📄 Direct examination of Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran (part 4) — Tuesday, June 13, 1995
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C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUN\13\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-DR-LAKSH.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 94 of 167

Direct examination of Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran (part 4)

Witness: Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran
Examiner: Brian Kelberg
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Tuesday, June 13, 1995 • Utterances: 208
Dr. Lakshmanan continues his direct examination, analyzing Ron Goldman's wounds in detail. He disagrees with Dr. Golden's characterization of certain facial abrasions as perimortem rather than antemortem, arguing it is logically inconsistent with the overlying cuts. He then walks through Goldman's thigh stab wound (non-fatal, single-edged knife, ~3 inches deep) and two fatal right-chest stab wounds, both caused by a single-edged knife, with a physical demonstration using Kelberg as a stand-in for Goldman.
1 MR. KELBERG:

May I approach; your Honor?

2 THE COURT:

You may.

3 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, let me ask you to review, including the part that is going to come after what I've just read to you, and also invite your attention to page 85. I think I may have made a mistake. I may have misinterpreted, but I want to be sure that the doctor--

4 THE COURT:

All right. Mr. Kelberg, proceed.

5 MR. KELBERG:

All right.

6 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, in fact are those the five cuts which you have identified collectively as injury no. 5?

7 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

8 MR. KELBERG:

What I was reading? All right. Then continuing on: "Question: And were all of those antemortem wounds, as far as you could determine? "Answer: Yes, they were." Doctor, are you in agreement with that opinion that those five are antemortem wounds?

9 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

10 MR. KELBERG:

Now, let me refer you to page 85 to questioning starting on line 14. I'm sorry, let me start on line 7. "Question: Those are the five cutting wounds you've testified to? "Answer: Yes. So it had two things visible there, the multiple abrasions on the cheek" --and this refers to this injury no. 3, the confluent abrasions, doctor?

11 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

12 MR. KELBERG:

--"And then the circumscribed area which contained the cutting wound, the superficial cutting wounds. "Question: And sir, with reference to diagram People's 28 for identification, you are indicating an area on that figure in the lower left-hand side; is that correct? "Answer: Yes. "Question: Now, with regard to those abrasions," this is injury no. 3, "Would you characterize those abrasions as antemortem, perimortem or postmortem? "Answer: I would not characterize them as postmortem. They appeared to be perimortem based on their color, coloration. "Question: And again, `perimortem' meaning? "Answer: At about the time of death which could be shortly before, at the time of or shortly thereafter." Again, doctor, you reviewed that testimony?

13 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes, I did.

14 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, do you agree with that opinion concerning that area of confluent abrasion?

15 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

No. I think it is antemortem because as I pointed out earlier, the five--I mean out of the small stab sharp force injuries we discussed, four of them overlie this area of abrasion, and these sharp force injuries show evidence of hemorrhage in the tissue which would indicate that the person had blood pressure and the heart was beating when those sharp force injuries took place. So if they overlie an area of abrasion, the abrasion must have occurred before the sharp force injury, which would indicate that they also occurred before death when the person had blood pressure and the heart was beating.

16 MR. KELBERG:

And assuming hypothetically that Dr. Golden testified that in his opinion the confluent abrasions, which underlie the cuts, were perimortem, that is around the time of death, would it make any medical sense to you how the cuts that are overlaying those abrasions could have been antemortem?

17 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

I said that they are antemortem.

18 MR. KELBERG:

No. My question is given Dr. Golden's opinion that the underlying abrasions are perimortem--that was his opinion according to this hypothetical transcript, correct?

19 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

20 MR. KELBERG:

--does it make any medical sense how the injury which in your opinion comes after the cuts overlaying the abrasions, how they could be antemortem with the underlying injury, the abrasions, being perimortem?

21 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

That is what I opined.

22 MR. SHAPIRO:

Objection, your Honor.

23 THE COURT:

Basis?

24 MR. SHAPIRO:

Improper hypothetical, improper questioning.

25 THE COURT:

Sustained.

26 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, if Dr. Golden testified that injury no. 3, the abrasions, were perimortem and he also opined that the cuts, injury no. 5, were antemortem, in your opinion, would that indicate that the cuts came before the abrasions?

27 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

No, the cuts came after the abrasion.

