Direct examination of Willie Ford

📄 Direct examination of Willie Ford — Wednesday, July 19, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\19\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-WILLIE-F.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 118 of 167

◀ Excusing witness and swearing Recess and adjournment ▶

Witness: Willie Ford
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Defense • Date: Wednesday, July 19, 1995 • Utterances: 327

Willie Ford, an LAPD photographer with 13 years of experience, testified that he videotaped the interior and exterior of OJ Simpson's Rockingham estate on June 13, 1994, arriving around 3:10 PM. His critical testimony was that he saw no socks at the foot of Simpson's bed when he filmed the bedroom at approximately 4:13 PM — directly undermining the prosecution's evidence, as bloody socks were later 'discovered' at that exact location. The defense used this video (Exhibit 1068) to suggest the socks were planted after Ford's sweep.

# 1 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you very kindly.

DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. COCHRAN

# 2 MR. COCHRAN:

Good afternoon, Mr. Ford.

# 3 MR. FORD:

Good afternoon.

# 4 MR. COCHRAN:

And, sir, Mr. Ford, what is your occupation, sir?

# 5 MR. FORD:

I'm a photographer for the city of Los Angeles.

# 6 MR. COCHRAN:

And for how long have you been employed as a photographer for the city of Los Angeles?

# 7 MR. FORD:

Approximately 13 years.

# 8 MR. COCHRAN:

And are you presently assigned to a particular department within the city of Los Angeles?

# 9 MR. FORD:

Yes. I'm assigned to LAPD SID scientific division.

# 10 MR. COCHRAN:

LAPD scientific division?

# 11 MR. FORD:

Scientific investigation division.

# 12 MR. COCHRAN:

How long have you been so assigned?

# 13 MR. FORD:

13 years.

# 14 MR. COCHRAN:

And as such, you go out to crime scenes and you take pictures, do you?

# 15 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 16 MR. COCHRAN:

And, your Honor, may we approach just a moment with the reporter just for a second?

# 17 THE COURT:

Without the reporter.

# 18 MR. COCHRAN:

Without the reporter first. Yes.

# 19 (A conference was held at the bench, not reported.)

# 20 (The following proceedings were held in open court:)

# 21 THE COURT:

All right. Thank you, counsel. Proceed.

# 22 MR. COCHRAN:

Now--

# 23 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you, your Honor.

# 24 MR. COCHRAN:

Mr. Ford, sir, in connection with your duties with the Los Angeles Police Department and specifically as a photographer for the special investigations division, did you have occasion on or about June 13th of 1994 to go to 360 North Rockingham?

# 25 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 26 MR. COCHRAN:

And was that--that's in connection with your duties with the LAPD?

# 27 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 28 MR. COCHRAN:

And who did you go there with, if anyone, on that date?

# 29 MR. FORD:

With my boss, David Adkins.

# 30 MR. COCHRAN:

David Adkins?

# 31 MR. FORD:

Adkins. Yes, sir.

# 32 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. And how did the two of you get to that location?

# 33 MR. FORD:

We drove.

# 34 MR. COCHRAN:

And where did you drive from?

# 35 MR. FORD:

From Parker Center.

# 36 MR. COCHRAN:

And you arrived out at Rockingham at some point?

# 37 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 38 MR. COCHRAN:

And what time did you arrive at that location, if you--

# 39 MR. FORD:

According to the crime scene log, it was 3:10.

# 40 MR. COCHRAN:

About 3:10 in the afternoon?

# 41 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 42 MR. COCHRAN:

And prior to your testimony here today, you've had occasion to review the crime scene log; have you not?

# 43 MR. FORD:

No, sir.

# 44 MR. COCHRAN:

Well, prior to--since June 13th, you've seen the crime scene log?

# 45 MR. FORD:

No, sir. I was told by the detective on the case that that was on the log.

# 46 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Which detective told you that?

# 47 MR. FORD:

I think it was--I think it was Haro, Detective Haro.

# 48 MR. COCHRAN:

Haro, h-a-r-o?

# 49 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 50 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. He told you that you--the crime scene log indicated that you checked in about 3:10 at Rockingham?

# 51 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 52 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Does that comport generally with your recollection of the time you left downtown and the time it should have taken you to drive from Parker Center to Brentwood?

# 53 MR. FORD:

Repeat that question again?

# 54 MR. COCHRAN:

Certainly, sir. Does the 3:10 time comport generally with the time that you knew you left Parker Center and drove west to Brentwood to 360 north Rockingham? Was that about the time you think you should have gotten there?

