Cross-examination of Wayne Stanfield

📄 Cross-examination of Wayne Stanfield — Wednesday, July 12, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\12\CROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-WAYNE-STA.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 113 of 167

◀ Direct examination of Wayne Stanfield (part 2) Administrative matters: witness transition ▶

Witness: Wayne Stanfield
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Defense • Date: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 • Utterances: 174

Darden cross-examines Captain Wayne Stanfield, the pilot who flew OJ Simpson from Los Angeles to Chicago on the night of the murders. Darden methodically establishes that Simpson was wide awake at 2:45 AM with his overhead light on, showed no signs of physical pain when standing, shaking hands firmly, or signing an autograph — undermining any defense claim of injury. Darden also attempts to introduce Simpson's 1989 domestic violence incident to contextualize demeanor claims, but is shut down by a sustained objection.

# 1 MR. DARDEN:

Thank you, your Honor.

CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. DARDEN

# 2 MR. DARDEN:

You testified a moment ago that you didn't register on that at all?

# 3 MR. STANFIELD:

No, sir.

# 4 MR. DARDEN:

What do you mean when you say you didn't register at all?

# 5 MR. STANFIELD:

Well, the question was, did I see his hands. And in order to shake his hands, hand him my log book and loan him a pen, I did have to look at his hands, yes.

# 6 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Were you expecting to see a cut on his left hand?

# 7 MR. STANFIELD:

No, sir.

# 8 MR. DARDEN:

Were you looking for a cut on his left hand?

# 9 MR. STANFIELD:

No, I was not.

# 10 MR. DARDEN:

Now, you went over to speak to Mr. Simpson three hours into your flight?

# 11 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, I did.

# 12 MR. DARDEN:

And what time did that flight leave L.A.?

# 13 MR. STANFIELD:

2345.

# 14 MR. DARDEN:

11:45 P.M.?

# 15 MR. STANFIELD:

Correct.

# 16 MR. DARDEN:

And so you went over to talk to Mr. Simpson, the Defendant, here at 2:45 A.M.?

# 17 MR. STANFIELD:

That is correct.

# 18 MR. DARDEN:

Pacific time?

# 19 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 20 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And the Defendant was wide awake?

# 21 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, he was.

# 22 MR. DARDEN:

He was the only passenger in first class who was awake at that time, wasn't he?

# 23 MR. STANFIELD:

I can't attest to that. No.

# 24 MR. DARDEN:

You don't know?

# 25 MR. STANFIELD:

I do not know.

# 26 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Well, there was someone assigned, an employee of the aircraft rather, someone who was assigned to monitor the passengers in first class; is that correct?

# 27 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, sir.

# 28 MR. DARDEN:

To observe the passengers?

# 29 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 30 MR. DARDEN:

Attend to their needs?

# 31 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 32 MR. DARDEN:

And that would be who? Who was that person?

# 33 MR. STANFIELD:

The first flight attendant, Bev Deteresa.

# 34 MR. DARDEN:

Beverly Deteresa?

# 35 MR. STANFIELD:

That's correct.

# 36 MR. DARDEN:

She was the first class flight attendant on that flight?

# 37 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 38 MR. DARDEN:

Now, when you fly at night, do you turn the cabin lights down?

# 39 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 40 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And you do that particularly when you're flying a red-eye flight, right?

# 41 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 42 MR. DARDEN:

And is that so that the passengers on the plane can sleep?

# 43 MR. STANFIELD:

Absolutely.

# 44 MR. DARDEN:

In fact, you expect that the passengers to sleep, don't you?

# 45 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 46 MR. DARDEN:

Mr. Simpson wasn't asleep?

# 47 MR. STANFIELD:

That's correct.

# 48 MR. DARDEN:

And so were the cabin lights down during the time that you were speaking to Mr. Simpson?

# 49 MR. STANFIELD:

They were dimmed, yes.

# 50 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And there's an overhead light; is that correct?

# 51 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 52 MR. DARDEN:

Was that light on or off?

# 53 MR. STANFIELD:

It was on.

# 54 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. It was on for Mr. Simpson?

# 55 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, it was.

# 56 MR. DARDEN:

And when you saw him, was he holding something in his hand?

# 57 MR. STANFIELD:

No.

# 58 MR. DARDEN:

He was just seated there with a light on?

# 59 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 60 MR. DARDEN:

2:45 in the morning, right?

# 61 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 62 MR. DARDEN:

And when you first approached Mr. Simpson, you spoke to him, right?

# 63 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, I did.

# 64 MR. DARDEN:

And you extended your hand to him?

# 65 MR. STANFIELD:

I believe it was mutual because he came out of his seat in sort of a half crouch as I had excused myself and extended his hand and I extended mine.

