Direct examination of Michael Gladden

📄 Direct examination of Michael Gladden — Wednesday, July 12, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\12\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-MICHAEL-.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 113 of 167

◀ Administrative matters: jury resolution Sidebar: counsel discussion ▶

Witness: Michael Gladden
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Defense • Date: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 • Utterances: 256

Michael Gladden, a courier who worked at LAX, testified that he saw OJ Simpson arrive at American Airlines Terminal 4 at approximately 11:20-11:25 PM on June 12, 1994. Gladden approached Simpson and obtained an autograph around 11:30 PM, describing Simpson as calm, relaxed, and unhurried. Critically, Gladden was standing directly beside Simpson as he signed and observed his hands closely — noticing they were unusually large but seeing no cuts or bruises.

# 1 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you, your Honor.

DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. COCHRAN

# 2 MR. COCHRAN:

Good afternoon, Mr. Gladden.

# 3 MR. GLADDEN:

Good afternoon.

# 4 MR. COCHRAN:

Sir, I'd like to ask you what your occupation is.

# 5 MR. GLADDEN:

Well, I work at a service deli at pavilions and I also work part-time as a courier.

# 6 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And as a courier, do you work with another gentleman by the name of Michael Norris?

# 7 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes, I do.

# 8 MR. COCHRAN:

And is he the gentleman who just preceded you on the stand?

# 9 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 10 MR. COCHRAN:

How long have you work as a courier, sir?

# 11 MR. GLADDEN:

Probably a little over two years.

# 12 MR. COCHRAN:

And is that for Network Courier services?

# 13 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 14 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, sir, I would like to direct your attention back to the date of June 12th of 1994. Remember that particular date?

# 15 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 16 MR. COCHRAN:

And did you have occasion to be out at LAX, Los Angeles International Airport, on that particular date in the evening hours after 11:00 o'clock?

# 17 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes, I did.

# 18 MR. COCHRAN:

And would you describe for the jury where you were after 11:00 o'clock, after 11:15 on that particular evening?

# 19 MR. GLADDEN:

The upstairs parking lot at American airlines.

# 20 MR. COCHRAN:

And when you say "Parking lot," were you parked--

# 21 MR. GLADDEN:

By the curb.

# 22 MR. COCHRAN:

By the curb at American airlines?

# 23 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 24 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And let's call that terminal 4. And you were parked outside of American airlines terminal 4?

# 25 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 26 MR. COCHRAN:

And how long had you been parked there?

# 27 MR. GLADDEN:

Probably about 10, 15 minutes or so.

# 28 MR. COCHRAN:

Had you done some work in that building that particular day?

# 29 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 30 MR. COCHRAN:

Had you concluded your work at that point?

# 31 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes, I had.

# 32 MR. COCHRAN:

And what were you parked in?

# 33 MR. GLADDEN:

In a company van.

# 34 MR. COCHRAN:

And that's a van for the Network Courier services?

# 35 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 36 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Were you and Mr. Norris in the same van, sir?

# 37 MR. GLADDEN:

No, we weren't.

# 38 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. So you were in one van, he was in the other?

# 39 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 40 MR. COCHRAN:

And you were seated at the curb in your van?

# 41 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 42 MR. COCHRAN:

And at that point, did something unusual happen?

# 43 MR. GLADDEN:

Yeah. Yes. A limousine pulled up with Mr. Simpson in it.

# 44 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. The limousine pulled up. And where did the limousine go in relation to your van, if you recall?

# 45 MR. GLADDEN:

Well, my van was parked a little further down from where I was standing talking to Mr. Norris.

# 46 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. At the time this limousine pulled up, you were outside your van at that point?

# 47 MR. GLADDEN:

I was outside Mike Norris' van.

# 48 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And both of you were outside the van at that point or was Norris inside?

# 49 MR. GLADDEN:

I think he was sitting in his.

# 50 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. But at any rate, this limousine pulled up; is that correct?

# 51 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 52 MR. COCHRAN:

Did the limousine park at some point?

# 53 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes. Right almost where I was standing.

# 54 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And did you see someone get out of that vehicle?

# 55 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 56 MR. COCHRAN:

Who was that?

# 57 MR. GLADDEN:

Mr. Simpson.