# 55 MR. FORD:

I didn't review that, the time that I left. I just noticed that the time that we got there was 3:10 according to the log.

# 56 MR. COCHRAN:

According to what Haro told you on the log; is that right? All right. Is that a yes?

# 57 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 58 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay, sir. Now, when you got there, did you encounter and talk to some LAPD detective outside the Rockingham location regarding the reasons why you were there?

# 59 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 60 MR. COCHRAN:

And which detective did you talk with?

# 61 MR. FORD:

That was Detective Harper.

# 62 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. You talked to Detective Harper. And you met him outside of Rockingham, did you?

# 63 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 64 MR. COCHRAN:

And did Detective Harper give you some instructions or tell you what he wanted you to do with regard to that location?

# 65 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 66 MR. COCHRAN:

And what was that?

# 67 MR. FORD:

To videotape the personal property of Mr. Simpson outside--from outside as well as the interior of his home, starting outside first.

# 68 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And so your idea, your role was to videotape all the personal property, both outside and inside Mr. Simpson's residence; is that correct?

# 69 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 70 MR. COCHRAN:

And in accordance with that, you've been doing your job for about 13 years?

# 71 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 72 MR. COCHRAN:

And you do your job well, don't you?

# 73 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 74 MR. COCHRAN:

You try to do the best you can, don't you?

# 75 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 76 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And on this particular date, you were there to follow the instructions that you were given; is that correct?

# 77 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 78 MR. COCHRAN:

So did you start this task by the use of some sort of a video camera?

# 79 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 80 MR. COCHRAN:

And can you tell us what kind of video camera you were using on that date?

# 81 MR. FORD:

It was a VHS RCA camcorder, full size.

# 82 MR. COCHRAN:

Camcorder?

# 83 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 84 MR. COCHRAN:

Camcorder? All right. You can look through the little finder and you see what you're shooting?

# 85 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 86 MR. COCHRAN:

And what you were trying to do in going through the exterior and interior of the house was to shoot anything that was out; isn't that correct?

# 87 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 88 MR. COCHRAN:

And your instructions were to shoot any and all objects that were out and any and all clothes that were out--

# 89 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 90 MR. COCHRAN:

--when you were there, right?

# 91 MR. DARDEN:

Objection. Leading. Motion to strike.

# 92 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 93 MR. COCHRAN:

Isn't that right?

# 94 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 95 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, you started outside; is that correct?

# 96 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 97 MR. COCHRAN:

Then you came inside the house; is that right?

# 98 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 99 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, with regard to this VHS--this--was it you say RCA? What kind of camera was it?

# 100 MR. FORD:

RCA.

# 101 MR. COCHRAN:

RCA, VHS camcorder, looking through the viewfinder, you saw like a time on that viewfinder, didn't you?

# 102 MR. FORD:

There is a time on that.

# 103 MR. COCHRAN:

Right.

# 104 MR. FORD:

But this particular day, I wasn't paying attention to it.

KEY QUOTE

# 105 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. There was a time. But you found out at some time afterwards, that the time that was on that viewfinder was one hour behind the actual time; isn't that right?

# 106 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 107 MR. COCHRAN:

So if the time showed 3 o'clock on the viewfinder, it was actually 4:00 clock; is that right?

# 108 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 109 MR. COCHRAN:

And that was because of--it hadn't been changed because of daylight savings time?

# 110 MR. FORD:

Right.

# 111 MR. COCHRAN:

All right, sir. So you--if we were to look at a video of this, we will see a time, and we have to add one hour to that; isn't that right?

# 112 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 113 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. To get the correct time. All right. Yes?

# 114 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 115 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. So you started outside and then you went inside; is that correct?

# 116 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 117 MR. COCHRAN:

Did you talk to any other detectives about what you were going to shoot other than Harper?

# 118 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 119 MR. COCHRAN:

Who else did you talk to?

# 120 MR. FORD:

Detective Haro.

# 121 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. You talked to Harper outside, right?

# 122 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 123 MR. COCHRAN:

And then when you got inside, did you talk to Detective Haro, h-a-r-o?

# 124 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 125 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And with regard to Mr. Simpson's house, you shot first downstairs, is that correct, with your camera?

# 126 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 127 MR. COCHRAN:

And then--did you shoot all the rooms downstairs?

# 128 MR. FORD:

Repeat the question.

# 129 MR. COCHRAN:

Did you go in each of the rooms downstairs of the Rockingham residence?

# 130 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 131 MR. COCHRAN:

You tried to go in each room; is that right?

