Direct examination of John Meraz

📄 Direct examination of John Meraz — Tuesday, July 18, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\18\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-JOHN-MER.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 117 of 167

◀ John Meraz sworn in Afternoon recess ▶

Witness: John Meraz
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Defense • Date: Tuesday, July 18, 1995 • Utterances: 296

Johnnie Cochran examined John Meraz, a 25-year veteran tow truck driver for Viertel's Automotive (an official LAPD police garage), who towed OJ Simpson's white Ford Bronco from the LAPD print shed on June 15, 1994. Meraz testified that he looked inside the vehicle twice — once at the print shed and once at the Viertel's yard — and saw no blood either time. He also observed no fingerprint powder on or inside the vehicle, despite it having come from the print shed, suggesting it had not actually been fingerprinted.

# 1 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you very kindly, your Honor.

DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. COCHRAN

# 2 MR. COCHRAN:

Good afternoon, Mr. Meraz.

# 3 MR. MERAZ:

Good afternoon.

# 4 MR. COCHRAN:

Mr. Meraz, I'd like to direct your attention back to the month of June of 1994. At that time, how were you employed, sir?

# 5 MR. MERAZ:

I was employed by a police impound garage.

# 6 MR. COCHRAN:

And which police impound garage were you--by which police impound garage were you employed?

# 7 MR. MERAZ:

Viertel's automotive.

# 8 MR. COCHRAN:

And prior to June of 1994, how long had you worked for Viertel's?

# 9 MR. MERAZ:

At that time, 25 years.

# 10 MR. COCHRAN:

And how were you employed by Viertel's, sir?

# 11 MR. MERAZ:

I was a tow truck driver.

# 12 MR. COCHRAN:

And you had--you have come here today pursuant to a subpoena to testify; is that correct?

# 13 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I have.

# 14 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, I'd like to direct your attention back to the date of June--the dates of June 14th or 15th of 1994. At that time, were you still a tow truck driver?

# 15 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I was.

# 16 MR. COCHRAN:

And in that connection, did you have some connection with a white Bronco vehicle?

# 17 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 18 MR. COCHRAN:

And on what date--did you tow the Bronco vehicle at some time in June of 1994?

# 19 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 20 MR. COCHRAN:

And do you recall what day it was that you towed that vehicle?

# 21 MR. MERAZ:

It was June 15.

# 22 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. So on June 15th, which would be--would have been a Wednesday?

# 23 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 24 MR. COCHRAN:

Is that correct? Will you tell the ladies and gentlemen of the jury where you saw this Bronco vehicle, where you first saw it on June 15th, I guess which will be a Wednesday?

# 25 MR. MERAZ:

I was sent to 150 north San Pedro, which is the print shed.

# 26 MR. COCHRAN:

Called the print shed?

# 27 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 28 MR. COCHRAN:

And is that the print shed for the LAPD?

# 29 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, it is.

# 30 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And when you say "Print," do you mean like fingerprint shed?

# 31 MR. MERAZ:

They do fingerprinting there, they do photographing there, they do lasering there.

# 32 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, as an experienced driver of some 25 years' experience, had you gone to that print shed on occasions prior to June 15th, 1994?

# 33 MR. MERAZ:

I've been there numerous of times, yes, to pick up cars.

# 34 MR. COCHRAN:

And had you received some call to go and pick up the particular--this vehicle, the Bronco?

# 35 MR. MERAZ:

Yes. I was sent there, yes.

# 36 MR. COCHRAN:

And you were at that time working for Viertel's; is that correct?

# 37 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I was.

# 38 MR. COCHRAN:

And did Viertel's have some kind of a contract with the city of Los Angeles?

# 39 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 40 MR. COCHRAN:

What kind--tell me about that contract. Tell us about that contract.

# 41 MR. MERAZ:

It's a police impound yard and he gets a permit from the city of Los Angeles to operate, and he's contract by the Los Angeles Police Department.

# 42 MR. COCHRAN:

All right.

# 43 MR. MERAZ:

Officially called a police garage. It's officially called a police garage. It's OPG. Stands for official police garage.