28 MR. KELBERG:

No, I understand what your opinion is, doctor. My question is if Dr. Golden had the opinion that the abrasions were perimortem, and the cuts were antemortem, would that indicate that at least in Dr. Golden's view the cuts came before the abrasions?

29 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

That is correct.

30 MR. KELBERG:

And, doctor, if the cuts came before the abrasions how, if you can explain medically, could the cut be overlaying the abrasions rather than the abrasions overlaying the cuts?

31 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It cannot be explained.

KEY QUOTE
32 MR. KELBERG:

Would you consider that opinion, if held by Dr. Golden, that the cuts came before the abrasions, to be a mistake?

33 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Well, he said it is perimortem and perimortem also includes injuries which could just occur around the time of death, but in this situation I would consider it a mistake.

34 MR. KELBERG:

Any significance to you?

35 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

No.

36 MR. KELBERG:

Same reasons?

37 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

38 MR. KELBERG:

Now, doctor I think we are done with the picture of the facial injuries, and let's go, if we could, to the board that I had marked just before we started for afternoon session--just before the morning session ended.

39 THE COURT:

362.

40 MR. KELBERG:

Thank you, your Honor, yes.

41 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, again, with the Court's permission, would you step to this board of photographs.

42 (witness complies.)
43 MR. KELBERG:

And this board is titled "Sharp force injuries to the left flank, left thigh and right chest of Mr. Goldman; blunt force trauma and lividity." First of all, doctor, we have a photograph in the center at the top underneath of which there is a designation 43-E. I ask you to assume that that is a copy of the same photograph which is marked already as People's exhibit 43-E, and it reflects the condition of Mr. Goldman's body at the time the body was discovered by Officer Riske around 12:13 in the morning on June 13, 1994.

44 MR. SHAPIRO:

Objection, no foundation to that statement.

45 THE COURT:

Overruled.

46 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, first of all, inviting your attention to G-1 and G-2, are you familiar with what is shown in those two photographs?

47 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes. Those are the photographs of Mr. Goldman taken at the Coroner's office on June 14Tg, 1994, in the morning with his clothing present.

48 MR. KELBERG:

And doctor, does this--each of these photographs represent what you saw on June 13th, the day before, when you viewed Mr. Goldman's body and ms. Nicole Brown Simpson's body at the time they arrived at the Coroner's office?

49 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

50 MR. KELBERG:

Now, doctor, let me invite your attention, if I could, please, first to a photograph in the lower left-hand corner of the chart or series of photographs marked G-17. Are you familiar with what is shown in that?

51 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

52 MR. KELBERG:

What is that?

53 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

That is a close-up photograph of the left thigh area of Mr. Goldman after his clothing has been removed and this is the photograph taken after the body is washed. And what you see here is a stab wound to the left thigh and it is a gaping wound. It has got a blunt end on its posterior aspect or on the right side of the photograph, and the sharp end on the left side of the photograph, and this wound is an antemortem penetrating stab wound and it was about three inches deep.

54 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, from your description of a posterior blunt end and using the left side of the photograph, the sharp end being on the left side, is that accurate?

55 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

56 MR. KELBERG:

Do you have an opinion as to the type or class of knife or knives which could have caused that stab wound?

57 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It is a single-edged knife.

58 MR. KELBERG:

Is this a wound which could only have been caused by a single-edged knife?

59 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

60 MR. KELBERG:

And going back, if you can recall, to our chart with three different examples of wound patterns, which wound pattern, if any, would this particular wound reflect?

61 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

This would reflect an injury pattern 1, but I must emphasize that there is also a cutting component to this stab wound. That is, the blunt end is still retained, but the single-edged knife which caused this wound also caused a cut extension of the--of the--of the wound.

62 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, in your opinion is this wound a fatal wound?

63 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It is a non-fatal wound.

64 MR. KELBERG:

What, if any, reaction from the body would you expect, given the location of that stab wound?

65 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It would cause significant bleeding.

66 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, I want to invite your attention--and by the way, which leg is this, doctor?

67 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

The left thigh.

68 MR. KELBERG:

Can you point out, in your own body, on your own body, a general area location?

69 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Roughly in this area here, (indicating).

70 MR. KELBERG:

Could you pull your coat pocket back?