# 132 MR. FORD:

I did.

# 133 MR. COCHRAN:

And you used your video camera in each room, right?

# 134 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 135 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. And you're an experienced photographer, right?

# 136 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 137 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. Then at some point, you concluded and finished shooting downstairs; is that right?

# 138 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 139 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And when you did that, did you go upstairs?

# 140 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 141 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And when you went upstairs, again, your role was the same as when you talked to Harper and Haro; was to try to shoot or pick up everything that was out; isn't that correct?

# 142 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 143 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And you tried to do a good job again with that, didn't you?

# 144 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 145 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. So did you come up those stairs up towards Mr. Simpson's bedroom?

# 146 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 147 MR. COCHRAN:

And then at some point, did you go inside Mr. Simpson's bedroom?

# 148 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 149 MR. COCHRAN:

And did you shoot the top of his bed?

# 150 MR. DARDEN:

Objection, your Honor. This is leading.

# 151 THE COURT:

It is.

# 152 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. Let me just--let me ask it another way.

# 153 MR. COCHRAN:

You got to Mr. Simpson's bedroom at some point, didn't you?

# 154 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 155 MR. COCHRAN:

And when you got to his bedroom, did you see any socks on the floor at the foot of his bed?

# 156 MR. FORD:

No.

# 157 MR. DARDEN:

Objection, your Honor. Leading.

# 158 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 159 MR. COCHRAN:

You didn't see any socks, did you?

# 160 MR. FORD:

No.

# 161 MR. COCHRAN:

If you had seen any socks there, you would have shot them with the camera, wouldn't you, if they were out on the floor, wouldn't you? You would have taken a photograph of those, wouldn't you?

# 162 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 163 MR. COCHRAN:

Because that was part of your task, wasn't it?

# 164 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 165 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, and you shot all that bedroom and you shot--did you go into the closets and shoot the closets also?

# 166 MR. FORD:

Yes, if it was open.

# 167 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Any door that was open. In fact, Mr. Ford, sir, your instructions were to shoot everything except that you were not to go inside drawers and pull them open; isn't that correct?

# 168 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 169 MR. COCHRAN:

Everything else that was out was what you were supposed to shoot, right?

# 170 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 171 MR. COCHRAN:

And you proceeded to do that, right?

# 172 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 173 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, while you were upstairs, you shot I presume with cameras--and you went in each of the bedrooms upstairs also?

# 174 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 175 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. Now, if I were to now show you a copy of this video, you can tell us whether or not you shot this; is that right?

# 176 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 177 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay. Counsel is aware of this, your Honor. This is exhibit 1068, is the videotape. I'd like now to--let me say a word to Mr. Harris before we start, your Honor. I don't want to spend the entire day going all the way through. I want to get right to the important part.

# 178 MR. DARDEN:

Is this going to begin at the beginning? May I confer for a moment?

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

# 180 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay, your Honor. I wanted to save some time because we're getting close to 4 o'clock. I'm going to ask Mr. Harris to start this video at the beginning, and then we'll stop it after I lay a foundation, then go upstairs. Very well. Mr. Harris, thank you. This is, your Honor, for the record exhibit 1068.

# 181 (At 3:51 P.M., Defendant's exhibit 1068, a videotape, was played.)

# 182 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, where this--you see that--

# 183 MR. COCHRAN:

Well, Mr. Harris, back up a little bit. Okay. Let's back it up to the outside.

# 184 MR. COCHRAN:

You see that--

# 185 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Stop it there, Mr. Harris. Thank you.

# 186 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Do you see where it says 6-13-94? That was the date; is that correct?

# 187 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 188 MR. COCHRAN:

And where it says 2:13 P.M., that should be 3:13 P.M., right?

# 189 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 190 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, is this the outside of the residence?

# 191 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 192 MR. COCHRAN:

And was this shot by you?

# 193 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 194 MR. COCHRAN:

And this--was this shot after your initial conversation with Detective Harper?

# 195 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 196 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And then after you shot this, the exterior, you then went inside, right, of the premises?

# 197 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 198 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. All right. Mr. Harris, why don't we then move inside.

# 199 MR. FORD:

This--

# 200 MR. DARDEN:

Can we take this off the screen while we get to that point?

# 201 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. I want to move to--Mr. Darden and I agreed we would move, to save some time, to going up the stairs. I want to get to going up the stairs.

# 202 MR. DARDEN:

Can we start at the top of the stairs?

# 203 MR. COCHRAN:

We'll start at the bottom of the stairs.

