Cross-examination of Carol Connors

📄 Cross-examination of Carol Connors — Monday, July 10, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\10\CROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-CAROL-CON.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 111 of 167

◀ Direct examination of Carol Connors Witness excusal ▶

Witness: Carol Connors
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Defense • Date: Monday, July 10, 1995 • Utterances: 120

Christopher Darden cross-examines Carol Connors, a defense witness who attended a Sheba Medical Center charity fundraiser with OJ Simpson on the night of June 11. Darden establishes that her relationship with Simpson was limited to public events, that she never noticed his hands or any cuts, and — most critically — that she had zero knowledge of his whereabouts on the night of June 12, the night of the murders. The cross effectively neutralizes her testimony by confining it to the prior evening.

# 1 THE COURT:

Mr. Darden.

CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. DARDEN

# 2 MR. DARDEN:

Good afternoon, Miss Connor.

# 3 MS. CONNOR:

Good afternoon.

# 4 MR. DARDEN:

It is Miss, correct?

# 5 MS. CONNOR:

Ms.

# 6 MR. DARDEN:

Ms. Okay. You testified that you had seen the Defendant what; 8 or 10 times prior?

# 7 MS. CONNOR:

Maybe about over the years.

# 8 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And each time you saw the Defendant, you saw him at different events; is that correct?

# 9 MS. CONNOR:

Yes.

# 10 MR. DARDEN:

You saw him in public?

# 11 MS. CONNOR:

Yes.

# 12 MR. DARDEN:

You didn't see him at home, did you?

# 13 MS. CONNOR:

No.

# 14 MR. DARDEN:

You didn't see him at home when he was married to Nicole Brown, did you?

# 15 MS. CONNOR:

Not at their home, but I saw them together, yes.

# 16 MR. DARDEN:

Did you ever spend the night in his home while he was married to Nicole Brown?

# 17 MS. CONNOR:

No.

# 18 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Most of the contacts that you had with the Defendant were at charity events?

# 19 MS. CONNOR:

They were at events or functions, yes.

# 20 MR. DARDEN:

Like the Sheba Medical Center?

# 21 MS. CONNOR:

That's one of them, yes.

# 22 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. The Sheba Medical Center is in Bell Air?

# 23 MS. CONNOR:

No. The Sheba Medical Center is in Israel. It is the non-secular hospital in the middle east. The event took place at the Ellis' home.

# 24 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And who are the Ellis'?

# 25 MS. CONNOR:

They are a couple that lives in Bell Air, very philanthropic. They own folly's chocolate, and they gave the party at their home.

# 26 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. So at this function, then there were corporate executives?

# 27 MS. CONNOR:

There were a lot of different people.

# 28 MR. DARDEN:

Actors?

# 29 MS. CONNOR:

Excuse me?

# 30 MR. DARDEN:

Were there actors also at this gathering?

# 31 MS. CONNOR:

Yes.

# 32 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Politicians?

# 33 MS. CONNOR:

Yes.

# 34 MR. DARDEN:

Was there media there?

# 35 MS. CONNOR:

Yes.

# 36 MR. DARDEN:

And the Defendant, I suppose you knew that he was an actor; is that correct?

# 37 MS. CONNOR:

Yes.

# 38 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And you also knew that he made money doing commercials and videos for different companies?

# 39 MS. CONNOR:

I think everybody knew that, yes.

# 40 MR. DARDEN:

And this function was a perfect kind of function for one to make business contacts; is that correct?

# 41 MR. SHAPIRO:

Objection. Beyond the scope.

# 42 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 43 MS. CONNOR:

Does that mean I answer it?

# 44 THE COURT:

You can answer it.

# 45 MS. CONNOR:

Could you ask it again, please?

# 46 MR. DARDEN:

This type of function with the Sheba Medical Center was the perfect kind of function in which someone could make some business contacts; is that correct?

# 47 MS. CONNOR:

I think the word is networking today. Yes.

KEY QUOTE

# 48 MR. DARDEN:

Was the Defendant networking?

# 49 MS. CONNOR:

I did not see that.

# 50 MR. DARDEN:

Do you know whether or not he was networking?

# 51 MS. CONNOR:

I did not see that.