71 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Right here, (indicating).

72 MR. KELBERG:

Your Honor, for the record, the witness is identifying an area that is just to the front of his left pant pocket and down near the bottom of where the pant pocket ends.

73 THE COURT:

Yes, upper thigh.

74 MR. KELBERG:

Thank you, your Honor.

75 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

When I measured it in my one-as-to-one photographs it measured--G-17--one and 7/8 inch by 7/8 inch in the gaping state.

76 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, is that hypothetical single-edge knife with an approximate six-inch long blade tapering at the tip consistent with having caused this stab wound?

77 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

78 MR. KELBERG:

I want to invite your attention back to G-1 and G-2 and in particular your attention to the left pant leg as shown in each of those photographs. Is the appearance of the pant leg in each of those photographs of some significance to you in evaluating the relative positions of Mr. Goldman and the perpetrator at the time that wound was inflicted?

79 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

80 MR. KELBERG:

How so?

81 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Because what we have here in G-1 and G-2 is extensive blood staining of the left part of the jeans which Mr. Goldman is wearing, which would indicate that he was most likely upright for some time after this injury was inflicted, because as you know, blood would come out of a wound such as we have here if the left thigh, would drain down the thigh due to gravity, if somebody is upright, and that would stain the trouser or the jeans.

82 MR. KELBERG:

For example, doctor, if Mr. Goldman had been in the position, as shown in these photos, G-1 and G-2 and had remained in that position with the stab wound received in that position, would you have any scientific explanation as to how the blood could be on the pant leg below the area of the wound going towards the shoe?

83 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It won't fit that kind of position because the blood seems to be definitely going downwards as if he was upright in the line of gravity.

KEY QUOTE
84 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, how rapidly a response of external bleeding would you expect from a wound the nature of this particular stab wound as seen in G-17?

85 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

You would have significant bleeding from that stab wound. Even though it did not injure any major big vessel, there are a lot of smaller vessels which supply the muscles in the front of the thigh and it was a wound which went up to three to three and a half inches in depth and you have a pretty gaping wound, so there would be significant bleeding from that wound, but it is not a fatal wound because no major vessel was struck.

86 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, is there a description provided by Dr. Golden in his protocol regarding this stab wound?

87 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

88 MR. KELBERG:

Does the description include a description internally of the pathway of this stab wound?

89 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

90 MR. KELBERG:

What is that description?

91 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Basically it goes through the muscular tissues to the left thigh and it did not strike any major vessel, and it was three to three and a half inches deep going in a left to right direction without deviation.

92 MR. KELBERG:

Given that description, are you able to offer an opinion as to the relative position--you have indicated Mr. Goldman was upright in your judgment when he received this injury and for some period thereafter--are you able to offer an opinion for the relative positions of the perpetrator and Mr. Goldman at the time that stab wound was inflicted?

93 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

I would not be able to give a specific scenario. The perpetrator could have been in the front or the back. If he was holding the right hand, the knife, it could be that the perpetrator was in the front, but I won't be able to say with definite certainty where the person was or where the victim was when this wound was inflicted.

94 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, if you could keep your voice up, please.

95 MR. KELBERG:

If we could find a ruler again, would you show us what you mean with a right-handed person, that is, a person holding the knife in the right hand, the relative positions, and then show us a left-handed person in the sense of holding the knife in the left hand. I will take on the role of Mr. Goldman. You tell me where you need me to be in relation to yourself.

96 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Well, these are just hypothetical demonstrations.

97 MR. SHAPIRO:

Objection, irrelevant.

98 THE COURT:

Overruled.

99 MR. KELBERG:

You may continue, doctor?

100 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

One, you can be facing me in the front. One method could be with the knife being held in this manner with the blunt edge on the outer aspect and the sharp edge on this aspect like this on the thigh, (indicating).

101 MR. KELBERG:

If you will stop this very quickly, the doctor has taken the ruler to represent the knife in his right hand and he referred to the blunt edge as being the edge which is outer, the outer side of the knife, the sharp edge being the inner side, and he has pressed it against that same area of my left thigh with the angulation being full--

102 MR. KELBERG:

That is the angulation, doctor?

