Officer Don Thompson testified about two Styrofoam cups he removed from the hood of OJ Simpson's Bronco on June 13, 1994. Cochran established that the cups — one containing coffee — were removed, placed on the curb, and then given back to a female photographer to discard, without being photographed. Cochran also played a videotape (Defense exhibit 1251) showing an unidentified woman with a British or Australian accent approaching and peering into the Bronco, whom Thompson had spoken with earlier that morning.
# 2 MR. COCHRAN: Since you removed the two cups, were they--was any liquid in either one of those two cups?
# 3 OFCR. THOMPSON: I think there was some liquid in one of the cups.
# 4 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Was one cup empty, if you recall, or were they both--they both have some liquid in them?
# 5 OFCR. THOMPSON: I really don't remember too much about the other cup.
# 6 MR. COCHRAN: All right. So we don't recall about one cup, but let's talk about the cup you remember, okay?
# 7 OFCR. THOMPSON: Okay.
# 8 MR. COCHRAN: What do you recall as being in that other cup, sir?
# 9 OFCR. THOMPSON: I remember coffee being in that cup.
# 10 MR. COCHRAN: All right. And you removed the cup, the one with the coffee in it, and what did you do with it?
# 11 OFCR. THOMPSON: I placed it on the curb near the Bronco.
# 12 MR. COCHRAN: All right. And what did you do with the second cup, sir?
# 13 OFCR. THOMPSON: It was placed next to the first cup.
# 14 MR. COCHRAN: They were both placed there; is that right?
# 15 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 16 MR. COCHRAN: Were either--if you know, were either of those cups photographed? Do you know?
# 17 OFCR. THOMPSON: I don't think so.
# 18 MR. COCHRAN: All right. And when you removed the two cups from the hood of the Bronco, did you see one of those circles that coffee cups sometimes leave like on the bottom of it?
# 19 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes, I did.
# 20 MR. COCHRAN: And did you see one--was it kind of a circle or ring?
# 21 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 22 MR. COCHRAN: And did you see one or two?
# 23 OFCR. THOMPSON: I distinctly remember seeing one.
# 24 MR. COCHRAN: All right. You don't remember a second one?
# 25 OFCR. THOMPSON: I don't recall if there was a second one or not.
# 26 MR. COCHRAN: All right. So this--and was the ring that you remember--the circle or ring that you remember, was that from the cup, the cup that had the coffee therein?
# 27 OFCR. THOMPSON: I'm pretty sure it was.
# 28 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Now, in this--after you removed the two cups, the one with the coffee, as I understand the sequence of events, that's when you then had the conversation with this female photographer; is that correct?
# 29 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 30 MR. COCHRAN: And how long did that conversation take place?
# 31 OFCR. THOMPSON: I would say it lasted about 15 seconds.
# 32 MR. COCHRAN: And in that conversation, did the subject matter of the cup with--the cup with the coffee therein come up? You can answer that yes or no.
# 33 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 34 MR. COCHRAN: Did you at some point give her back the cup of coffee and she did something with it?
# 35 MR. DARDEN: Objection. That misstates the evidence.
# 36 THE COURT: Overruled.
# 37 MR. COCHRAN: I'm asking. Thank you.
# 38 OFCR. THOMPSON: I really don't remember if it was given back to her.
# 39 MR. COCHRAN: All right.
# 40 OFCR. THOMPSON: But that's very possible, that I did give the cups back to her to throw away.
# 41 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Now, let's see now. With regard to your statement in this case, you had occasion to be interviewed by Detective Ron Phillips of the West Los Angeles Detective Bureau about April 7th, 1995 at 7:20 hours; is that correct? Remember that?
# 42 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 43 MR. COCHRAN: And if I were to show you a copy of that statement, might that refresh your recollection of whether or not you gave the cup of coffee back to the lady and that she threw it away?
# 44 OFCR. THOMPSON: It might.
# 45 MR. COCHRAN: May I approach, your Honor?
# 47 MR. COCHRAN: Counsel has this.
# 48 THE COURT: And, Mr. Darden, do you have a copy of this report?
# 50 THE COURT: All right. Proceed.
# 51 MR. COCHRAN: I'll show you this part. I notice you're shaking your head. Have you had occasion now to review this portion of the report?
# 52 MR. COCHRAN: And for the record, your Honor, I guess I'm talking about the third full paragraph on the second page of the report of Detective Phillips' interview with Officer Don Thompson.
