Redirect examination of Adalberto Luper (part 1)

📄 Redirect examination of Adalberto Luper (part 1) — Thursday, July 20, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\20\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-ADALBE.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 119 of 167

◀ Cross-examination of Adalberto Luper (part 1) Session opening ▶

Witness: Det. Bert Luper
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Defense • Date: Thursday, July 20, 1995 • Utterances: 49

Cochran conducts redirect of Detective Luper, focusing on two areas: the chain of custody for items retrieved from Chicago (brought back at Detective Lange's direction), and setting up introduction of photographs related to OJ Simpson's bedroom. The examination is largely procedural, with Judge Ito repeatedly limiting Cochran's questioning about the Chicago photographs to chain-of-custody matters only.

# 1 MR. DARDEN:

Thank you.

REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. COCHRAN

# 2 MR. COCHRAN:

Now, Detective Luper, with regard to--let's work in reverse, officer. With regard to the items that you brought back from Chicago, although you have no personal knowledge of those particular items, you still brought them back to Los Angeles in relation to the Simpson case, didn't you?

# 3 DET. LUPER:

That's correct. Yes, sir.

# 4 MR. COCHRAN:

You got them from Chicago Police Department, right?

# 5 DET. LUPER:

That's correct. Yes, sir.

# 6 MR. COCHRAN:

Flew back here with them with your partner Lefall, right?

# 7 DET. LUPER:

That's correct.

# 8 MR. COCHRAN:

And you then booked them over at piper tech to be held for this case; isn't that correct, sir?

# 9 DET. LUPER:

Yes, sir.

# 10 MR. COCHRAN:

And what you have seen, you've seen photographs of those particular items that were seized in Chicago; isn't that right?

# 11 MR. DARDEN:

Objection, your Honor. Foundation.

# 12 THE COURT:

Sustained. Foundation.

# 13 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. Have you seen photographs in connection with the items that were allegedly in that box?

# 14 MR. DARDEN:

Same objection.

# 15 THE COURT:

Sustained.

# 16 MR. COCHRAN:

Well, the photographs that you saw, where did you see the photographs?

# 17 DET. LUPER:

I saw them in Chicago.

# 18 MR. COCHRAN:

And these photographs you saw in Chicago had supposedly been taken by the Chicago Police Department?

# 19 DET. LUPER:

That's correct. Yes, sir.

# 20 MR. COCHRAN:

And these photographs were taken of the items that were seized; isn't that correct?

# 21 MR. DARDEN:

Your Honor, hearsay. Speculation.

# 22 MR. COCHRAN:

Just asking.

# 23 THE COURT:

Sustained.

# 24 MR. COCHRAN:

Well, tell us about the photographs you saw in Chicago.

# 25 THE COURT:

Counsel, the only thing he can testify to is chain of custody, he brought them back.

KEY QUOTE

# 26 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. He brought them back.

# 27 THE COURT:

He brought them back.

# 28 MR. COCHRAN:

From Chicago. All right. Thank you. Thank you, your Honor.

# 29 MR. COCHRAN:

You then brought them back, right?

# 30 DET. LUPER:

Yes, sir.

# 31 MR. COCHRAN:

Did somebody tell you to bring these items back?

# 32 DET. LUPER:

Yes, sir.

# 33 MR. COCHRAN:

Who told you to bring them back?

# 34 DET. LUPER:

Detective Lange.

# 35 MR. COCHRAN:

But you also were an experienced detective yourself and you knew to bring them back anyway, didn't you?

# 36 DET. LUPER:

That's correct. Yes, sir.

# 37 MR. COCHRAN:

And you had a phone conversation with Lange and then you brought them back, right?

# 38 DET. LUPER:

No. I had no phone conversation with Detective Lange regarding that. I knew that I was going to go back to Chicago to pick them up. I was directed to do that.

KEY QUOTE

# 39 MR. COCHRAN:

All right. So you went--oh. So you went there specifically to pick up these items from the Chicago Police Department?

# 40 DET. LUPER:

That's correct. Yes, sir.

# 41 MR. COCHRAN:

Right? All right. So you picked them up and you brought them back to Los Angeles, right?

# 42 DET. LUPER:

Yes, sir.

# 43 MR. COCHRAN:

Okay, detective. With regard to the residence of Mr. Simpson on this occasion, you've indicated that you were upstairs in the bedroom and that you saw the condition of Mr. Simpson's bedroom, did you not, during the course of the day after you arrived there at 12:00 o'clock?

# 44 DET. LUPER:

Yes, sir.

# 45 MR. COCHRAN:

And I want to show you--I want to approach and I want to show you a couple of photographs.

# 46 MR. COCHRAN:

One is People's 167 now in evidence, your Honor, and one is--one I'd like to mark as Defendant's next in order if the Court pleases. 12--

# 47 THE COURT:

1257.

# 48 MR. COCHRAN:

1257? I'd like to approach, your Honor.

# 49 THE COURT:

Please.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

Lance A. Ito

Counsel, the only thing he can testify to is chain of custody, he brought them back.

Ito explicitly constrains the scope of Cochran's redirect, shutting down attempts to get Luper to characterize the Chicago photographs.

Det. Bert Luper

No. I had no phone conversation with Detective Lange regarding that. I knew that I was going to go back to Chicago to pick them up. I was directed to do that.

Luper gently corrects Cochran's leading question, clarifying the chain of command around the Chicago evidence retrieval.

Det. Bert Luper

Detective Lange.

Establishes that Lange directed the retrieval of Chicago items, tying the evidence chain to a key figure in the investigation.

Evidence (2)

People's 167

Photograph of OJ Simpson's bedroom, already in evidence

referenced for upcoming showing to witness

Defendant's 1257

Photograph related to Simpson's bedroom, newly marked

introduced/marked

Notable Exchanges (2)

Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

Cochran repeatedly attempts to get Luper to testify about the contents and nature of Chicago photographs; Ito sustains multiple objections and ultimately tells Cochran directly that Luper's testimony is limited to chain of custody.

strategic

Johnnie Cochran•Det. Bert Luper

Cochran tries a leading question implying Luper had a phone conversation with Lange; Luper corrects the record, clarifying he was directed to Chicago without such a call.

revealing

Objections

4 objections (4 sustained, 0 overruled)

Proceeding 6955 • 49 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103