSHED HER OUT OF THE BED," I BELIEVE.

# 117 Q:

YOU DID WRITE A REPORT REGARDING THIS INCIDENT AT SOME POINT; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 118 A:

YES.

# 119 Q:

AND ARE YOU CERTAIN AS TO WHAT THE DEFENDANT SAID AT THAT POINT IN TIME?

# 120 A:

NO.

# 121 Q:

DID YOU DESCRIBE THE DEFENDANT'S COMMENTS IN YOUR REPORT?

# 122 A:

YES, I DID.

# 123 Q:

AND WOULD IT REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION IF YOU WERE TO READ YOUR REPORT, THAT IS AS TO WHAT THE DEFENDANT SAID SPECIFICALLY AT THAT TIME?

# 124 A:

YES.

# 125 MR. DARDEN:

MAY I, YOUR HONOR?

# 126 THE COURT:

YOU MAY.

# 127 MR. DARDEN:

I'LL SHOW THE PAGE TO COUNSEL. PAGE 3 OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT.

# 128 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND DEFENSE COUNSEL.)

# 129 MR. DARDEN:

MAY I APPROACH THE WITNESS, YOUR HONOR?

# 130 THE COURT:

YOU MAY.

# 131 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: SHOWING YOU PAGE 3 OF A SUPPLEMENTAL POLICE REPORT, DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT PAGE?

# 132 A:

YES. THIS IS MY HANDWRITING, THE REPORT I FILLED OUT IN 1989.

# 133 Q:

AND DIRECTING YOUR ATTENTION TO PARAGRAPH 4, WOULD YOU READ THAT TO YOURSELF, PLEASE?

# 134 A:

YES (WITNESS COMPLIES).

# 135 Q:

HAVING READ THAT, IS YOUR RECOLLECTION REFRESHED, OFFICER?

# 136 A:

YES.

# 137 Q:

WHAT DID THE DEFENDANT SAY AT THAT POINT IN TIME; THAT IS AFTER YOU TOLD HIM THAT NICOLE WANTED HIM ARRESTED?

# 138 A:

HE SAID, "I DIDN'T BEAT HER. JUST PUSHED HER OUT OF THE BED AND NOTHING MORE."

KEY QUOTE

# 139 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 140 A:

THEN I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HIM AGAIN THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PLACE HIM UNDER ARREST FOR BEATING HIS WIFE, AND THEN HE MADE A -- HE MADE ANOTHER STATEMENT TO ME.

# 141 Q:

WAS HE STILL ANGRY?

# 142 A:

OH, YES.

# 143 Q:

AND THIS NEXT STATEMENT, THE ONE YOU'RE ABOUT TO DESCRIBE, DID HE SPEAK IN A NORMAL TONE OF VOICE?

# 144 A:

NO. HE WAS EXTREMELY AGITATED, ANGRY AND HE WAS YELLING.

# 145 Q:

AND WHEN HE SPOKE TO YOU THE NEXT TIME, WAS HE YELLING THEN?

# 146 A:

YES.

# 147 Q:

WHAT DID HE SHOUT OR YELL AT THAT POINT?

# 148 A:

HE MADE -- I BELIEVE IT WAS BASICALLY TWO STATEMENTS. ONE WAS, "THIS IS --" I BELIEVE, "THIS IS A FAMILY MATTER. YOU'VE BEEN UP HERE EIGHT TIMES BEFORE AND NEVER DID ANY -- ANYTHING BEFORE," AND THERE WAS ANOTHER STATEMENT. I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY THE PHRASE, BUT HE EMPHASIZED THAT ONE.

# 149 Q:

WELL, DID YOU INCLUDE THAT PHRASE IN YOUR SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT?

# 150 A:

YES, I DID.

# 151 Q:

WOULD IT REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION TO SEE THE REPORT AGAIN?

# 152 A:

YES. IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS. I'M AFRAID IT WOULD.

# 153 MR. DARDEN:

PAGE 3.

# 154 MR. COCHRAN:

MAY I APPROACH? I'LL APPROACH WITH HIM.

# 155 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, REFERRING THE WITNESS TO PAGE 3 OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT, PARAGRAPH 6.

# 156 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DETECTIVE, LET ME HAND YOU PAGE 3 OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO READ PARAGRAPH 6 TO YOURSELF.

# 157 A:

YES (WITNESS COMPLIES).

# 158 Q:

HAVE YOU READ THE REPORT, DETECTIVE?

# 159 A:

YES.

# 160 Q:

IS YOUR RECOLLECTION NOW REFRESHED?

# 161 A:

YES, IT IS.

# 162 Q:

BY THE WAY, IN YOUR SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT, DID YOU INCLUDE THIS PARTICULAR COMMENT IN QUOTATION MARKS?

# 163 A:

I BELIEVE I DID.

# 164 Q:

WHAT DID THE DEFENDANT SAY AT THAT TIME?

# 165 A:

HE SAID, "YOU'VE BEEN OUT HERE EIGHT TIMES BEFORE AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO ARREST ME FOR THIS?" AND I REMEMBER HE EMPHASIZED "THIS". THEN HE SAID, "THIS IS A FAMILY MATTER." I BELIEVE HE SAID, "THIS IS A FAMILY MATTER," AND NOTHING MORE.

KEY QUOTE

# 166 Q:

AND DID YOU RESPOND AT THAT TIME?