# 58 MR. COCHRAN:

That's the gentleman seated here to my left?

# 59 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 60 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And you observed him, you knew who Mr. Simpson was; is that right?

# 61 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 62 MR. COCHRAN:

At that point, did you say something to Mike Norris at that point?

# 63 MR. GLADDEN:

I don't think so. I think Mike said, "There's--" umm, he said, "Hey, what's up, O.J.," or something like that.

# 64 MR. COCHRAN:

There was some conversation that transpired between Mr. Mike Norris and Mr. O.J. Simpson; is that correct?

# 65 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 66 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, when you saw Mr. O.J. Simpson, at some point, did you see him get out of the limousine?

# 67 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 68 MR. COCHRAN:

And did you see him go someplace after he got out of the limousine?

# 69 MR. GLADDEN:

He went to the back of the limo.

# 70 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And did you see him at that point with any luggage at any point?

# 71 MR. GLADDEN:

I didn't recall seeing it.

# 72 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, at some point, did you ask Mr. Simpson to do something for you?

# 73 MR. GLADDEN:

Yeah. Later on, I asked him for an autograph.

# 74 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And now, let's back up for a moment. What time was it to the best of your recollection when you first saw Mr. Simpson outside that limousine on June 12th, 1994?

# 75 MR. GLADDEN:

Probably best estimation would be between 11:20, 11:25.

KEY QUOTE

# 76 MR. COCHRAN:

So at about 11:20 or 11:25 P.M., huh?

# 77 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 78 MR. COCHRAN:

You saw Mr. Simpson, right?

# 79 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 80 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And at that time, do you recall now how he was dressed?

# 81 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 82 MR. COCHRAN:

Give us a general description.

# 83 MR. GLADDEN:

Kind of like--looked like he was wearing some jeans and like a jean shirt, long sleeved. Kind of looked like he had boots or something on.

# 84 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And did you comment at that time about how he was dressed that night?

# 85 MR. GLADDEN:

I think I was telling Mike Norris he looked like he was advertising or something.

# 86 MR. DARDEN:

Objection. Hearsay, your Honor.

# 87 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 88 MR. COCHRAN:

Unfortunately, I couldn't hear the response because of the objection.

# 89 THE COURT:

Like he was advertising. Dressed like he was advertising.

# 90 MR. GLADDEN:

Advertising his jeans and stuff.

# 91 THE COURT:

All right. Excuse me. Mr. Gladden?

# 92 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 93 THE COURT:

Only speak when a question is asked of you, okay?

# 94 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 95 THE COURT:

Thank you. All right. Mr. Cochran.

# 96 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, so he appeared neat to you, did he?

# 97 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 98 MR. COCHRAN:

Did you--had you ever met O.J. Simpson before that night?

# 99 MR. GLADDEN:

No.

# 100 MR. COCHRAN:

Can you move that microphone a little closer to you? Thank you. You had never seen him before that night?

# 101 MR. GLADDEN:

No, I haven't.

# 102 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Did you see any bags or any skycaps or anyone around him with any bags that particular evening?

# 103 MR. GLADDEN:

Not when he first came up, no, but--

# 104 MR. COCHRAN:

At some point thereafter, did you see any bags?

# 105 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 106 MR. COCHRAN:

And can you tell the Court and jury, if you can think back in your mind, how many bags you saw, the total number of bags, if you recall?

# 107 MR. GLADDEN:

Maybe between four and five.

# 108 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Four and five bags. And then can you describe for us as you think back the color of the bags that you saw?

# 109 MR. GLADDEN:

Probably all of them were black. I think there was like a brown looking smaller bag. It wasn't too small, but it was--

# 110 MR. COCHRAN:

Was it like a carry-on, the brown one?

# 111 MR. GLADDEN:

Something like that.

# 112 MR. COCHRAN:

Do you know what a Louie Vuitton bag is?

# 113 MR. GLADDEN:

Not really.

# 114 MR. COCHRAN:

You don't know. But you recall that then, of the four or five bags, majority of them were black, is that right, in color?

# 115 MR. DARDEN:

Objection. This is leading.

# 116 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 117 MR. COCHRAN:

Well, I'm asking.

# 118 THE COURT:

Overruled, but it is leading. He's already testified to it, but it is leading.