# 44 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. OPG stands for official police garage?

# 45 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, it does.

# 46 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. So you got this call. And do you remember about what time it was that you got this call to go to the print shed?

# 47 MR. MERAZ:

Sometime after 11:00 o'clock in the morning.

# 48 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And what kind of a vehicle were you driving when you responded to this call?

# 49 MR. MERAZ:

I was driving a one-ton Ford.

# 50 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And you--and where did you go with this one-ton Ford?

# 51 MR. MERAZ:

This one-ton Ford, I was dispatched to call--to go to 150 north San Pedro.

# 52 MR. COCHRAN:

And once you got there, tell us what you observed, if anything, at 150 south San Pedro?

# 53 MR. MERAZ:

Well, I went to 150 north San Pedro and met the officer at the guard shack.

# 54 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And when you--you talked to an officer at the guard shack?

# 55 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 56 MR. COCHRAN:

Do you know the name of that officer?

# 57 MR. MERAZ:

Not right off.

# 58 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Did you have some conversation with him?

# 59 MR. MERAZ:

Umm--

# 60 MR. COCHRAN:

You can answer that yes or no.

# 61 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 62 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. After your conversation with this officer, tell us what happened next?

# 63 MR. MERAZ:

He directed to me as to where the car was.

# 64 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And then did you see this vehicle, this Ford vehicle?

# 65 MR. MERAZ:

Once I got there, yes.

# 66 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Did you drive in?

# 67 MR. MERAZ:

I drove in, yes.

# 68 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. With this vehicle that you were driving?

# 69 MR. MERAZ:

Yes. With the tow truck, yes.

# 70 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. And tell us what happened after you drove in.

# 71 MR. MERAZ:

Umm, he showed me where the vehicle was. I backed up to it, picked it up and pulled out of the print shed.

# 72 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, prior to backing up and pulling out of the print shed, did you have occasion to get inside that vehicle at all to make any kind of adjustments with regard to the steering column, anything of that nature?

# 73 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 74 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And was--when you--did you get inside the driver's compartment of the Bronco vehicle?

# 75 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 76 MR. COCHRAN:

So that we're clear now, this is June 15th about what time of day?

# 77 MR. MERAZ:

After 11:00 o'clock in the morning.

# 78 MR. COCHRAN:

And before we talk about you getting inside the vehicle, did you--this police officer you talked to, did he give you any kind of form or any kind of instructions regarding this particular vehicle?

# 79 MR. MERAZ:

When I got there, I knew some other officers that were in a building there, and I was talking to them.

# 80 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And you had a conversation with these officers?

# 81 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 82 MR. COCHRAN:

Were you ever given any particular form called a vehicle investigation form, an impound form regarding this particular vehicle?

# 83 MR. MERAZ:

Well, I--I--I brought my own forms with me. We carry those forms. So I had three impound sheets with me.

# 84 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And did you fill that form out yourself?

# 85 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did. I started filling it out and he finished it.

# 86 MR. COCHRAN:

When you say "He"--

# 87 MR. MERAZ:

The officer, the impounding officer.

# 88 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And if you were to see this form that you brought with you, would you recognize the handwriting on that form?

# 89 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 90 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Your Honor, I would like to mark as Defendant's next in order if the Court pleases--

# 91 THE COURT:

1252.

# 92 (Deft's 1252 for id = veh. Form)

# 93 (Discussion held off the record between the Deputy District Attorney and Defense counsel.)

# 94 MR. COCHRAN:

I'll put a 1252 on this, your Honor. And may I approach?

# 95 THE COURT:

Yes.

# 96 MR. COCHRAN:

May I approach?

# 97 THE COURT:

You may.

# 98 MR. COCHRAN:

I'm going to place before you, sir, what has now been marked as Defendant's 1252 and ask you to take a look at it and see, first of all, whether or not you recognize this form.

# 99 MR. COCHRAN:

In the upper left-hand corner, your Honor, it's called a "Los Angeles Police Department vehicle investigation form."