# 167 A:

YES. I BELIEVE I TOLD HIM AT THAT POINT THAT HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO GET DRESSED AND I WAS GOING -- I WOULD PLACE HIM UNDER ARREST AND HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO GET DRESSED AND COME TO THE STATION WITH ME WHEN MY SUPERVISOR ARRIVED.

# 168 Q:

WHEN YOU TOLD THE DEFENDANT THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE ARRESTED, WERE YOU STILL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE GATE?

# 169 A:

OH, YES.

# 170 Q:

AND WAS HE STILL ON THE INSIDE OF THE GATE?

# 171 A:

YES.

# 172 Q:

AND HAD HE OPENED THE GATE OR ALLOWED YOU ONTO THE PROPERTY AT THAT POINT?

# 173 A:

NO.

# 174 Q:

HAD YOU ASKED PERMISSION TO GO ONTO THE PROPERTY AT THAT POINT?

# 175 A:

NO.

# 176 Q:

YOU TOLD HIM TO GO GET DRESSED?

# 177 A:

YES.

# 178 Q:

DID YOU ASK TO ACCOMPANY HIM BACK INTO THE HOUSE AS HE GOT DRESSED?

# 179 A:

NO.

# 180 Q:

DID THE DEFENDANT RETURN TO THE HOUSE?

# 181 A:

YES, HE DID.

# 182 Q:

AND WHAT WAS THE NEXT THING TO OCCUR? WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

# 183 A:

THEN I TURNED AROUND TO SEE HOW THE REPORT WAS GOING WITH MY PARTNER AND NICOLE SIMPSON AND I REQUESTED MY SUPERVISOR TO RESPOND TO THE SCENE, AND THEN SUDDENLY I HEARD THE GATE OPEN AND I SAW SOMEBODY COME THROUGH THE GATE. IT WAS A FEMALE.

# 184 Q:

COULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS WOMAN, PLEASE?

# 185 A:

IT WAS EITHER A HISPANIC OR A FILIPINO LADY. I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT SHE WENT DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHT REAR DOOR OF THE POLICE CAR.

# 186 Q:

AND WHAT DID SHE DO WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE RIGHT REAR DOOR OF THE POLICE CAR?

# 187 A:

SHE OPENED THE RIGHT REAR DOOR AND REACHED IN AND GRABBED NICOLE SIMPSON BY THE RIGHT ARM AND STARTED PULLING ON HER AND SAYING SOMETHING.

# 188 Q:

WHAT DID SHE SAY?

# 189 A:

I BELIEVE IT WAS --

# 190 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. HEARSAY WHAT SHE SAID.

# 191 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 192 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, CAN WE APPROACH?

# 193 THE COURT:

SURE.

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (4)

John Edwards

I DON'T WANT THAT WOMAN IN MY BED ANYMORE. I GOT TWO OTHER WOMEN. I DON'T WANT THAT WOMAN IN MY BED ANYMORE.

Edwards quotes OJ shouting this at Nicole Brown's direction — establishing OJ's state of mind and contempt toward Nicole at the time of the battery.

John Edwards

I DIDN'T BEAT HER. JUST PUSHED HER OUT OF THE BED AND NOTHING MORE.

OJ's own words — a partial admission that physical contact occurred, undercutting a full denial while minimizing the act.

John Edwards

YOU'VE BEEN OUT HERE EIGHT TIMES BEFORE AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO ARREST ME FOR THIS? THIS IS A FAMILY MATTER.

OJ's acknowledgment of a long prior history of police calls — and his apparent expectation of continued impunity — is deeply damaging in the context of the murder trial.

John Edwards

HE SEEMED VERY FURIOUS.

The phrasing that prompted Cochran's objection and a rare moment of courtroom levity, but the substance — OJ's rage — came in anyway.

Evidence (1)

Informal

Detective Edwards's handwritten supplemental police report from 1989, page 3 paragraphs 4 and 6

Used twice to refresh witness recollection of OJ's exact words

Notable Exchanges (3)

Johnnie Cochran•Christopher Darden•Lance A. Ito

Cochran objected that Darden's question about whether OJ 'seemed angry' called for speculation, then moved to strike the answer 'he seemed furious' as nonresponsive — noting that even Darden was laughing. Ito asked for a rephrased question, Edwards repeated the substance, and the answer stood.

lightly heated, with rare courtroom humor

Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

When Darden referred to 'Nicole Brown,' Cochran interjected to correct the record: 'Her name was Nicole Brown Simpson, your honor.' Ito agreed.

strategic — Cochran keeping the record precise on identity

John Edwards•Christopher Darden

Edwards describes OJ's demeanor oscillating between fury and calm and back to fury as Edwards explained the arrest — culminating in OJ's 'eight times before' statement.

revealing

Light Moments (2)

Johnnie Cochran

After Edwards answered 'he seemed furious,' Cochran moved to strike and noted: 'Even he has to laugh. Even counsel has to laugh about this.' A moment of genuine levity in tense testimony.

Lance A. Ito / Christopher Darden

Ito told Darden 'Better question' after the rephrasing; Darden replied 'Thank you'; Ito said 'You are welcome.'

Witness Demeanor

Steady and methodical; relied on his 1989 report twice to refresh recollection, noting 'It's been six years. I'm afraid it would.'

Professional throughout, referred to Nicole as 'the victim' unprompted.

Objections

5 objections (1 sustained, 3 overruled)

Proceeding 4543 • 193 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103