103 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

104 MR. KELBERG:

He has the bottom of the ruler in contact with my body slightly lower, perhaps at about a thirty-degree angle from the horizontal.

105 THE COURT:

Yes.

106 MR. KELBERG:

Obviously then with the higher end--

107 MR. KELBERG:

The other end being higher?

108 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Just to add to the--

109 MR. KELBERG:

Can we turn in some fashion, doctor, so the ladies and gentlemen of the jury can see what you are just pointing--set the ruler?

110 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Like this, yes, (indicating). The other point I want to make is there is also a cutting component to the stab wound, so there was either movement of the knife or the victim's thigh during this time, during this penetration and withdrawal, which caused this stabbing, plus a cutting component to it.

111 MR. KELBERG:

Now, what about a person holding the knife in his left hand?

112 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Well, if it was the left hand, you could have the same manner, standing behind him and stabbing him in this manner, (indicating).

113 MR. KELBERG:

For the record, Dr. Lakshmanan has taken a position behind me and basically now holding the ruler in his left hand.

114 MR. KELBERG:

Which would be the blunt edge?

115 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

The blunt edge would still be to the back. It has to be a single-edged knife for this wound.

116 MR. KELBERG:

Blunt edge would be the inner edge?

117 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

The blunt edge would be facing me and the sharp end would be facing the front.

118 MR. KELBERG:

And the angulation is still the same?

119 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes. I just gave you two possibilities.

120 THE COURT:

I think you need to angle around the other way to show the jurors at the other end of the box.

121 MR. KELBERG:

Is that the same angulation necessary, doctor, under this scenario?

122 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

123 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, you indicated that Dr. Goldman--Golden, excuse me, addressed this in the protocol; is that correct, this stab wound?

124 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes, he addresses it on page 9 and 10, no. 4.

125 MR. KELBERG:

Before we move on, does he also have some indication in a diagram?

126 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes, he does, on form 21, no. II.

127 MR. KELBERG:

Is it addressed in any fashion in the addendum?

128 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

No.

129 MR. KELBERG:

Is there any reason it should have been, in your opinion?

130 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

No.

131 MR. KELBERG:

If I could switch with Mr. Lynch.

132 (Brief pause.)
133 MR. KELBERG:

And I'm sorry, the page number for the protocol, doctor?

134 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Page 9 and 10. Starts on page 9, no. 4. Starts here as "No. 4 stab wound of left thigh."

135 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, in your opinion, is this an accurate description of that thigh injury?

136 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

137 MR. KELBERG:

And it continues on to the next page?

138 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes. It is on the top of the next page.

139 MR. KELBERG:

Before we flip it, let me mark--is this the only injury, doctor, of photograph G-17?

140 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

141 MR. KELBERG:

Let me just outline that then on our protocol and I will write "G-17" and now if we can flip the page.

142 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It ends here on page 10.

143 MR. KELBERG:

With an opinion?

144 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

145 MR. KELBERG:

In your opinion is Dr. Golden's opinion accurate on this particular injury?

146 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

147 MR. KELBERG:

And I will outline that on page 10 of the protocol and again write "G-17."

148 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, where on the diagram, if we put up board 21--perhaps Mr. Lynch can refresh my memory as to the number of that board on the back.

149 MR. LYNCH:

3G.

150 MR. KELBERG:

3G your Honor?

151 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

This is 21, no. II.

152 THE COURT:

Thank you.

153 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It is diagrammed in the right--left lateral view of--the left lateral view diagram on the left thigh.

154 MR. KELBERG:

Is there any written description which is attached to that?

155 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes. It says, "Stab wound to left thigh, 33 inches from the heel."

156 MR. KELBERG:

And there appears some writing, is there, doctor, just above the "SW"?

157 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes. It says, "Length" and I can't read the letters. I'm sorry, it says "Left to right."

158 MR. KELBERG:

And that reflects what, doctor?

159 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

The direction.

160 MR. KELBERG:

Of the stab wound?

161 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

162 MR. KELBERG:

So if I circled this entire area, doctor, would this accurately identify what is G-17?

163 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes.

164 MR. KELBERG:

And I have done so in blue and written the designation G-17.

165 MR. KELBERG:

Is there anything further about that stab wound, doctor?

166 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

No.