# 204 MR. DARDEN:

Can we start at the top of the stairs, your Honor?

# 205 THE COURT:

It's his case. He can start where he wants in the videotape. You can play whatever you want that's left.

# 206 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, you within a few minutes--while we're getting to that, sir, within a few minutes after your arrival at about 3:10, you then commenced shooting the video; isn't that correct?

# 207 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 208 MR. COCHRAN:

And that was indicated on that by showing like 3:14 or thereabouts, right?

# 209 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 210 MR. COCHRAN:

I think we're ready again now, your Honor. May I proceed?

# 211 THE COURT:

Proceed.

# 212 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now--

# 213 THE COURT:

All right. This is at 3:07.

# 214 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, is this the--do you recognize this as being the stairway leading upstairs to Mr. Simpson's home?

# 215 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 216 MR. COCHRAN:

And that would be about 4:08 P.M. on June 13th, 1994?

# 217 MR. FORD:

Yes, sir.

# 218 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. This was shot by you; isn't that right?

# 219 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 220 MR. COCHRAN:

And this was one of the bedrooms, the children's bedrooms at the location?

# 221 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 222 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now, you're now entering--it's about 4:13 P.M. you're now entering--is this Mr. Simpson's bedroom area?

# 223 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 224 MR. COCHRAN:

And you took a photograph of a blanket there and an easy chair?

# 225 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 226 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. You continued on in that room. And you walked into this room; did you not?

# 227 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 228 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And you remember seeing this couch in that room?

# 229 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 230 MR. COCHRAN:

Remember the fireplace in that room?

# 231 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 232 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, stop right there.

# 233 MR. COCHRAN:

You stood right in that room; isn't that correct?

# 234 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 235 MR. COCHRAN:

And you shot toward the fireplace at that time; isn't that correct?

# 236 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 237 MR. COCHRAN:

Mr. Simpson's bed was to the right; was it not?

# 238 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 239 MR. COCHRAN:

About 4:13 in the afternoon; is that right?

# 240 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 241 MR. COCHRAN:

You walked in that room--you see that--stop again. You took a photograph of something on top of the bed, is that correct, that was out?

# 242 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 243 MR. COCHRAN:

What are those? Do you remember what those were?

# 244 MR. FORD:

It looked to me like belt or tie.

# 245 MR. COCHRAN:

Maybe suspenders or something like that?

# 246 MR. FORD:

Maybe.

# 247 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. It was something on top of the bed; is that correct?

# 248 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 249 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. And you shot that, did you?

# 250 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 251 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Now--

# 252 MR. COCHRAN:

Back up a little bit.

# 253 MR. COCHRAN:

You continued to shoot, did you, now?

# 254 MR. FORD:

This is going forward. You said back up?

# 255 MR. COCHRAN:

Yeah. Well, he's going--

# 256 MR. COCHRAN:

Go ahead and back it up. All right. Stop it there.

# 257 MR. COCHRAN:

You see that carpet there or that rug right in front of the bed?

# 258 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 259 MR. COCHRAN:

You saw that rug that particular day; did you not?

# 260 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 261 MR. COCHRAN:

And in fact, you walked past that rug when you went into the other room, into the bathroom area, didn't you?

# 262 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 263 MR. COCHRAN:

Any socks on that rug that day, Mr. Ford?

KEY QUOTE

# 264 MR. FORD:

No.

# 265 MR. COCHRAN:

You didn't videotape any and there were none there; is that correct?

# 266 MR. FORD:

That's correct.

# 267 MR. COCHRAN:

It's 4:13 P.M., about that time on June 13th, 1994 that you walked through there, right?

# 268 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 269 MR. COCHRAN:

And if there had been socks there, you would have taken photographs of them or video, correct?

# 270 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 271 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. You can move it on, please.

# 272 MR. COCHRAN:

There's another shot. Now, you're basically--you're shooting from the foot of that bed; is that correct?

# 273 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 274 MR. COCHRAN:

At that point, you're right on that particular--that rug or carpet there; isn't that correct?

# 275 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 276 MR. COCHRAN:

The foot of the bed. You didn't see any socks or anything else there, did you?

# 277 MR. FORD:

No.

# 278 MR. COCHRAN:

Then from that point--

# 279 MR. COCHRAN:

Thank you, Mr. Harris.

# 280 MR. COCHRAN:

From that point, you went on into an alcove area where there's kind of bureau I guess we can call it? A vanity I think you'd call it.

# 281 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 282 MR. COCHRAN:

In Louisiana, it's called a bureau. But I guess it's a vanity in California. All right. You saw that?