# 52 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Well, did you say that Prime Minister Sadat's wife was present?

# 53 MS. CONNOR:

Leah Rabin was there. She was being given an award by Kirk Douglas and so was Madame Jihan Sadat. They were both being presented with an award that night.

# 54 MR. DARDEN:

And would you say that just about everyone at the function was on their best behavior?

# 55 MS. CONNOR:

I think everybody was enjoying themselves, yes.

# 56 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. The Defendant's wearing a tuxedo in the photograph; is that correct?

# 57 MS. CONNOR:

Everybody was wearing a tuxedo that was a guy.

KEY QUOTE

# 58 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Can you see the Defendant's left hand in the photograph there?

# 59 MS. CONNOR:

Do you want me to--

# 60 MR. DARDEN:

Please.

# 61 MS. CONNOR:

This is his right hand, right? Sort of. No, I don't see it. I don't see it.

# 62 MR. DARDEN:

Did you shake hands with the Defendant that night?

# 63 MS. CONNOR:

Yes, I did.

# 64 MR. DARDEN:

Did you hold his hand after you shook it?

# 65 MS. CONNOR:

No. I shook it just like I would shake your hand.

# 66 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. You shook his right hand?

# 67 MS. CONNOR:

I think so. My mother always taught me to--

# 68 MR. DARDEN:

Did you see his left hand?

# 69 MS. CONNOR:

I didn't pay attention to his hands.

# 70 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. You didn't see a cut on his left hand that night; is that correct?

# 71 MS. CONNOR:

No, I did not.

# 72 MR. DARDEN:

And the function ended at around 11:00 P.M.?

# 73 MS. CONNOR:

Somewhere--yeah, somewhere around that time.

# 74 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And up until 11:00 P.M. that night, you didn't see a cut on the Defendant's hand, did you?

# 75 MS. CONNOR:

I didn't even pay attention to his hands. But no, I did not see a cut.

KEY QUOTE

# 76 MR. DARDEN:

Was the Defendant bleeding at all that night?

# 77 MS. CONNOR:

Not that I know of, no.

# 78 MR. DARDEN:

Now, you can't see the Defendant's shoes in that photograph either, can you?

# 79 MS. CONNOR:

No, because it doesn't go down to his feet.

# 80 MR. DARDEN:

Now, you testified that you were someone's guest at this event; is that correct?

# 81 MS. CONNOR:

Uh-huh.

# 82 MR. DARDEN:

Is that yes?

# 83 MS. CONNOR:

I'm sorry. Excuse me. Yes.

# 84 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. So you didn't pay $25,000?

# 85 MS. CONNOR:

No, I did not.

# 86 MR. DARDEN:

And there were other guests at the event?

# 87 MS. CONNOR:

Yes, there were.

# 88 MR. DARDEN:

There were other guests that didn't pay $25,000?

# 89 MS. CONNOR:

I'm sure some did and some didn't. I don't know.

# 90 MR. DARDEN:

Did they have something at the event called a celebrity invite or a celebrity invitation?

# 91 MS. CONNOR:

Umm, I don't know what you mean by that.

# 92 MR. DARDEN:

Well, were there certain celebrities invited to the function who were not required to pay the $25,000?

# 93 MS. CONNOR:

I would think so, yes.

# 94 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And do you know who those people were?

# 95 MS. CONNOR:

No.

# 96 MR. DARDEN:

You didn't handle the financial aspect?

# 97 MS. CONNOR:

No.

# 98 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Are you on the board of directors of Sheba?

# 99 MS. CONNOR:

I'm involved. I don't know if I'm--I would have to look at their stationery because I'm very involved with Sheba Medical Center. It's something I believe in. I think I'm on the board--but I don't get involved in any of that. I have lent my name to the hospital because I believe in the hospital.

# 100 MR. DARDEN:

Well, if you were a member of the board of directors, you would have some input into how the charity was run; is that correct?

# 101 MS. CONNOR:

No.

# 102 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. You would go to directors' meetings?

# 103 MS. CONNOR:

I never go to a meeting.

# 104 MR. DARDEN:

Have you ever been to a board of directors meeting?

# 105 MS. CONNOR:

One. It was for the women's--the women's auxiliary. I went to one meeting.