# 100 MR. MERAZ:

It's not my form.

# 101 MR. COCHRAN:

This is not your form?

# 102 MR. MERAZ:

That's not my impound. That is my name, but that's not the impound.

# 103 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. This--that John on there, that's you?

# 104 MR. MERAZ:

That's me, yes.

# 105 MR. COCHRAN:

And that's not your form?

# 106 MR. MERAZ:

This is not the form, what we take to the yard, but that is my name.

# 107 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. All right. Let me ask you this. There's a name of an officer by the name of Haro, H-A-R-O?

# 108 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 109 MR. COCHRAN:

Do you recognize that name?

# 110 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I do.

# 111 MR. COCHRAN:

On this form?

# 112 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I do.

# 113 MR. COCHRAN:

Let me get another form. Why don't you hold on to this. Let me get another form.

# 114 (Brief pause.)

# 115 MR. COCHRAN:

May I have a second, your Honor? May I approach again, your Honor?

# 116 THE COURT:

You may.

# 117 MR. COCHRAN:

This--I'm not sure. This may be a very similar form. Is this--do you recognize the form to your left at all that has a little different writing on it?

# 118 MR. MERAZ:

The left is the one I had.

# 119 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay.

# 120 MR. COCHRAN:

Let me, your Honor--

# 121 THE COURT:

1253.

# 122 MR. COCHRAN:

1253?

# 123 THE COURT:

Yes.

# 124 (Deft's 1253 for id = impound form)

# 125 MR. COCHRAN:

All right.

# 126 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. So this one here, this is 1253, and this is the one you recognize; is that correct?

# 127 MR. MERAZ:

That's the one I recognize, yes.

# 128 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Let me place it before you, and just take a quick minute and look at it.

# 129 (The witness complies.)

# 130 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Do you recognize that form?

# 131 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I do.

# 132 MR. COCHRAN:

And where there's--oh, about midways down this particular form, there's a--it says "Garage, employee signature" and it says "John." Whose signature is that?

# 133 MR. MERAZ:

That's mine.

# 134 MR. COCHRAN:

And you are John Meraz; is that correct?

# 135 MR. MERAZ:

That's correct.

# 136 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, did you have this form with you when you went over there to pick up this vehicle?

# 137 MR. MERAZ:

This is the form I had right here (Indicating).

# 138 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. And so for the record, did you fill out part of this form at all?

# 139 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 140 MR. COCHRAN:

Can you indicate and referring to the form which portions of the form you filled out, what's in your handwriting?

# 141 MR. MERAZ:

On the top of this form, I put "Ford Bronco" and "Two-door, color white." That's as far as I got, and the officer finished the rest.

# 142 MR. COCHRAN:

And was the officer this person h-a-r-o, Haro, Haro?

# 143 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 144 MR. COCHRAN:

If I was to place this on the--I would like to place this on the elmo, your Honor.

# 145 THE COURT:

You may.

# 146 MR. COCHRAN:

I want to ask some questions about it. Place it on the elmo, please.

# 147 MR. COCHRAN:

Would it be helpful to have a form--you can look down at the--

# 148 MR. COCHRAN:

Your Honor, may I give him a copy of this form?

# 149 MR. COCHRAN:

Let me give you a copy of this form also, and you can also refer to the monitor there if you like to, sir.

# 150 MR. MERAZ:

Okay.

# 151 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you. All right. Now, this form--

# 152 MR. COCHRAN:

This is 1253 I believe, your Honor.

# 153 THE COURT:

Yes.

# 154 MR. COCHRAN:

This is the form that--point out for us again where we can all see it the parts of the form that you filled out?

# 155 MR. MERAZ:

Up on top where it says "Ford Bronco." Now, I started that. I--that is my handwriting. "Two-door." I wrote down "Two-door."

# 156 MR. COCHRAN:

All right.

# 157 MR. MERAZ:

I also put "Color, white."

# 158 MR. COCHRAN:

All right.

# 159 MR. MERAZ:

And he finished the rest.

# 160 MR. COCHRAN:

He, meaning the police officer?

