Redirect examination of Ellen Aaronson (part 2)

📄 Redirect examination of Ellen Aaronson (part 2) — Tuesday, July 11, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\11\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-ELLEN-.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 112 of 167

◀ Recross-examination of Ellen Aaronson Witness transition ▶

Witness: Ellen Aaronson
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Defense • Date: Tuesday, July 11, 1995 • Utterances: 25

Cochran used a brief redirect to lock in Ellen Aaronson's confirmation that her initial statement to Detective Kilcoyne had uncertain times, while the statement he introduced — which she read for the jury — was given after she verified and was certain of the times. The exchange was short and designed to neutralize damage from Clark's cross-examination about inconsistent timing statements.

# 1 MR. COCHRAN:

Just this last question.

FURTHER REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. COCHRAN

# 2 MR. COCHRAN:

With regard--so we're absolutely clear, you told Detective Kilcoyne the first time you made your statement you weren't sure on the times; isn't that right?

# 3 MS. AARONSON:

Yes, I did.

# 4 MR. COCHRAN:

And so the statement Miss Clark had up there was the time when you first talked to the detective and weren't clear on the times, right?

# 5 MS. AARONSON:

Yes, it is.

# 6 MS. CLARK:

Objection. Asked and answered.

# 7 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 8 MR. COCHRAN:

The statements which I had you read and just read for this jury were after you checked the times and were clear on the times, right?

KEY QUOTE

# 9 MS. AARONSON:

Correct.

# 10 THE COURT:

Sustained.

# 11 MS. CLARK:

Objection.

# 12 THE COURT:

Sustained. That was leading, counsel.

# 13 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. Let me--

# 14 MR. COCHRAN:

What's the difference in the statements that I had you read for this jury just a few moments ago?

# 15 MS. CLARK:

Objection. Objection. That's for the jury.

# 16 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 17 MS. AARONSON:

The statement I read that you showed me is the statement I gave to the police after I checked all of my times and after I was positive with what time they actually--everything took place.

KEY QUOTE

# 18 MR. COCHRAN:

And were those accurate times?

# 19 MS. AARONSON:

Yes, they are.

# 20 MR. COCHRAN:

Is that the truth?

# 21 MS. AARONSON:

Yes, it is.

# 22 MR. COCHRAN:

Is that what happened that night?

# 23 MS. AARONSON:

Yes, it is.

# 24 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you very much.

# 25 MS. AARONSON:

You're welcome.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (2)

Ellen Aaronson

The statement I read that you showed me is the statement I gave to the police after I checked all of my times and after I was positive with what time they actually--everything took place.

Directly rehabilitates Aaronson's credibility on timing — distinguishing an uncertain early statement from a verified, certain later one.

Johnnie Cochran

The statements which I had you read and just read for this jury were after you checked the times and were clear on the times, right?

Cochran's leading framing draws a sustained objection, but the underlying point — that the defense-introduced statement was the reliable one — was already before the jury.

Evidence (2)

Informal

Aaronson's initial statement to Detective Kilcoyne — given before she verified her times

discussed, distinguished from later statement

Informal

Aaronson's later police statement — given after she confirmed her times

confirmed as accurate by witness

Notable Exchanges (2)

Lance A. Ito•Johnnie Cochran

Ito sustained a leading objection after the witness had already answered 'Correct,' creating an unusual sequence where the answer preceded the ruling — a small procedural oddity that let Cochran's point land anyway.

procedural

Marcia Clark•Lance A. Ito

Clark objected that Cochran's question asking the witness to explain the difference between statements was 'for the jury' — Ito overruled, allowing Aaronson to give her clarifying answer directly.

strategic

Light Moments (1)

Ellen Aaronson

Aaronson responded 'You're welcome' after Cochran thanked her — a small pleasantry that closed an otherwise tightly contested examination.

Objections

3 objections (1 sustained, 2 overruled)

Proceeding 6754 • 25 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103