167 MR. KELBERG:

Anything further in the protocol on that stab wound?

168 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

No.

169 MR. KELBERG:

Anything further in the photograph of that?

170 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

No.

171 MR. KELBERG:

I want to move then, if we could, doctor, to photograph G-10, the photograph in the lower right corner of exhibit 362. What are we seeing in that photograph, doctor?

172 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

You are seeing evidence of three sharp force injuries to the right--first of all, you are seeing the right side of the trunk, right side of the trunk from the right chest to the right hip area and this is the upper part of the body and the lower part of the photograph shows the upper hip area here, (indicating). The right lower chest shows two sharp force injuries, both are stab wounds; one located in the front of the side of the chest, which is toward the right side of the photograph. The other sharp force jury is to the left side of the photograph on the back side of the side of the chest. This stab wound, (indicating)--both of them are fatal stab wounds. They entered the lung and caused hemorrhage. We have another sharp force injury to the lower right flank area, (indicating), and this one is a superficial wound. It was non-fatal. So this photograph then in addition, we also have some abrasions which are--appear postmortem on the side of the right chest, some between the two sharp force injuries of the right chest, and the sharp force injury of the right flank, and some--and an area of abrasion just below the stab wound in the posterior aspect of the side of the chest. I numbered them for my convenience and they have been addressed in the protocol and diagram and we can discuss it in detail.

173 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, with respect to these two fatal stab wounds, are those arbitrarily designated 1 and 2?

174 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Yes. I numbered them 1--the one which is in the front I called no. 1 and the one in the back I called as no. 2.

175 MR. KELBERG:

Let's start with no. 1. Can you point out exactly, using yourself, where that area is on the body?

176 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Somewhere here on this region of the chest, (indicating).

177 MR. KELBERG:

Perhaps you can turn so the jurors on the right side can also see.

178 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Right here, (indicating).

179 MR. KELBERG:

Your Honor, for the record, the doctor has pointed to an area below the nipple area of the right breast and toward the back of the body along the midline of the side.

180 THE COURT:

Yes.

181 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

And the second stab wound--you want to just do it one--

182 MR. KELBERG:

Let's see if we can take care of them one at a time.

183 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, are you able to tell, from examining the photograph, the type of knife or classes of knives, if it is more than one, which could have caused that particular fatal stab wound?

184 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It was caused by a single-edged knife.

185 MR. KELBERG:

How are you able to say that that was caused by a single-edged knife?

186 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Because you have a blunt end on the lower part and a sharp end on the upper part of the wound.

187 MR. KELBERG:

Would you point out for us which is the sharp end and which is the blunt end.

188 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

The sharp end is on the top here and the blunt end on the bottom here, (indicating).

189 MR. KELBERG:

For the record, the witness has pointed on the photograph to the top and bottom portions of the wound.

190 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, in your opinion that stab wound could not have been caused by a double-edged knife?

191 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

That is correct.

192 MR. KELBERG:

Let me move briefly to no. 2 and ask you the same series of questions. Are you able to determine from the appearance of that wound the type of class or classes of knives which could have caused that fatal wound?

193 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

That one was also caused by a single-edged knife. You have a blunt end in the back and a sharp end in the front.

194 MR. KELBERG:

Again, doctor, not by a double-edged knife?

195 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

That's correct.

196 MR. KELBERG:

Could the hypothetical approximately six-inch long single-edged knife tapering at the point have caused both of those fatal stab wounds?

197 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It is possible.

198 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, are you able to determine, from any description provided by Dr. Golden, the relative positions of Mr. Goldman and the perpetrator at the time either of these two fatal stab wounds was inflicted?

199 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It would again--there are various possibilities for this--in which--various possibilities how this stab wound could have been sustained.

200 MR. KELBERG:

Let's start with this stab wound no. 1. What is the description--in fact, you said it is described--let's find the actual description, if we could, in the protocol.

201 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

It is on page 8, no. 1. The entire description applies to injury no. 1 on G-5--I'm sorry, G-10.

202 MR. KELBERG:

I will outline this entire area and write "G-10 injury, inj., no. 1."

203 MR. KELBERG:

Doctor, can you summarize in lay terms for us the description provided here by Dr. Golden and let me get out of the way so you can do so.

