📄 Cross-examination of Donald Thompson — Tuesday, July 18, 1995
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\18\CROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-DONALD-TH.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 117 of 167

Cross-examination of Donald Thompson

Witness: Donald Thompson
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Defense • Date: Tuesday, July 18, 1995 • Utterances: 25
Darden briefly cross-examines LAPD Officer Don Thompson, attempting to establish his movements from Bundy to Rockingham on the morning of June 13 and to explore the legal basis for entering the property. Cochran repeatedly objects that the questions exceed the scope of direct examination, with the judge sustaining those objections. The examination ends abruptly mid-objection as Darden tries to ask Thompson about probable cause.
1 MR. DARDEN:

Thank you, your Honor.

CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. DARDEN

2 MR. DARDEN:

Good afternoon, Officer Thompson.

3 OFCR. THOMPSON:

Good afternoon, sir.

4 MR. DARDEN:

You and I met each other last Friday evening; is that correct?

5 OFCR. THOMPSON:

That's right.

6 MR. DARDEN:

And since that time, I've made you available to Mr. Cochran and Mr. Douglas to be interviewed by them; is that right?

7 OFCR. THOMPSON:

That's correct.

8 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. Before going over to Rockingham, you went over to Bundy that morning; is that correct?

9 OFCR. THOMPSON:

Yes, I did.

10 MR. DARDEN:

You arrived at Bundy around 6:55 in the morning?

11 MR. COCHRAN:

Objection. This is leading. Beyond the scope of direct.

KEY QUOTE
12 THE COURT:

Sustained.

13 MR. DARDEN:

May I make an offer of proof? I understand the Court's prior ruling, Judge. If I can just ask a couple of questions.

14 THE COURT:

Couple.

15 MR. DARDEN:

Thank you.

16 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And you left Bundy at 8:05 approximately?

17 OFCR. THOMPSON:

Yes.

18 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And from there, you went over to Rockingham; is that right?

19 OFCR. THOMPSON:

That's right.

20 MR. DARDEN:

Now, prior to leaving Bundy, did you have a chance to look around?

21 MR. COCHRAN:

Objection, your Honor. This is beyond--this is beyond the scope of direct examination.

22 MR. DARDEN:

I would like to approach and make an offer.

23 THE COURT:

Sustained. Proceed.

24 MR. DARDEN:

Do you understand the term "Probable cause," Officer Thompson?

25 MR. COCHRAN:

I object. That's not an issue, your Honor. I object. Improper.

KEY QUOTE

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

Johnnie Cochran
Objection. This is leading. Beyond the scope of direct.
Sets the pattern for this cross — Cochran successfully boxes Darden in, limiting his ability to explore Thompson's Bundy visit and probable cause.
Christopher Darden
Do you understand the term 'Probable cause,' Officer Thompson?
Signals what Darden was really after: challenging whether officers had legal justification to enter Rockingham, a core Fourth Amendment issue in the case.
Johnnie Cochran
I object. That's not an issue, your Honor. I object. Improper.
Cochran's double objection ends the transcript — notably arguing probable cause 'is not an issue,' which itself is a contested framing.

Notable Exchanges (2)

Christopher DardenLance A. Ito
Darden twice asks to make an 'offer of proof' after sustained objections, trying to preserve his right to explore Thompson's actions at Bundy and Rockingham. The judge grants him only a couple of questions each time.
strategic
Christopher DardenJohnnie Cochran
Cochran blocks every substantive question Darden poses beyond simple timeline confirmation, effectively neutralizing the cross before it can develop into the probable cause argument Darden was building toward.
procedural obstruction

Objections

3 objections (2 sustained, 0 overruled)
Proceeding 6905 • 25 utterances • Defense witness
Criminal Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 JUL 18, 1995 📄 Cross-examination of Donald Th
JUL 18, 1995 KRT DvH TD