# 53 MR. COCHRAN: Have you read that now?
# 54 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 55 MR. COCHRAN: And in reviewing that, does that refresh your recollection of what you told Detective Phillips back in April of 1995?
# 56 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 57 MR. COCHRAN: Does that refresh your recollection of what took place on June 13th, 1994?
# 58 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes, it does.
# 59 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Tell us what happened, sir, regarding the cup of coffee.
# 60 OFCR. THOMPSON: Starting from when I first saw the cups of coffee?
# 61 MR. COCHRAN: Yes. Why don't you start there.
# 62 OFCR. THOMPSON: I went back to the front. I saw two Styrofoam cups on the hood of the Bronco. I asked my partner about the two Styrofoam cups. She had made mention to the female photographer. I removed the two Styrofoam cups, placed it on the curb and I went to the photographer.
# 63 MR. COCHRAN: Did you talk to her?
# 64 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes, I did.
# 65 MR. COCHRAN: Okay. And after you talked to her, what happened after that?
# 66 OFCR. THOMPSON: I gave the cups to her and I'm assuming she threw them away.
KEY QUOTE # 67 MR. COCHRAN: Right. You gave both cups to her; is that correct?
# 68 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 69 MR. COCHRAN: Now, would you--would you be able to identify that photographer if you saw her again?
# 70 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes, I would.
# 71 MR. COCHRAN: And did you--did you take her name by the way?
# 72 OFCR. THOMPSON: No, I didn't.
# 73 MR. COCHRAN: All right. However, you did make a note of this and you entered the incident on the vehicle impound report; is that correct?
# 74 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 75 MR. COCHRAN: And you--did you try and make sure that photographs were taken of the coffee stains on the hood?
# 76 OFCR. THOMPSON: No, I didn't.
# 77 MR. COCHRAN: All right. But you saw those yourself; is that right?
# 78 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 79 MR. COCHRAN: Now, while you're also out at Rockingham that morning, did you ever see a lady run up to the Bronco and touch it on the driver's side door, another female?
# 80 OFCR. THOMPSON: No, I didn't see a lady run up and touch it.
# 81 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Did you ever see a lady approach the Bronco and appear to look in from the driver's side?
# 82 OFCR. THOMPSON: Not at that time.
# 83 MR. COCHRAN: All right. You saw that at some time, however; did you not?
# 84 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes, I did.
# 85 MR. COCHRAN: And when in relation to June 13th, 1994, did you see a lady in close proximity to the Bronco on the driver's side apparently peering in the window? Was that on television?
# 86 OFCR. THOMPSON: I saw it on television.
# 87 MR. COCHRAN: And when did you see it on television?
# 88 MR. DARDEN: It's irrelevant, your Honor.
# 89 THE COURT: Overruled.
# 90 OFCR. THOMPSON: That was within a week or so after the incident had occurred.
# 91 MR. COCHRAN: So within a week of June 13th; is that correct?
# 92 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 93 MR. COCHRAN: Have you seen that video recently at all?
# 94 OFCR. THOMPSON: I've seen it, but not very recently.
# 95 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Did you have occasion at all on the date of June 13th to speak with that lady, that particular lady who was looking or peering in the Bronco?
# 96 OFCR. THOMPSON: Prior to that incident, yes, I did talk to her.
# 97 MR. COCHRAN: And you talked to that lady?
# 98 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 99 MR. COCHRAN: And when was that that you talked to her?
# 100 OFCR. THOMPSON: It was earlier in the morning.
# 101 MR. COCHRAN: And so that we're clear, we're talking about the morning of June 13th?
# 102 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 103 MR. COCHRAN: Just prior to Mr. Simpson's return; is that right?
# 104 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 105 MR. COCHRAN: Okay. Do you know what time it was early in the morning you talked to this lady?
# 106 OFCR. THOMPSON: Could have been sometime between 10:00 and 11:00.
# 107 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Do you know her name?
# 108 OFCR. THOMPSON: No.
# 109 MR. COCHRAN: What were the circumstances--what were the circumstances surrounding your conversation with her that morning between 10:00 and 11:00?
# 110 OFCR. THOMPSON: She continued to ask me questions about various things in the driveway and the Bronco.
# 111 MR. COCHRAN: This particular lady did?
# 112 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 113 MR. COCHRAN: And do you know what her occupation was? Were you able to ascertain that?