# 119 MR. COCHRAN:

I just want to make sure. Okay, your Honor.

# 120 MR. COCHRAN:

Why don't you tell us, of the bags that you saw, what color were they?

# 121 MR. GLADDEN:

Pretty much or they were all black in color and there was probably one like brownish, tan looking bag.

# 122 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now--and when the limo first pulled up, was there a skycap available, if you know?

# 123 MR. GLADDEN:

No.

# 124 MR. COCHRAN:

And did you see the limousine driver do anything when he got out of the limousine?

# 125 MR. GLADDEN:

Well, he came and opened the door for O.J., and then he was walking around when I--I looked over by the curb, and he was looking around for a skycap. He was just kind of standing there, and then I really wasn't paying attention what he did after that.

# 126 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, at this point, did you get a chance to look at Mr. Simpson, see how he appeared to you?

# 127 MR. GLADDEN:

Yeah. Pretty much so.

# 128 MR. COCHRAN:

What was his demeanor? How did he look at that point to you?

# 129 MR. GLADDEN:

Just kind of calm and just taking his time.

KEY QUOTE

# 130 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And at some point--you described for us how he was dressed. Did you at some point approach him where he was standing?

# 131 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 132 MR. COCHRAN:

And when you approached him, what did you say to him?

# 133 MR. GLADDEN:

I said, "Hey, juice, can I get an autograph?"

# 134 MR. COCHRAN:

And when you said that to him, what did he say, if anything?

# 135 MR. GLADDEN:

He said, "Sure. Just let me get my luggage situated," or something to that effect.

# 136 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And thereafter, did there come a time when he proceeded to try to get his luggage situated?

# 137 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 138 MR. COCHRAN:

Did you see whether or not the limousine driver ever came back with some kind of a cart or something?

# 139 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes, he did.

# 140 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And these bags you described generally, where were they placed?

# 141 MR. GLADDEN:

On that cart.

# 142 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And did someone--did something happen to those bags after he placed them on the cart?

# 143 MR. GLADDEN:

Yeah. The driver took them over to the curb.

# 144 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And then what happened after that?

# 145 MR. GLADDEN:

Well, looked like they had like most of the stuff on there, then I walked over like on the side of Mr. Simpson and then I--he had like turned and seen me, and he was like, "Oh, yeah. I forgot," or something like that, or, "Sorry," and then he said--and then he signed the autograph for me.

# 146 MR. COCHRAN:

He said he was sorry?

# 147 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes. Something like that.

# 148 MR. COCHRAN:

And then he turned around and he signed this autograph for you?

# 149 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 150 MR. COCHRAN:

And to the best of your recollection, what time of evening was that that Mr. Simpson signed this autograph for you?

# 151 MR. GLADDEN:

Well, it was probably about close to 11:30 by then.

# 152 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. So it was about 11:30 on June 12th, 1994, he signed an autograph. And do you have that autograph with you today?

# 153 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 154 MR. COCHRAN:

And can--may I approach? Can you show it to me?

# 155 MR. GLADDEN:

Sure.

# 156 MR. COCHRAN:

You have it in a book there?

# 157 MR. GLADDEN:

Yeah.

# 158 MR. COCHRAN:

May I approach, your Honor?

# 159 THE COURT:

You may.

# 160 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, this--

# 161 MR. GLADDEN:

You can take it out.

# 162 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. This is a--you have a book. What is this book actually?

# 163 MR. GLADDEN:

This is the book I put it in.

# 164 MR. COCHRAN:

And do you have other autographs in this book or--

# 165 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes. A few.

# 166 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. You have a few autographs in this book? And this is the original autograph that Mr. Simpson signed for you on that night?

# 167 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 168 MR. COCHRAN:

And it says, "O.J. Simpson, peace to you"?

# 169 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 170 MR. COCHRAN:

And do you want to keep this autograph?

# 171 MR. GLADDEN:

Sure.

# 172 MR. COCHRAN:

And--all right.

# 173 MR. COCHRAN:

Your Honor, with the Court's permission, I would like to mark as Defendant's next in order a copy that was made by your Honor's clerk or by Mr. Douglas over the lunch hour this autograph. I have given counsel a copy. I'd like to mark this as our next in order, place it on the elmo.