# 161 MR. MERAZ:

Police officer, yes.

# 162 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And did you sign this form at some point where it says "John"?

# 163 MR. MERAZ:

Down on the bottom on the right-hand side.

# 164 MR. COCHRAN:

Can you move that up a little bit so we can see where it says John.

# 165 MR. COCHRAN:

On the right-hand corner there at the bottom, that's your signature?

# 166 MR. MERAZ:

That's my signature, yes.

# 167 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, let's move back up to the--let's move back up to the upper left-hand corner of the form. There is a part of this form that indicates "Print/evidence, give special care." Do you remember--do you see that part of the form in the upper left-hand corner?

# 168 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 169 MR. COCHRAN:

And after it comes "RHD," I guess for robbery-homicide division, "15452." When you got this particular form, Defendant's 1253, did you--was that box checked for prints or any kind of special care?

# 170 MR. MERAZ:

The only thing that was marked was "Hold."

# 171 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. But was the box checked where it says "Prints"?

# 172 MR. MERAZ:

No. The box was not checked.

# 173 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. That was not checked?

# 174 MR. MERAZ:

No, it wasn't.

# 175 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, what about this thing that says "Hold"?

# 176 MR. MERAZ:

Well--

# 177 MR. COCHRAN:

Is that--let me strike that. Let me ask you another question. Where it says on the form--

# 178 MR. COCHRAN:

And we can move the form up, please, to the body of the form. Up a little higher, please.

# 179 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Where it says "Hold until released to representative from Hertz corporation," were you aware of that being on that form?

# 180 MS. CLARK:

Objection, your Honor. 356. I would ask the rest of the statement be read.

# 181 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 182 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Do you recall seeing that at some point on the form, that "Hold until released to representative from Hertz corporation"?

# 183 MR. MERAZ:

Uh, up on top is where the "Hold" is. You've got--

# 184 MS. CLARK:

Objection, your Honor. This is beyond this witness' expertise.

# 185 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 186 MS. CLARK:

No foundation.

# 187 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 188 MR. COCHRAN:

You may answer.

# 189 MR. MERAZ:

Up on top where you have "Okay to release and hold"--

# 190 MR. COCHRAN:

Yes, sir.

# 191 MR. MERAZ:

Okay. I went by "Hold" on it only.

# 192 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. Did you feel there was any special instructions given on this form regarding this particular vehicle?

# 193 MS. CLARK:

Objection. That's speculation.

# 194 MR. MERAZ:

No, there wasn't.

# 195 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 196 MR. COCHRAN:

And you dealt with this form many occasions before June 15th, 1994; is that right?

# 197 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 198 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. So as I understand it--I was just about to ask you--at some point prior to leaving the location of the print shed, you had occasion to observe this particular vehicle; is that correct?

# 199 MR. MERAZ:

That's correct, yes.

# 200 MR. COCHRAN:

And in observing it, I believe you described that you got inside the vehicle; is that correct?

# 201 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 202 MR. COCHRAN:

Describe for the ladies and gentlemen of the jury what you did when you got inside this vehicle.

# 203 MR. MERAZ:

When I brought the vehicle out--

# 204 MS. CLARK:

Objection. Nonresponsive.

# 205 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 206 MR. MERAZ:

When I got the vehicle out, I pulled it out from the print shed, I checked for the steering wheel to see that it was properly locked, and I also--I believe I checked the emergency brake. Then I proceeded and I put the straps on the vehicle to tow it away.

# 207 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, while you were--when you were checking the steering wheel, you were inside the vehicle; is that correct?

# 208 MR. MERAZ:

That's correct.

# 209 MR. COCHRAN:

You saw the steering wheel, did you?

# 210 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 211 MR. COCHRAN:

See any blood on that steering wheel at all?

# 212 MR. MERAZ:

No, I didn't.

# 213 MR. COCHRAN:

Did you--when you were inside that vehicle, did you have occasion to look around the inside of that vehicle, Mr. Meraz?

# 214 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 215 MR. COCHRAN:

Did you see any blood on the inside of that vehicle at that time?