# 283 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 284 MR. COCHRAN:

And that's a fair and accurate portrayal? You didn't open any drawers, did you?

# 285 MR. FORD:

No, sir.

# 286 MR. COCHRAN:

But you shot everything that was out. Now, that was Mr. Simpson's closet, right?

# 287 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 288 MR. COCHRAN:

Did you go inside that closet?

# 289 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 290 MR. COCHRAN:

You shot in there also?

# 291 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 292 (At 3:57 P.M., the playing of the videotape was concluded.)

# 293 MR. COCHRAN:

In other words, you tried to do everything that you were instructed--you--there is additional parts to the video; is that correct?

# 294 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 295 MR. COCHRAN:

And you shot everything?

# 296 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 297 MR. COCHRAN:

And because the time is late and the court would like for me to get close to wrapping this up right at 4 o'clock, I'm not going to show the rest of it.

# 298 MR. FORD:

Okay.

# 299 MR. COCHRAN:

But if we were to show this to the ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it would be a fair and accurate portrayal of the way these items appeared when you were there on June 13th after 3:10 in the afternoon; isn't that correct?

# 300 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 301 MR. COCHRAN:

You didn't take anything out and move it to be photographed? You didn't do that, did you?

KEY QUOTE

# 302 MR. FORD:

No.

# 303 MR. COCHRAN:

Just shot what you saw; is that right?

# 304 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 305 MR. COCHRAN:

You didn't make up anything, you didn't add anything or subtract anything, right?

# 306 MR. FORD:

No.

# 307 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. So now you continued this shoot and you went into the closet area?

# 308 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 309 MR. COCHRAN:

Then did you also go into the bedroom area?

# 310 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 311 MR. COCHRAN:

May I have just a second, your Honor?

# 312 (Discussion held off the record between Defense counsel.)

# 313 MR. COCHRAN:

I'm sorry, your Honor. Excuse me.

# 314 MR. COCHRAN:

So you--you continued on into the bathroom area, did you?

# 315 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 316 MR. COCHRAN:

And you took photographs up there; is that right?

# 317 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 318 MR. COCHRAN:

Yes? And then thereafter, you came--you came out. And did you continue shooting after you came downstairs?

# 319 MR. FORD:

No.

# 320 MR. COCHRAN:

You concluded. Was that the last room that you shot?

# 321 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 322 MR. COCHRAN:

And so you finished your shooting somewhere right after 4:15 or so on that particular date?

# 323 MR. FORD:

I would say yes.

# 324 MR. COCHRAN:

In that approximate time period; is that right?

# 325 MR. FORD:

Yes.

# 326 MR. COCHRAN:

4:15?

# 327 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Your Honor, this might be a good point if we might.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Willie Ford

No.

Ford's flat denial when asked if he saw socks on the floor at the foot of Simpson's bed — the core point of his entire testimony, repeated multiple times for emphasis.

Johnnie Cochran

Any socks on that rug that day, Mr. Ford?

The defense's central question, asked in multiple forms to lock in the testimony that no socks were visible at 4:13 PM on the day after the murders.

Willie Ford

But this particular day, I wasn't paying attention to it.

Ford's admission that he wasn't tracking the camera's timestamp in real time — which sets up the explanation that the clock was one hour behind due to daylight savings time.

Johnnie Cochran

You didn't take anything out and move it to be photographed? You didn't do that, did you?

Cochran establishing that the video is an authentic, unmanipulated record of what was actually present in the room.

Evidence (1)

Defendant's 1068

VHS videotape shot by Willie Ford at 360 North Rockingham on June 13, 1994, showing the interior and exterior of OJ Simpson's home including the bedroom where no socks were visible

played in court, paused and reviewed with witness

Notable Exchanges (2)

Johnnie Cochran•Christopher Darden

Disagreement over where to begin playing the videotape — Darden wanted to start at the top of the stairs, Cochran insisted on starting at the bottom. Judge Ito sided with Cochran: 'It's his case. He can start where he wants.'

mildly adversarial

Johnnie Cochran•Willie Ford

Cochran walked Ford through the bedroom footage frame by frame, establishing that the carpet at the foot of Simpson's bed was clearly visible and empty of socks at approximately 4:13 PM.

strategic

Light Moments (1)

Johnnie Cochran

Cochran mused about regional vocabulary while describing a piece of furniture: 'In Louisiana, it's called a bureau. But I guess it's a vanity in California.'

Objections

3 objections (1 sustained, 2 overruled)

Proceeding 6922 • 327 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103