Direct examination of Michael Norris

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

Address:

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

TRIAL

▲ Day 113 of 167

◀ Administrative matters: witness transition Cross-examination of Michael Norris ▶

Witness: Michael Norris
Examiner: Robert Shapiro
Called by: Defense • Date: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 • Utterances: 165

Michael Norris, a courier for Network Courier, testifies that he and a coworker saw O.J. Simpson exit a limousine at LAX between 11:20 and 11:25 PM on June 12, 1994. Simpson appeared calm, nonchalant, and unhurried — he made small talk, signed an autograph, and showed no visible injuries, cuts, bandages, or signs of distress. This is defense testimony aimed at establishing Simpson's composed demeanor shortly before his flight to Chicago.

# 1 MR. SHAPIRO:

Thank you very much, your Honor.

DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. SHAPIRO

# 2 MR. SHAPIRO:

Good afternoon, Mr. Norris.

# 3 MR. NORRIS:

Good afternoon.

# 4 MR. SHAPIRO:

A little nervous today?

# 5 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 6 MR. SHAPIRO:

We ask you just try to relax. I have a very few questions for you this afternoon.

# 7 MR. NORRIS:

Okay.

# 8 MR. SHAPIRO:

Would you briefly tell the ladies and gentlemen of the jury what your education is after high school?

# 9 MR. NORRIS:

After high school, I attended El Camino Junior College for a year and a half and transferred to Fort Haye State University in Kansas, and I attended there for two and a half years.

# 10 MR. SHAPIRO:

And what fields did you study?

# 11 MR. NORRIS:

Physical education and sociology.

# 12 MR. SHAPIRO:

Do you ever plan on returning to school?

# 13 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 14 MR. SHAPIRO:

Are you currently employed?

# 15 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 16 MR. SHAPIRO:

And what is your current employment?

# 17 MR. NORRIS:

I currently work full-time for Southern Cal Gas and I work part-time for Network Courier.

# 18 MR. SHAPIRO:

And Network Courier is a delivery service?

# 19 MR. NORRIS:

Yes, sir.

# 20 MR. SHAPIRO:

How long have you been employed by Network Courier?

# 21 MR. NORRIS:

In August, it will be four years.

# 22 MR. SHAPIRO:

Are you married?

# 23 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 24 MR. SHAPIRO:

Have a family?

# 25 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 26 MR. SHAPIRO:

Were you at the airport on June the 12th, 1994 as a courier?

# 27 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 28 MR. SHAPIRO:

And why is that date important to you?

# 29 MR. NORRIS:

That was the night that we met or saw O.J. Simpson at the airport and learned the next day that his ex-wife had been murdered.

# 30 MR. SHAPIRO:

When you say "We," were you with someone else at the airport?

# 31 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 32 MR. SHAPIRO:

Who were you with?

# 33 MR. NORRIS:

Mike gladden.

# 34 MR. SHAPIRO:

And is he here this afternoon?

# 35 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 36 MR. SHAPIRO:

Where were you when you--did you observe a limousine that evening?

# 37 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 38 MR. SHAPIRO:

What time did you observe the limousine?

# 39 MR. NORRIS:

Approximately 11:20 to 11:25.

# 40 MR. SHAPIRO:

Where were you when you observed the limousine?

# 41 MR. NORRIS:

Walking to get into our vans. We had just dropped some packages off at the airport.

# 42 MR. SHAPIRO:

And did you take particular notice of this limousine?

# 43 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 44 MR. SHAPIRO:

For any particular reason?

# 45 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 46 MR. SHAPIRO:

What was the reason?

# 47 MR. NORRIS:

It pulled up right next to our vans and kind of blocked us in.

# 48 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did you see someone open the door to the limousine?

# 49 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 50 MR. SHAPIRO:

Who opened the door of the limousine?

# 51 MR. NORRIS:

The limousine driver.

# 52 MR. SHAPIRO:

And did you see someone get out of the limousine?

# 53 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 54 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did you recognize that person?

# 55 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 56 MR. SHAPIRO:

Who did you recognize that person as?

# 57 MR. NORRIS:

O.J. Simpson.

# 58 MR. SHAPIRO:

About what time was it that you saw Mr. Simpson get out of the limousine at the airport?

# 59 MR. NORRIS:

Between 11:20 and 11:25.

KEY QUOTE

# 60 MR. SHAPIRO:

Was he carrying anything when he got out of the limousine?