# 216 MR. MERAZ:

I didn't see any blood at all.

KEY QUOTE

# 217 MR. COCHRAN:

Did you--did you look inside that vehicle specifically to see if you could see any blood inside the vehicle?

# 218 MR. MERAZ:

Not until I got to the yard.

# 219 MR. COCHRAN:

So when you first went in there, you didn't look, but when you got to the yard, you drove into the yard, did you?

# 220 MR. MERAZ:

I towed it to the yard.

# 221 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. When you were at the print shed, when you first looked at the steering column, you didn't see any blood, right?

# 222 MR. MERAZ:

I didn't see any. I didn't see any at the print shed.

# 223 MR. COCHRAN:

After you got the car in position to tow it, you then towed it somewhere; is that correct?

# 224 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 225 MR. COCHRAN:

And that's--would I be correct in assuming that you hooked it up, hooked your vehicle to the back of it and towed it that way?

# 226 MR. MERAZ:

Towed it to the tow yard.

# 227 MR. COCHRAN:

From the rear. And where did you tow the vehicle to?

# 228 MR. MERAZ:

Towed the car to 1155 West Temple.

# 229 MR. COCHRAN:

What's located at 1155 West Temple?

# 230 MR. MERAZ:

That is a police impound yard and that is Viertel's automotive.

# 231 MR. COCHRAN:

And how far is that from 154 San Pedro?

# 232 MR. MERAZ:

I would say half a mile. Maybe less.

# 233 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. How long did it take you to get there?

# 234 MR. MERAZ:

Umm, 10 minutes.

# 235 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, when you--so you drove to Viertel's yard; is that correct?

# 236 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 237 MR. COCHRAN:

And as you got there, did you become aware of any media or any attention regarding this particular vehicle?

# 238 MR. MERAZ:

I was followed by the news people. When I got to 1st and Los Angeles Street, I stopped and I asked them not to follow me.

# 239 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. They were following you?

# 240 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 241 MR. COCHRAN:

Do you have an idea so the jury can get an idea how many vehicles--

# 242 MR. MERAZ:

There was only one vehicle. It was a van.

# 243 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And did they stop you--did they follow you at that point or did they stop?

# 244 MR. MERAZ:

I stopped because I got the light, and I got out of the truck, I walked over to them, I says, "Would you please not follow me."

# 245 MR. COCHRAN:

All right.

# 246 MR. MERAZ:

And--

# 247 MR. COCHRAN:

Did they adhere to that? Did they stop following you?

# 248 MS. CLARK:

Objection.

# 249 MR. COCHRAN:

Did they stop following you at that point?

# 250 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 251 MR. MERAZ:

They followed me up to Temple.

# 252 MR. COCHRAN:

All right.

# 253 MR. MERAZ:

And from--

# 254 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, once you got to Viertel's, tell us what you did at that point.

# 255 MR. MERAZ:

All the employees at Viertel's were waiting there for me.

# 256 MR. COCHRAN:

And when you say "Waiting," what--why was that? Why were they waiting for you?

# 257 MR. MERAZ:

Well, they--I had radioed that I was in tow with OJ Simpson's car.

KEY QUOTE

# 258 MR. COCHRAN:

And when you say all the employees were waiting for you, how many employees were there waiting for you at that time?

# 259 MR. MERAZ:

I couldn't give you an exact count on that. There's--could have been 10 employees there at that time.

# 260 MR. COCHRAN:

10?

# 261 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 262 MR. COCHRAN:

Did they have some particular interest in this vehicle?

# 263 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 264 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. When you pulled in--you pulled into the yard at some point?

# 265 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 266 MR. COCHRAN:

And what did you do when you pulled inside?

# 267 MR. MERAZ:

I pulled in and I backed up into one of the stalls that was there.

# 268 MR. COCHRAN:

And which stall did you back into, if you know?

# 269 MR. MERAZ:

Well, the main lot.

# 270 MR. COCHRAN:

And--okay. And was there a number to that particular stall?