204 DR. LAKSHMANAN:

Basically the stab wound entered the right chest in the area which I just showed you, went through a rib, the seventh rib, went through the lung, the right lung, and then came to strike the right fourth rib in its back--

205 THE COURT:

Excuse me, I think we need to--

206 MR. COCHRAN:

Your Honor, maybe a brief moment.

207 (Brief pause.)
208 THE COURT:

All right. Let's take ten minutes.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran
It cannot be explained.
Lakshmanan's flat verdict on Dr. Golden's internally inconsistent opinion — that cuts came before the abrasions they overlie — delivered without elaboration, effectively branding it a mistake.
Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran
It won't fit that kind of position because the blood seems to be definitely going downwards as if he was upright in the line of gravity.
Establishes that Goldman was standing — not prone — for a significant period after the thigh wound, informing the struggle timeline.
Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran
Both of them are fatal stab wounds. They entered the lung and caused hemorrhage.
Identifies the two right-chest stab wounds as the cause of death, distinguishing them from the non-fatal thigh wound.
Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran
There is also a cutting component to this stab wound. That is... there was either movement of the knife or the victim's thigh during this time, during this penetration and withdrawal.
Adds complexity to the wound pattern — suggests movement during the attack, consistent with a struggle.

Evidence (7)

People's 28
Diagram used in Dr. Golden's prior testimony to identify facial injury locations
Referenced via transcript excerpt
People's 43-E
Photograph of Goldman's body at the scene as discovered by Officer Riske around 12:13 AM on June 13, 1994
Discussed
People's 362
Board of photographs titled 'Sharp force injuries to the left flank, left thigh and right chest of Mr. Goldman; blunt force trauma and lividity'
Introduced and discussed extensively
Informal
G-1, G-2: Photographs of Goldman taken at Coroner's office on June 14, 1994 with clothing present
Discussed — used to show blood draining downward on jeans consistent with upright position
Informal
G-17: Close-up photograph of left thigh stab wound after body was washed
Discussed — 1 and 7/8 inch by 7/8 inch gaping stab wound, ~3 inches deep, single-edged knife
Informal
G-10: Photograph of right side of trunk showing two fatal chest stab wounds and one non-fatal right flank wound
Discussed
+ 1 more

Notable Exchanges (3)

Brian KelbergDr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran
Kelberg uses himself as a body double for Goldman while Lakshmanan demonstrates with a ruler as a knife — showing how both a right-handed and left-handed perpetrator could have inflicted the thigh wound. Judge Ito intervenes to ask Lakshmanan to reposition so jurors at the far end of the box can see.
clinical, theatrical
Brian KelbergDr. Lakshmanan SathyavagiswaranRobert Shapiro
Kelberg constructs a hypothetical around Dr. Golden's perimortem classification to demonstrate its logical contradiction — Shapiro objects as improper hypothetical and is sustained, but Lakshmanan had already conceded that under Golden's view 'it cannot be explained.'
strategic
Brian KelbergLance A. Ito
Ito volunteers the board number ('362') when Kelberg loses track, and later adds 'upper thigh' to the record when Kelberg describes the wound location — the judge actively aiding transcript clarity.
routine, helpful

Light Moments (1)

Brian Kelberg
Kelberg accidentally refers to 'Dr. Goldman' before catching himself: 'Doctor, you indicated that Dr. Goldman — Golden, excuse me'

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Dr. Golden
Internal inconsistency / expert disagreement
Kelberg walks Lakshmanan through a logical trap: if Golden says the abrasions are perimortem but the overlying cuts are antemortem, the cuts would have to predate the abrasions — which is physically impossible given their layering. Lakshmanan calls this 'a mistake.' No formal impeachment; framed as a difference of professional opinion.

Witness Demeanor

(witness complies.) — Lakshmanan steps to the board as requested
(indicating) — repeated throughout as Lakshmanan points to wounds on himself and photographs
(Brief pause.) — noted twice, once mid-demonstration and once near end before a 10-minute recess called by Cochran

Objections

3 objections (1 sustained, 2 overruled)
Proceeding 6369 • 208 utterances • Prosecution witness
Criminal Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 JUN 13, 1995 📄 Direct examination of Dr. Laks
JUN 13, 1995 KRT DvH TD