# 174 THE COURT:

1243. And we'll allow the photocopy to be substituted for the original.

# 175 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you very kindly, your Honor.

# 176 (Deft's 1243 for id = autograph)

# 177 MR. COCHRAN:

May we for this purpose put the original on the monitor?

# 178 THE COURT:

Yes.

# 179 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, the autograph seems to be on some kind of a yellow stickum kind of piece of paper; is that right?

# 180 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 181 MR. COCHRAN:

How did that happen?

# 182 MR. GLADDEN:

Well, I carry these like with me. When they tell me to go pick something up, I write down what flight number and what airline. So habit.

# 183 MR. COCHRAN:

For the record, your Honor, I think he's referring to I guess a 3-by-5 yellow stickum that he took out of his pocket.

# 184 THE COURT:

Post-it.

# 185 MR. COCHRAN:

Post-it rather.

# 186 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 187 THE COURT:

Noted. What we'll do--it appears to me we're not going to conclude with Mr. Gladden's testimony this afternoon. We will allow the jury to examine the original, and then we'll substitute a photocopy at the appropriate time.

# 188 MR. COCHRAN:

May I have one second?

# 189 (Brief pause.)

# 190 MR. COCHRAN:

I would like to ask you a few other questions. Is that the original signature for Mr. Simpson on that particular night?

# 191 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 192 MR. COCHRAN:

And as you observed Mr. Simpson, did you have occasion to look at his hands?

# 193 MR. GLADDEN:

Yeah. I noticed how big his hands were.

# 194 MR. COCHRAN:

And did you see any cuts or bruises on his hands?

# 195 MR. GLADDEN:

No.

# 196 MR. COCHRAN:

You saw him, and can you describe for us, if you remember, how he wrote that autograph, what hand he wrote it with and whether he used both hands or not?

# 197 MR. GLADDEN:

I think he held it with his left hand and signed with his right.

# 198 MR. COCHRAN:

How close were you to him when he was signing?

# 199 MR. GLADDEN:

Just to the side of him.

# 200 MR. COCHRAN:

You were very close?

# 201 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 202 MR. COCHRAN:

You could just reach out and touch him?

# 203 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 204 MR. COCHRAN:

At that time, as you saw him sign this, "O.J., peace to you," did you have occasion to notice his demeanor at this time, how he appeared?

# 205 MR. GLADDEN:

Pretty calm and relaxed.

# 206 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Then after he signed this particular autograph and then you put it--as I understand the procedure, you took it on your post-it and you put it then in your book; is that correct?

# 207 MR. GLADDEN:

Later on, yes.

# 208 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Later on that evening; is that right?

# 209 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 210 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, where was Mr. Norris, if you know, at the time that Mr. Simpson was signing this autograph?

# 211 MR. GLADDEN:

I think he was still over by his van.

# 212 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. So he was further away at that point; is that correct?

# 213 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes. His van was parked like toward the front of the limo and I was parked towards the back of it.

# 214 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, after that, after Mr. Simpson signed the limo--strike that. After he signed the autograph, was there any further conversation between you and Mr. Simpson at that point?

# 215 MR. GLADDEN:

I just said thank you, and he said, "You're welcome," and I think that was about it.

# 216 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And did you see in what direction Mr. Simpson went at that point?

# 217 MR. GLADDEN:

Towards the American airlines door.

# 218 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And did you watch him as he went toward that door?

# 219 MR. GLADDEN:

Not too closely.

# 220 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. But at some point, did he leave your sight at some point?

# 221 MR. GLADDEN:

When I pulled off.

# 222 MR. COCHRAN:

All right.

# 223 MR. GLADDEN:

He was still standing there when I looked--was pulling off.

# 224 MR. COCHRAN:

You at some point went back to your van, did you?

# 225 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 226 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. At any time while you were out there, did you ever see Mr. Simpson at any time go near any of the trash cans out there?

# 227 MR. GLADDEN:

No.

# 228 MR. COCHRAN:

And these four or five bags that you've described for us earlier, do you know how many, if any, of those bags were checked that night?

# 229 MR. GLADDEN:

No, I don't.

# 230 MR. COCHRAN:

Do you know how many, if any, of those bags Mr. Simpson carried that particular evening?