# 271 MR. MERAZ:

Well, the main lot is called T3.

# 272 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. And is that a secured lot at all?

# 273 MR. MERAZ:

No, it's not a secured lot. It's an open lot.

# 274 MR. COCHRAN:

So you backed the car up and put it in T3, an open lot?

# 275 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 276 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. At some point, did you unhook this particular vehicle?

# 277 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 278 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And did you have occasion to get back inside that vehicle again?

# 279 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 280 MR. COCHRAN:

When you got back inside that vehicle, Mr. Meraz, did you get a chance to look inside specifically to see if there was any blood inside that vehicle?

# 281 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 282 MR. COCHRAN:

And what did you notice, if anything, at that point?

# 283 MR. MERAZ:

I didn't see any blood.

# 284 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, you told us that that vehicle was coming from the print shed. Did you see any evidence as though the inside of that vehicle had been printed with any dark print powder at all?

# 285 MR. MERAZ:

The car was not printed.

KEY QUOTE

# 286 MR. COCHRAN:

And how do you know it wasn't printed?

# 287 MR. MERAZ:

Well, through the years, I'm familiar with the print that they put on these vehicles. It's either gray or black that's put on these vehicles, and there was none of that on it.

# 288 MR. COCHRAN:

And are you saying there was none of that inside the vehicle?

# 289 MR. MERAZ:

Inside or around the car.

# 290 MR. COCHRAN:

And you looked, did you?

# 291 MR. MERAZ:

Yes, I did.

# 292 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, these other employees, these 10 or so employees of Viertel's who were interested in this vehicle, did they at any point come toward the vehicle once you arrived there?

# 293 MR. MERAZ:

They were curious I think.

# 294 MR. COCHRAN:

Did they come over and start looking at the vehicle?

# 295 MR. MERAZ:

Yes.

# 296 MR. COCHRAN:

Your Honor, this might be a good point at this point.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

John Meraz

I didn't see any blood at all.

Defense point that the Bronco showed no visible blood when towed from the print shed — raises questions about when blood evidence appeared in the vehicle.

John Meraz

The car was not printed.

Meraz, experienced with fingerprinting procedures, testified the Bronco showed no gray or black print powder despite coming from the print shed, suggesting it had not been processed as evidence.

John Meraz

The only thing that was marked was 'Hold.'

The impound form did not have the 'Prints' box checked, corroborating his observation that the vehicle was not fingerprinted.

John Meraz

I had radioed that I was in tow with OJ Simpson's car.

Illustrates the intense public interest surrounding the case; roughly 10 Viertel's employees were waiting at the yard when he arrived.

Evidence (2)

Defendant's 1252

LAPD vehicle investigation form bearing Meraz's name but which he did not recognize as his own form

introduced, rejected by witness as not his form

Defendant's 1253

Impound form Meraz brought himself; partially filled out by Meraz ('Ford Bronco,' 'Two-door,' 'Color, white') and completed by Officer Haro; showed 'Hold' checked but 'Prints' box not checked

introduced, identified, displayed on ELMO

Notable Exchanges (2)

Johnnie Cochran•John Meraz

Cochran walked Meraz through two inspections of the Bronco's interior — at the print shed and at the Viertel's yard — eliciting that Meraz saw no blood and no fingerprint powder on either occasion, despite the vehicle having originated at the LAPD print shed.

strategic

Johnnie Cochran•John Meraz

Cochran introduced Defendant's 1252 believing it to be Meraz's form; Meraz immediately rejected it ('That's not my impound'), leading to a brief pause and retrieval of the correct form, Defendant's 1253.

mildly awkward, quickly corrected

Light Moments (1)

John Meraz

Meraz radioed ahead that he was towing 'OJ Simpson's car,' and arrived at the yard to find roughly 10 employees waiting to see it — a candid glimpse of the celebrity fascination surrounding the case.

Witness Demeanor

(The witness complies.) — Meraz reviews the impound form when handed it by Cochran

Objections

6 objections (0 sustained, 6 overruled)

Proceeding 6902 • 296 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103