# 66 MR. DARDEN:

And when you say that he came out of his seat in a half crouch, are you indicating to us that he sort of raised up with his knees bent?

# 67 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, he did.

# 68 MR. DARDEN:

Did he groan in pain when he did that?

# 69 MR. STANFIELD:

No, sir, he didn't.

# 70 MR. DARDEN:

And both you and the Defendant extended your hands; is that right?

# 71 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, it is.

# 72 MR. DARDEN:

And you shook his hand?

# 73 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, I did.

# 74 MR. DARDEN:

And you used your right hand to shake his hand?

# 75 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, I did.

# 76 MR. DARDEN:

And he gave you his right hand?

# 77 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 78 MR. DARDEN:

And you gave each other a shake?

# 79 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 80 MR. DARDEN:

And that was a firm handshake, wasn't it?

# 81 MR. STANFIELD:

It was a firm, warm handshake, yes.

KEY QUOTE

# 82 MR. DARDEN:

And Mr. Simpson, the Defendant here, didn't grimace in pain when you shook his hand, did he?

# 83 MR. STANFIELD:

No, sir.

# 84 MR. DARDEN:

And at some point, you gave the Defendant an ink pen, didn't you?

# 85 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, I did.

# 86 MR. DARDEN:

And you gave him your log?

# 87 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, I did.

# 88 MR. DARDEN:

Did he have any trouble reaching out and taking the pen out of your hand?

# 89 MR. STANFIELD:

No.

# 90 MR. DARDEN:

Did he have any trouble holding the ink pen?

# 91 MR. STANFIELD:

No.

# 92 MR. DARDEN:

Did he appear to have any trouble signing that autograph?

# 93 MR. STANFIELD:

No.

# 94 MR. DARDEN:

Was there anything about the way he behaved that caused you to think that he was in pain?

# 95 MR. STANFIELD:

No.

# 96 MR. DARDEN:

And when the Defendant signed that autograph, he signed it with his right hand, didn't he?

# 97 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, sir.

# 98 MR. DARDEN:

Now, you testified that the plane left around 11:45 P.M.?

# 99 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 100 MR. DARDEN:

Did you have to wait at the gate for the Defendant to get onto the plane?

# 101 MR. STANFIELD:

No.

# 102 MR. DARDEN:

But he almost missed the plane; is that correct?

# 103 MR. STANFIELD:

He was very late, yes.

# 104 MR. DARDEN:

You saw the Defendant come onto the plane?

# 105 MR. STANFIELD:

I did not.

# 106 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Did you see him immediately after he arrived?

# 107 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, I did.

# 108 MR. DARDEN:

And you saw him stowing a bag in the overhead compartment, didn't you?

# 109 MR. STANFIELD:

I saw him standing at his row. I did not see him stowing the bag, but he was standing as if he could have been.

# 110 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Did you tell a Defense investigator that you saw the Defendant stowing a bag in the overhead compartment?

# 111 MR. STANFIELD:

I don't recall. If I did at the time, it may have been what I recalled, yes.

# 112 MR. DARDEN:

Did you tell a Defense investigator that you saw him stow a bag that was described as an athletic bag?

# 113 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, I believe I did.

# 114 MR. DARDEN:

And do you recall the color of that bag?

# 115 MR. STANFIELD:

No, sir, I don't.

# 116 MR. DARDEN:

Was it only one bag that you saw the Defendant with?

# 117 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 118 MR. DARDEN:

Now, I take it that--well, strike that. You told us that you've seen the Defendant on television before.

# 119 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 120 MR. DARDEN:

You've seen him announcing football games?

# 121 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 122 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Ever notice him to wear gloves while announcing some of those football games?

# 123 MR. STANFIELD:

I don't recall.

# 124 MR. DARDEN:

You've seen him on television commercials?

# 125 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 126 MR. DARDEN:

Hertz commercials?

# 127 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes.

# 128 MR. DARDEN:

And--I'm sorry. What was your testimony as to his demeanor? When you compared his demeanor on the plane to his demeanor on television and in commercials, you said it was basically the same or what did you say?

# 129 MR. STANFIELD:

The way the question was worded, was it similar, and yes, it was. He was warm and genial.

# 130 MR. DARDEN:

You can't attest to the Defendant's demeanor at 10:30 P.M. that night, can you?

# 131 MR. STANFIELD:

No, I cannot.

# 132 MR. DARDEN:

Or 10:15 for that matter?

# 133 MR. STANFIELD:

I cannot.

# 134 MR. DARDEN:

Or 10:35 to 10:40?

# 135 MR. STANFIELD:

I cannot.

# 136 MR. DARDEN:

And you can't tell us whether or not the demeanor that you saw is the way the Defendant usually is?

# 137 MR. STANFIELD:

I cannot.

