Cross-examination of Susan Brockbank (part 6)

📄 Cross-examination of Susan Brockbank (part 6) — Wednesday, June 28, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUN\28\CROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-SUSAN-BRO.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 105 of 167

◀ Direct examination of Susan Brockbank (part 2) Redirect examination of Susan Brockbank (part 2) ▶

Witness: Susan Brockbank
Examiner: Robert Blasier
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Wednesday, June 28, 1995 • Utterances: 26

Defense attorney Blasier conducts a brief cross-examination of LAPD criminalist Susan Brockbank, covering two topics: the condition and staining of the Rockingham and Bundy gloves over time, and the limited scope of her examination of box no. 2. Blasier establishes that the Bundy evidence glove is smaller than a new glove and that Brockbank never fully removed the carpet bindle from the evidence box during her examination.

# 1 THE COURT:

Mr. Blasier?

# 2 MR. BLASIER:

Thank you. Very briefly. May I have a minute?

# 3 (Discussion between the Defense attorneys and the Defendant.)

# 4 MR. BLASIER:

Miss Brockbank, when you looked at the two evidence gloves, the Rockingham glove and the Bundy glove, here in court the other day, did they have the same appearance as when you looked at them on the 21st with the exception of some cuttings having been removed?

# 5 MS. BROCKBANK:

Umm, they weren't all crumpled up any longer. They seemed to be kind of laying out on their own pretty--pretty much.

KEY QUOTE

# 6 MR. BLASIER:

Did they appear to have the same staining that they had when you looked at them last year on the 21st?

# 7 MS. BROCKBANK:

They appeared to, yes.

# 8 MR. BLASIER:

So the appearance in terms of the distribution of what appears to be blood on them to your knowledge hasn't changed since when you saw them back on the 21st of last year until you saw them here a few days ago?

# 9 MS. BROCKBANK:

That's correct.

# 10 MR. BLASIER:

And the Bundy evidence glove, you compared the measurements of that left-hand glove with the left-hand new glove that Miss Clark provided with you--to you in court the other day; did you not?

# 11 MS. BROCKBANK:

Yes.

# 12 MR. BLASIER:

And that left Bundy evidence glove is considerably smaller than the left new glove?

# 13 MS. CLARK:

Objection. Asked and answered.

# 14 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 15 MS. BROCKBANK:

It was smaller, yes.

KEY QUOTE

# 16 MR. BLASIER:

May I have a minute, your Honor?

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

# 18 MR. BLASIER:

Miss Brockbank, when you examined box no. 2 that had the gloves, the cap and the carpet in it--do you recall just being asked questions about that?

# 19 MS. BROCKBANK:

Yes.

# 20 MR. BLASIER:

Did you even take the carpet bindle out of the box?

# 21 MS. BROCKBANK:

I didn't take it completely out, no.

# 22 MR. BLASIER:

So you never even examined portions of it that might have been on the bottom that you didn't remove out of the box, did you?

# 23 MS. BROCKBANK:

Well, I did actually. I moved it around, but didn't actually lift it and take it out of the box.

# 24 MR. BLASIER:

Okay. And you didn't do--so whatever examination you did of that was while it was still basically in the box?

# 25 MS. BROCKBANK:

Yes.

# 26 MR. BLASIER:

That's all I have.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

Susan Brockbank

They weren't all crumpled up any longer. They seemed to be kind of laying out on their own pretty--pretty much.

Acknowledges the gloves' physical condition had changed between her 1994 examination and the in-court presentation, potentially relevant to whether the gloves had been manipulated or had dried out.

Susan Brockbank

It was smaller, yes.

Confirms the Bundy evidence glove is smaller than a new comparable glove — a point the defense used to argue the gloves didn't fit OJ Simpson.

Susan Brockbank

I moved it around, but didn't actually lift it and take it out of the box.

Concedes her examination of the carpet bindle was limited, undermining the thoroughness of the evidence inspection.

Evidence (3)

Informal

Rockingham glove — right-hand evidence glove from Simpson's estate

discussed — staining and condition compared across time

Informal

Bundy glove — left-hand evidence glove found at crime scene

discussed — size compared to new left-hand glove provided by Marcia Clark

Informal

Box no. 2 containing gloves, cap, and carpet bindle

discussed — scope of Brockbank's examination challenged

Notable Exchanges (2)

Robert Blasier•Susan Brockbank

Blasier pins down that Brockbank never removed the carpet bindle from the evidence box, limiting what she could have examined on its underside or hidden surfaces.

strategic

Robert Blasier•Susan Brockbank

Blasier establishes continuity of blood staining on the gloves from 1994 to the in-court examination, while also noting the gloves were no longer crumpled — a subtle point about changed physical state.

methodical

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Susan Brockbank

scope of examination challenged

Blasier elicits that Brockbank did not fully remove the carpet bindle from the evidence box, suggesting her examination was incomplete and potentially missed evidence on portions she couldn't see.

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 1 overruled)

Proceeding 6592 • 26 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103