Redirect examination of Michael Norris

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

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\12\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-MICHAE.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 113 of 167

◀ Cross-examination of Michael Norris Recross-examination of Michael Norris ▶

Witness: Michael Norris
Examiner: Robert Shapiro
Called by: Defense • Date: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 • Utterances: 42

Shapiro conducted a brief redirect of Michael Norris, an airport witness who observed Simpson on the night of the murders. Shapiro reinforced that Norris saw no cuts on Simpson's hands, saw him discard nothing in a trash can, and that Simpson appeared well-dressed, casual, and in good spirits — all consistent with the defense narrative of a composed, uninjured man.

# 1 MR. SHAPIRO:

Thank you very much, your Honor.

REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. SHAPIRO

# 2 MR. SHAPIRO:

Mr. Norris, you told us that the first time you saw Mr. Simpson was 11:20; isn't that correct?

# 3 MR. NORRIS:

Correct.

# 4 MR. SHAPIRO:

So clearly, anything that happened before that, you would have no way of knowing what took place, would you?

# 5 MS. CLARK:

Objection. Leading.

# 6 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 7 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 8 MR. SHAPIRO:

When you looked at Mr. Simpson, are you sure that you didn't see--well, strike that. Did you see any cuts on his hands at all?

# 9 MS. CLARK:

Objection. Asked and answered.

# 10 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 11 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 12 MR. SHAPIRO:

You described the bag that he was carrying as having a strap?

# 13 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 14 MR. SHAPIRO:

And after he gave the autograph to your friend Mike, did you see where he went?

# 15 MR. NORRIS:

Towards the door of the air--in the airport.

# 16 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did you ever see him stop at a trash can and throw anything in a trash can?

KEY QUOTE

# 17 MR. NORRIS:

No.

# 18 MR. SHAPIRO:

And did you have any conversation with Mike relating to the way Mr. Simpson looked that night?

# 19 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 20 MR. SHAPIRO:

What did you say?

# 21 MS. CLARK:

Objection. Hearsay.

# 22 THE COURT:

Sustained.

# 23 MR. SHAPIRO:

How did you describe the way he looked?

# 24 MS. CLARK:

Objection. Hearsay.

# 25 THE COURT:

Sustained.

# 26 MR. SHAPIRO:

Did you describe--did you verbalize the way he appeared?

# 27 MR. NORRIS:

Yes.

# 28 MR. SHAPIRO:

And how did he appear?

# 29 MS. CLARK:

Objection, your Honor.

# 30 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 31 MR. NORRIS:

He appeared to be--like I mentioned to Mike, appeared to be, you know, trying to dress young.

# 32 MS. CLARK:

Objection. Objection.

# 33 THE COURT:

Excuse me. Hold on. Mr. Norris, just tell us, without telling us what you told anybody else--

# 34 MR. NORRIS:

Okay.

# 35 THE COURT:

--how did Mr. Simpson appear to you that evening?

# 36 MR. NORRIS:

He appeared to dress real young, dress real nice and, you know, just--I mean, he was dressed real casual.

KEY QUOTE

# 37 MR. SHAPIRO:

And his attitude and demeanor was what?

# 38 MR. NORRIS:

Real nice.

# 39 MS. CLARK:

Objection. Asked and answered.

# 40 MR. SHAPIRO:

Thank you. Nothing further, your Honor.

# 41 THE COURT:

Miss Clark.

# 42 MS. CLARK:

May I have one moment, your Honor?

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

Michael Norris

He appeared to dress real young, dress real nice and, you know, just--I mean, he was dressed real casual.

Defense used this observation to portray Simpson as relaxed and untroubled at the airport, undermining the prosecution's theory that he had just committed a violent double murder.

Michael Norris

Real nice.

Norris's one-word characterization of Simpson's attitude and demeanor — a clean, memorable answer the defense wanted the jury to take away.

Robert Shapiro

Did you ever see him stop at a trash can and throw anything in a trash can?

Addresses a potential prosecution theory about Simpson disposing of evidence at the airport; Norris answered no.

Evidence (2)

Informal

The bag with a strap that Simpson was carrying at the airport

discussed

Informal

Alleged cuts on Simpson's hands

discussed — Norris said he saw none

Notable Exchanges (2)

Lance A. Ito•Michael Norris

Judge intervened mid-answer to redirect Norris away from repeating what he told his friend Mike, instructing him to describe only his own perception of Simpson.

procedural

Marcia Clark•Robert Shapiro

Clark lodged back-to-back hearsay objections to block Norris from testifying about his conversation with Mike regarding Simpson's appearance; both were sustained, forcing Shapiro to rephrase.

strategic

Light Moments (1)

Michael Norris

Norris's description of Simpson as 'trying to dress young' — an oddly endearing observation in the middle of a murder trial.

Objections

8 objections (2 sustained, 4 overruled)

Proceeding 6792 • 42 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103