# 138 MR. BAILEY:

I'm sorry. I didn't hear the question.

# 139 THE COURT:

The way he usually is.

# 140 MR. DARDEN:

Right?

# 141 MR. STANFIELD:

That is correct.

# 142 MR. DARDEN:

Have you ever seen the Defendant's demeanor after he was involved in a heated argument?

# 143 MR. STANFIELD:

I have not.

# 144 MR. DARDEN:

Have you ever seen the Defendant's--strike that. Did you ever see the Defendant's demeanor after an incident that occurred on new year's day in 1989?

# 145 MR. STANFIELD:

No.

# 146 MR. BAILEY:

Objection.

# 147 THE COURT:

Sustained. The jury is to disregard.

# 148 MR. DARDEN:

How many different times did you speak to the Defendant during the flight?

# 149 MR. STANFIELD:

Just the one time when I was in the cabin.

# 150 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. But you saw him on other occasions during the flight?

# 151 MR. STANFIELD:

Upon his arrival at the aircraft, the one time in the cabin and that was it.

# 152 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Did you see him as he exited the cabin?

# 153 MR. STANFIELD:

No, sir.

# 154 MR. DARDEN:

And on those two occasions that you saw the Defendant, did his demeanor remain the same?

# 155 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, sir.

# 156 MR. DARDEN:

When you approached the Defendant as he was seated on the aircraft, did you notice whether or not he had a Louie Vuitton garment bag with him?

# 157 MR. BAILEY:

I'm sorry. I can't hear you, Mr. Darden.

# 158 THE COURT:

Did he have a Louie Vuitton garment bag with him.

# 159 MR. STANFIELD:

I did not notice.

# 160 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And the athletic bag that you now recall having seen, did it appear full?

# 161 MR. STANFIELD:

I don't recall.

# 162 MR. DARDEN:

And when you first approached the Defendant at 2:45 Pacific time that morning, he was staring out the window?

# 163 MR. STANFIELD:

Yes, sir.

# 164 MR. DARDEN:

Did he have a tray on his lap?

# 165 MR. STANFIELD:

No.

# 166 MR. DARDEN:

Have a cup of coffee in his hand?

# 167 MR. STANFIELD:

No, sir.

# 168 MR. DARDEN:

Did he have any kind of beverage in his hand?

# 169 MR. STANFIELD:

No.

# 170 MR. DARDEN:

No book in his hand?

# 171 MR. STANFIELD:

No.

# 172 MR. DARDEN:

Can I have one moment? I'm almost done.

# 173 (Discussion held off the record between the Deputy District Attorneys.)

# 174 MR. DARDEN:

Thank you. Thank you, Captain.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Wayne Stanfield

It was a firm, warm handshake, yes.

Directly undermines any defense suggestion that Simpson had a debilitating hand injury the night of the murders.

Wayne Stanfield

No, sir, he didn't.

Simpson did not groan in pain when rising from his seat in a half-crouch — countering injury claims.

Wayne Stanfield

He was warm and genial.

Stanfield describes Simpson's demeanor as consistent with his television persona, but Darden then limits this by establishing Stanfield had no baseline for Simpson post-violence.

Christopher Darden

Did you ever see the Defendant's demeanor after an incident that occurred on new year's day in 1989?

Attempt to introduce domestic violence history to challenge demeanor testimony — immediately objected to and sustained.

Evidence (2)

Informal

Captain Stanfield's flight log book, signed by Simpson as an autograph

discussed — used to establish Simpson's hand dexterity and lack of pain

Informal

Athletic bag allegedly stowed by Simpson in the overhead compartment

discussed — Stanfield initially hedged but confirmed he told a Defense investigator he saw it

Notable Exchanges (3)

Christopher Darden•Wayne Stanfield

Darden walks Stanfield through every physical act Simpson performed — rising from seat, handshake, taking a pen, signing — extracting a 'no' to pain/grimacing at each step. A methodical dismantling of any injury narrative.

strategic

Christopher Darden•Wayne Stanfield

Stanfield admits he told a Defense investigator he saw Simpson stowing a bag but now hedges on the details, saying he was 'standing as if he could have been.' Darden pins him to his prior statement.

revealing

Christopher Darden•F. Lee Bailey•Judge Ito

Darden attempts to question Stanfield about Simpson's demeanor after the 1989 domestic violence incident. Bailey objects, Ito sustains and instructs the jury to disregard.

tense

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Wayne Stanfield

Prior inconsistent statement

Darden confronts Stanfield with his statement to a Defense investigator that he saw Simpson stowing an athletic bag in the overhead compartment. On the stand, Stanfield softened this to 'standing as if he could have been,' and Darden used his own prior words to lock him in.

Objections

1 objections (1 sustained, 0 overruled)

Proceeding 6788 • 174 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103