# 231 MR. GLADDEN:

No.

# 232 MR. COCHRAN:

You weren't paying attention as to what bags or whatever he was carrying?

# 233 MR. GLADDEN:

No, I wasn't.

# 234 MR. COCHRAN:

And do you recall as you think about it now whether he had any of the bags with him that he was wearing as he was walking away?

# 235 MR. GLADDEN:

No, I don't recall.

# 236 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, you've gotten autographs from other so-called celebrities; is that correct?

# 237 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 238 MR. COCHRAN:

You mentioned that Mr. Simpson's hands appeared large to you?

# 239 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes, they did.

# 240 MR. COCHRAN:

And when did you notice that his hands appeared large to you?

# 241 MR. GLADDEN:

When he was holding this thing. I was like--just like devoured it.

KEY QUOTE

# 242 MR. COCHRAN:

What devoured it? His hands?

# 243 MR. GLADDEN:

His hand. Yeah. Just--

# 244 MR. COCHRAN:

At that point, you were standing right next to him?

# 245 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 246 MR. COCHRAN:

The time that you were with Mr. Simpson, did his demeanor or the way he acted ever change at all?

# 247 MR. GLADDEN:

No.

# 248 MR. COCHRAN:

Did he seem to be rushed to you at all?

# 249 MR. GLADDEN:

No.

# 250 MR. COCHRAN:

Seem to be relaxed to you?

# 251 MR. GLADDEN:

Pretty much so.

# 252 MR. COCHRAN:

What time was it when you got the autograph and you then walked back and got into your vehicle, your van that night? What time was it then, if you know, your best estimate?

# 253 MR. GLADDEN:

I really didn't--I don't know.

# 254 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Was that your last job for the night?

# 255 MR. GLADDEN:

Yes.

# 256 MR. COCHRAN:

Can I have just a second, your Honor?

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (5)

Michael Gladden

Probably best estimation would be between 11:20, 11:25.

Establishes Simpson's presence at LAX around 11:20-11:25 PM, directly bearing on the prosecution's timeline of when Simpson could have returned home and cleaned up after the murders.

Michael Gladden

No.

Direct answer to Cochran's question 'Did you see any cuts or bruises on his hands?' — striking at the prosecution's central evidence that Simpson had a bleeding cut on his left hand the night of the murders.

Michael Gladden

Just kind of calm and just taking his time.

Describes Simpson's demeanor when he first stepped out of the limousine — counters prosecution's portrait of a frantic, guilty man.

Michael Gladden

When he was holding this thing. I was like--just like devoured it.

Colorful description of how Simpson's large hand enveloped the Post-it note — the witness was close enough to see every detail of his hands, lending credibility to seeing no injuries.

Michael Gladden

I said, 'Hey, juice, can I get an autograph?' And he said, 'Sure. Just let me get my luggage situated.'

The casual, unhurried exchange is part of the defense's portrait of a composed man, not someone who had just committed a double murder hours earlier.

Evidence (1)

Defense 1243

Photocopy of OJ Simpson's autograph, written on a yellow Post-it note, reading 'O.J. Simpson, peace to you,' obtained by Gladden at approximately 11:30 PM on June 12, 1994. Original retained by witness; photocopy substituted as exhibit.

introduced, displayed on ELMO, jury permitted to examine original

Notable Exchanges (2)

Johnnie Cochran•Michael Gladden

Cochran walks Gladden through the moment he stood beside Simpson as Simpson signed the autograph — establishing that Gladden had a clear, close-up view of both hands and observed no cuts or wounds.

strategic

Judge Ito•Michael Gladden

After Gladden started elaborating without being asked a question, Ito interrupted to remind him: 'Only speak when a question is asked of you, okay?'

procedural

Light Moments (2)

Judge Ito

After Cochran called the autograph paper a '3-by-5 yellow stickum,' Judge Ito corrected him: 'Post-it.' Cochran immediately deferred: 'Post-it rather.'

Michael Gladden

Gladden said Simpson looked like 'he was advertising or something' — advertising his jeans — prompting a hearsay objection that led to Judge Ito reading the line aloud himself to get it on the record.

Witness Demeanor

(Brief pause.)

Objections

2 objections (0 sustained, 2 overruled)

Proceeding 6795 • 256 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103