# 114 OFCR. THOMPSON: I would only assume that she was with the news media.
# 115 MR. COCHRAN: All right. You don't know that for sure though, right, or do you?
# 116 OFCR. THOMPSON: I'm pretty certain. I think I did see a press pass.
# 117 MR. COCHRAN: Okay. So she was interrogating you about various things; is that correct?
# 118 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 119 MR. COCHRAN: And then as I understand it--that was between 10:00 and 11:00--you didn't actually see her peering or looking inside the Bronco until after the incident; is that correct?
# 120 OFCR. THOMPSON: That's correct.
# 121 MR. COCHRAN: But you recognized her as the same lady who had been asking you questions earlier that morning. Is that a fair statement?
# 122 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes, sir.
# 123 MR. COCHRAN: All right. May I have just a second, your Honor?
# 125 (Discussion held off the record between Defense counsel.) # 126 MR. COCHRAN: I want you--
# 127 MR. COCHRAN: Your Honor, I would like to mark as Defendant's next in order exhibit 1251, and I would like to have Mr. Darden take a look at it if he wants and ask the officer a question or two about it.
# 128 (Deft's 1251 for id = videotape) # 129 (Discussion held off the record between the Deputy District Attorney and Defense counsel.) # 130 MR. DARDEN: May I have a moment, your Honor?
# 132 THE COURT: Mr. Cochran, is this the same piece we've seen before?
# 133 MR. COCHRAN: Yes, he's seen it before, but I want to give him a chance to see it again.
# 134 THE COURT: In the future, let's do this before we have the jury out here, please.
# 136 MR. COCHRAN: Counsel has seen it, your Honor. May we proceed?
# 137 MR. DARDEN: 352 objection.
# 138 THE COURT: Overruled.
# 139 MR. COCHRAN: Mr. Harris, would you please proceed. Your Honor, this will be 1251.
# 140 THE COURT: Is this the videotape of someone walking up to the Bronco?
# 142 MR. DARDEN: He didn't see it.
# 143 THE COURT: He recognized the individual who's there. Proceed.
# 144 MR. COCHRAN: Thank you, your Honor. You may proceed. Thank you, your Honor.
# 145 (At 2:55 P.M., Defendant's exhibit 1251, a videotape, was played.) # 146 MR. COCHRAN: All right. I want you to take a look at this, Officer Thompson. Is that the Bronco you were talking about?
# 147 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes, it is.
# 148 MR. COCHRAN: Okay, sir. Now, that--
# 149 MR. COCHRAN: Stop it there.
# 150 MR. COCHRAN: That lady who has run up to the vehicle with a cap on and white shirt and pants and tennis shoes, do you recognize that lady?
# 151 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes, I do.
# 152 MR. COCHRAN: And is that the lady that you had been talking with between 10:00 and 11:00 on June 13th who had been asking a lot of questions?
# 153 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 154 MR. COCHRAN: And is this the footage that you saw about a week after June 13th?
# 155 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes, it is.
# 156 MR. COCHRAN: Do you believe that lady is with the press, do you?
# 157 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 158 MR. COCHRAN: And you don't know her or you can't give us her name, is that right, at this point?
# 159 OFCR. THOMPSON: I don't know her name, but I definitely remember an accent, an English accent.
KEY QUOTE # 160 MR. COCHRAN: And English as in Great Britain or UK?
# 161 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes. Or possibly Australian.
# 162 MR. COCHRAN: All right. That's all you can tell us at this point?
# 163 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 164 MR. COCHRAN: Okay, sir.
# 165 MR. COCHRAN: You may continue on, sir. That's fine, your Honor.
# 166 (At 3:00 P.M., the playing of the videotape concluded.) # 167 MR. COCHRAN: Just so that we're clear, the conversation that you had with this lady with the English accent who we subsequently saw in that video, was that conversation before or after the conversation with the female photographer with regards to the cups on the Bronco, the two cups?
# 168 OFCR. THOMPSON: That was before.
# 169 MR. COCHRAN: The conversation with the lady who spoke English?
# 170 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 171 MR. COCHRAN: Was before that?
# 172 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 173 MR. COCHRAN: So you dealt with two different ladies on that occasion, right?
# 174 OFCR. THOMPSON: Yes.
# 175 MR. COCHRAN: Thank you very much for coming today, Mr. Thompson.
# 176 THE COURT: Mr. Darden.