# 61 MR. NORRIS:

I don't remember him carrying anything when he got out.

# 62 MR. SHAPIRO:

What did you see him do when he got out of the limousine?

# 63 MR. NORRIS:

He walked to the--well, as he got out, I said, "Hey, what's up O.J.," and then he walked to the back of the limo.

# 64 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did he respond at all to you?

# 65 MR. NORRIS:

Yes, he did.

# 66 MR. SHAPIRO:

What did he respond?

# 67 MR. NORRIS:

He said, "Hey, what's happening?"

# 68 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did he look at you when he said that?

# 69 MR. NORRIS:

Yes, he did.

# 70 MR. SHAPIRO:

About how far away from you was he?

# 71 MR. NORRIS:

I'd say approximately about eight feet.

# 72 MR. SHAPIRO:

About the distance we are here or a little closer?

# 73 MR. NORRIS:

About the same distance.

# 74 MR. SHAPIRO:

And to your knowledge, did your friend say anything to Mr. Simpson?

# 75 MR. NORRIS:

He asked him could he get an autograph.

# 76 MR. SHAPIRO:

And did Mr. Simpson reply?

# 77 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 78 MR. SHAPIRO:

What did he reply?

# 79 MR. NORRIS:

"Hold on just a minute while I take care of my luggage."

# 80 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did he then go somewhere in the direction of the limousine?

# 81 MR. NORRIS:

Yes. He went towards the back of the limousine.

# 82 MR. SHAPIRO:

And did you see him do something?

# 83 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 84 MR. SHAPIRO:

What did you see him do?

# 85 MR. NORRIS:

He was in a bag, one of the bags in the back of the limousine. Well, it was on the ground.

# 86 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did he open the bag?

# 87 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 88 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did he appear to take something out?

# 89 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 90 MS. CLARK:

Objection. This is all leading, your Honor.

# 91 THE COURT:

Sustained.

# 92 MR. SHAPIRO:

What did you see him do with the bag at the back of the limousine?

# 93 MR. NORRIS:

He went--was going through the bag and he looked like he pulled out a piece of paper or could have been a ticket or anything like--something like that.

# 94 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did it appear similar to the size of what--

# 95 MS. CLARK:

Objection, your Honor. Leading.

# 96 THE COURT:

Sustained.

# 97 MR. SHAPIRO:

Are you familiar with what airline tickets look like?

# 98 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 99 MR. SHAPIRO:

And compared to what airline tickets look like, did you have any opinion as to whether this was consistent with that?

# 100 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 101 MR. SHAPIRO:

And what was your opinion?

# 102 MR. NORRIS:

That it looked like an airline ticket.

# 103 MR. SHAPIRO:

What did you see Mr. Simpson do at that point in time?

# 104 MR. NORRIS:

Umm, he put a bag over his shoulder and had a bag in his hand and he remembered to give Mike an autograph.

# 105 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did you see him sign the autograph for Mike?

# 106 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 107 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did you have a--can you tell us what--how Mr. Simpson appeared during the period of time that you saw him?

# 108 MR. NORRIS:

Umm, he just appeared like, you know, nonchalant, just like he was going, you know, getting ready to leave on a flight. I mean--

# 109 MR. SHAPIRO:

How did he look to you? Could you describe that to the jury?

# 110 MR. NORRIS:

He looked natural. He was dressed real nice, you know, had on like stone-washed type denim outfit, you know, trying to look kind of young, you know, just--I mean he was just, you know, just trying to be cool, you know.

KEY QUOTE

# 111 MR. SHAPIRO:

And would you describe his demeanor to the jury?

# 112 MR. NORRIS:

He just--I mean, he just was like smooth, just, you know, hey, just walking through like, "I'm O.J."

KEY QUOTE

# 113 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did he appear to be rushed in any way?

# 114 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 115 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did he appear to be distracted in any way?

# 116 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 117 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did he appear to be preoccupied in any way?

# 118 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 119 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did you--you said he was wearing some stone-washed clothes. Is that similar to a denim material?

# 120 MR. NORRIS:

Yes. Like a blue jean type material.

# 121 MR. SHAPIRO:

And can you describe the hue of that material?

# 122 MR. NORRIS:

Excuse me?

# 123 MR. SHAPIRO:

The darkness or lightness of that material.

# 124 MR. NORRIS:

It's more of a light color. That's--it's like a stone wash. It's like a lighter denim, lighter blue jean type. It wasn't like a dark like 405 type blue jean. It was, you know, much lighter.