# 106 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. But you're not sure whether or not you're a member of the board?

# 107 MS. CONNOR:

I know this sounds really silly, but I am on a lot of things that I believe in and I have given my name to the charity because I believe in it. I do not have anything to do with the day to day running of the charity.

# 108 MR. DARDEN:

Did you see the Defendant speak with the press that night at that function?

# 109 MS. CONNOR:

I was standing inside and there was like an area where Madame Sadat and everyone was standing with the flags and you would walk in. I walked in obviously before O.J. and Paula. So I--I had already been in the party. So I didn't see that, no. I'm sure it did, but I didn't see it.

# 110 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Well, you've described for us the Defendant's demeanor the night of the 11th; is that correct?

# 111 MS. CONNOR:

The night of the 11th?

# 112 MR. DARDEN:

Yes.

# 113 MS. CONNOR:

Yes.

# 114 MR. DARDEN:

How about the night of the 12th? Did you see the Defendant around 10:20 on the night of the 12th?

KEY QUOTE

# 115 MS. CONNOR:

No, I did not.

# 116 MR. DARDEN:

Did you speak to him at that time?

# 117 MS. CONNOR:

No, I did not.

# 118 MR. DARDEN:

You don't know where he was at that time?

# 119 MS. CONNOR:

No, I do not.

# 120 MR. DARDEN:

Thank you. That's all.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Carol Connors

I didn't even pay attention to his hands. But no, I did not see a cut.

Undermines any implicit defense suggestion that she could testify to Simpson's physical condition; she simply wasn't watching.

Christopher Darden

How about the night of the 12th? Did you see the Defendant around 10:20 on the night of the 12th?

The sharp pivot that defines the entire cross — her testimony about June 11 is irrelevant to the murders; she admits she has no knowledge of June 12.

Carol Connors

I think the word is networking today. Yes.

Darden successfully reframes the charity event as a professional opportunity for Simpson, subtly challenging the warm personal portrait the defense was painting.

Carol Connors

Everybody was wearing a tuxedo that was a guy.

Minor but characteristic — illustrates the witness's casual, unguarded manner throughout.

Evidence (1)

Informal

Photograph of OJ Simpson at the Sheba Medical Center fundraiser, showing him in a tuxedo; used to probe visibility of his left hand

discussed, examined by witness

Notable Exchanges (3)

Christopher Darden•Carol Connors

Darden methodically confirms Connors never saw Simpson's left hand, never noticed a cut, and wasn't paying attention to his hands at all — stripping the witness of any ability to testify to his physical condition that night.

strategic

Christopher Darden•Carol Connors

Darden closes by pivoting abruptly from June 11 to June 12, revealing that Connors has no knowledge of Simpson's whereabouts on the night of the murders. She confirms she did not see him, did not speak to him, and does not know where he was.

decisive

Christopher Darden•Carol Connors

Exchange about whether Simpson was 'networking' at the charity event. Connors corrects Darden's framing but ultimately concedes the point using the word 'networking' herself.

light but strategic

Light Moments (3)

Carol Connors

Darden opens by asking 'It is Miss, correct?' and Connors corrects him: 'Ms.'

Carol Connors

When asked about who wore tuxedos at the event, Connors replies: 'Everybody was wearing a tuxedo that was a guy.'

Carol Connors

After an objection is overruled, Connors asks the court: 'Does that mean I answer it?' — Judge Ito confirms she can.

Credibility Attacks (3)

⚔ Carol Connors

scope limitation

Darden establishes that Connors only ever saw Simpson at public events, never in a personal or private context, limiting the weight of her character observations.

⚔ Carol Connors

knowledge limitation

Connors admits she never noticed Simpson's hands and cannot say whether he had a cut — neutralizing any implicit claim that she could speak to his physical condition.

⚔ Carol Connors

temporal irrelevance

Darden forces her to confirm she has no knowledge of Simpson's whereabouts or condition on June 12, the night of the murders, making her entire testimony about June 11 strategically moot.

Witness Demeanor

Casual and unguarded — volunteers information freely

Occasionally uncertain or self-deprecating ('I know this sounds really silly')

Responsive but not combative with Darden

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 1 overruled)

Proceeding 6700 • 120 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103