# 125 THE COURT:

You mean 501.

# 126 MR. NORRIS:

501. Right. Sorry.

# 127 THE COURT:

Just relax, Mr. Norris.

# 128 MR. NORRIS:

Okay.

# 129 MR. SHAPIRO:

Now, during the period that you saw O.J. Simpson, did you observe his hands?

# 130 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 131 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did you see any cuts on his hands?

# 132 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 133 MR. SHAPIRO:

See any band aids on his hands?

# 134 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 135 MR. SHAPIRO:

See any bruises on his face?

# 136 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 137 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did he appear to be sweating?

# 138 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 139 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did anything at all appear to be out of the ordinary to you when you saw Mr. Simpson?

# 140 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 141 MR. SHAPIRO:

Was he cordial?

# 142 MR. NORRIS:

Yes. Very. I mentioned to him that Marcus was out there earlier. I had heard Marcus was there, and he said, "Yes, I know." And I asked him about his son, if he was still at SC, and he said, "No. He's through."

# 143 MR. SHAPIRO:

So he had enough time for small talk for you?

# 144 MR. NORRIS:

Right.

# 145 MR. SHAPIRO:

And you said initially he told your friend he had to take care of his luggage, but then he came back and gave the autograph?

# 146 MR. NORRIS:

Right. That's correct.

# 147 MR. SHAPIRO:

And do you know if your friend Michael still has that autograph?

# 148 MR. NORRIS:

Yes, he does.

# 149 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did you come with him today?

# 150 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 151 MR. SHAPIRO:

You both still work together as couriers?

# 152 MR. NORRIS:

Yes. And also coach together.

# 153 MR. SHAPIRO:

And you coach. What do you coach?

# 154 MR. NORRIS:

Senior League All Stars in Santa Monica.

# 155 MR. SHAPIRO:

What is that?

# 156 MR. NORRIS:

Baseball. Baseball. We have a big game tonight.

# 157 MR. SHAPIRO:

What age are your--

# 158 MR. NORRIS:

13--actually, it's 14 and 15-year olds.

# 159 MR. SHAPIRO:

And do you have a son or daughter who plays on that team?

# 160 MR. NORRIS:

No, I don't.

# 161 MR. SHAPIRO:

You're just a volunteer coach?

# 162 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 163 MR. SHAPIRO:

Thank you very much for coming this afternoon.

# 164 MR. NORRIS:

Okay.

# 165 THE COURT:

Miss Clark.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Michael Norris

He just--I mean, he just was like smooth, just, you know, hey, just walking through like, 'I'm O.J.'

Vivid characterization of Simpson's demeanor as relaxed and self-assured — the opposite of someone who had just committed a double murder hours earlier.

Michael Norris

He looked natural. He was dressed real nice, you know, had on like stone-washed type denim outfit, you know, trying to look kind of young.

Establishes Simpson's appearance as normal and put-together, undercutting prosecution's narrative of a man in flight or distress.

Michael Norris

Between 11:20 and 11:25.

Places Simpson at LAX at a specific time, which bears on the defense timeline argument that Simpson could not have committed the murders and made it to the airport.

Michael Norris

No.

Repeated answer to whether Simpson had cuts on his hands, band-aids, bruises on his face, or appeared to be sweating — each denial counters a key prosecution claim about Simpson's physical state that night.

Evidence (1)

Informal

Autograph signed by O.J. Simpson for coworker Mike Gladden at LAX on the night of June 12, 1994 — still in Gladden's possession

discussed

Notable Exchanges (1)

Lance A. Ito•Michael Norris

Norris referred to dark blue jeans as '405 type blue jean.' Judge Ito gently corrected him: 'You mean 501,' referring to Levi's 501s. Norris apologized and the judge told him to relax.

light

Light Moments (2)

Lance A. Ito

Witness accidentally called Levi's 501 jeans '405 type blue jean.' Judge Ito corrected him — '501' — and told him to relax.

Michael Norris

Norris mentions he and his coworker have 'a big game tonight' coaching 14-15 year old baseball in Santa Monica, injecting an oddly wholesome note into the proceedings.

Witness Demeanor

Admitted to being nervous at the start of testimony.

Relaxed progressively over the course of questioning.

Spoke in a casual, colloquial style throughout — consistent with someone recounting a memorable but ordinary celebrity encounter.

Objections

2 objections (2 sustained, 0 overruled)

Proceeding 6790 • 165 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103