Direct examination of Det. Philip Vannatter (part 1)

📄 Direct examination of Det. Philip Vannatter (part 1) — Friday, March 17, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAR\17\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-DET-PHIL.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 40 of 167

◀ Jury entry and witness resumption Sidebar ▶

Witness: Det. Philip Vannatter
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Friday, March 17, 1995 • Utterances: 403

Continuing his direct examination, Detective Vannatter walks the jury through the blood trail he discovered at O.J. Simpson's Rockingham estate in the early morning hours of June 13, 1994 — from drops near the Bronco in the driveway, through the front door, and into the foyer. Using two photo boards (People's 120 and 122), he describes the evidence that led him to declare Rockingham a crime scene and ultimately seek a search warrant. He also testifies that Simpson did not become a suspect until after he was shown the glove found on the south walkway.

# 1 Q:

DETECTIVE VANNATTER, WHEN WE LEFT OFF YESTERDAY YOU TOLD US THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING TO KATO KAELIN WHEN YOU WERE INTERRUPTED BY DETECTIVE FUHRMAN?

# 2 A:

THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

# 3 Q:

WERE YOU TAKING MR. KAELIN'S STATEMENT AT THAT TIME?

# 4 A:

I WAS AT THAT POINT WRITING NOTES TO TAKE THE ENTIRE STATEMENT THAT I HAD TALKED TO HIM ABOUT, YES.

# 5 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WERE YOU WRITING THOSE NOTES SIMULTANEOUS WITH YOUR CONVERSATION WITH MR. KAELIN?

# 6 A:

NO, SIR, I WASN'T.

# 7 Q:

SO YOU HAD ALREADY SPOKEN TO MR. KAELIN?

# 8 A:

I HAD A CONVERSATION THAT I WAS GOING TO GO BACK, GO OVER THE CONVERSATION AND WRITE NOTES OF THE CONVERSATION.

# 9 Q:

WAS MR. KAELIN PRESENT OR RATHER IN YOUR PRESENCE WHEN DETECTIVE FUHRMAN CAME TO GET YOU?

# 10 A:

YES, HE WAS.

# 11 Q:

NOW, WERE YOU THE FIRST DETECTIVE TO BE TAKEN TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE TO VIEW THE GLOVE?

# 12 A:

I DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT TIME, BUT I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND OUT THAT I WAS NOT.

# 13 Q:

NOW, AND WHAT TIME WAS IT THAT YOU SAW THE GLOVE, IF YOU RECALL?

# 14 A:

IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 6:30. THAT IS APPROXIMATION. SOMETIME BETWEEN 6:15, 6:30.

# 15 Q:

OKAY. NOW, YESTERDAY YOU TOLD US THAT YOU CLIMBED A WALL JUST LAST WEEK; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 16 A:

YES.

# 17 Q:

OKAY. AND WAS THAT IN CONNECTION WITH A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION?

# 18 A:

NO, SIR. IT WAS IN CONNECTION WITH DOING MY LAWNS AND TAKING CARE OF MY HOME.

# 19 Q:

OKAY. ALSO YESTERDAY YOU TOLD US THAT YOU AND DETECTIVE FUHRMAN WENT TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THAT YOU SAW THE GLOVE THERE ON THE GROUND; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 20 A:

YES.

# 21 Q:

OKAY. HOW LONG DID YOU REMAIN ON THAT SOUTH WALKWAY?

# 22 A:

NOT VERY LONG. I WALKED BACK OUT FRONT WITH FUHRMAN AND NOT VERY LONG, A MINUTE OR TWO.

# 23 Q:

OKAY. SO YOU AND DETECTIVE FUHRMAN WALKED TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE?

# 24 A:

BACK OUT TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, THAT'S CORRECT.

# 25 Q:

AND AT THAT TIME DID YOU AND DETECTIVE FUHRMAN HAVE A CONVERSATION?

# 26 A:

YES.

# 27 Q:

DID YOU ASK HIM TO DO SOMETHING?

# 28 A:

I DID.

# 29 Q:

WHAT DID YOU ASK HIM TO DO?

# 30 A:

I ASKED HIM TO GO BACK TO THE BUNDY LOCATION TO LOOK AT THE OTHER GLOVE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS SEEING WHAT I WAS SEEING.

# 31 Q:

AND WHERE WAS DETECTIVE LANGE AT THAT TIME?

# 32 A:

I BELIEVE DETECTIVE LANGE HAD COME OUT OF THE HOUSE. I BELIEVE HE HAD JUST LEFT ARNELLE SIMPSON, BUT I'M NOT POSITIVE OF THAT.

# 33 Q:

OKAY. NOW, WHY DID YOU TELL DETECTIVE FUHRMAN TO GO BACK TO BUNDY AND VIEW THE GLOVE?

# 34 A:

BECAUSE WHAT I HAD SEEN ORIGINALLY AT BUNDY AND WHAT I HAD SEEN AT ROCKINGHAM, IT APPEARED TO BE THE SAME TYPE GLOVE, A LEFT AND A RIGHT-HANDED GLOVE, MAN'S LEATHER GLOVE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS ACTUALLY WHAT I WAS SEEING. I WANTED HIM TO GO BACK AND CONFIRM THAT THIS WAS A LEFT-HANDED MAN'S LEATHER GLOVE.

# 35 Q:

AND DID DETECTIVE FUHRMAN LEAVE YOUR PRESENCE?

# 36 A:

HE DID.

# 37 Q:

DID YOU WATCH HIM AS HE LEFT?

# 38 A:

YES.

# 39 Q:

DID YOU SEE WHERE HE WENT AT THAT TIME?

# 40 A:

I OBSERVED HIM AND DETECTIVE PHILLIPS EXIT THE ROCKINGHAM GATE TO -- OR I'M SORRY -- EXIT THE ASHFORD GATE TO GO TO THEIR VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED THERE AND LEAVE THE LOCATION.

# 41 Q:

WHAT TIME, IF YOU RECALL, DID PHILLIPS AND FUHRMAN LEAVE THE LOCATION?

# 42 A:

I BELIEVE IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 6:40 IN THE MORNING.

# 43 Q:

AND DID YOU REMAIN STANDING IN FRONT OF THE PROPERTY AT ROCKINGHAM?

# 44 A:

NO. I MET WITH MY PARTNER, DETECTIVE LANGE, IN THE FRONT THERE. WE HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION.

# 45 Q:

WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU MET WITH DETECTIVE LANGE IN THE FRONT, DO YOU MEAN THAT YOU MET WITH HIM INSIDE THE HOUSE OR OUTSIDE THE HOUSE?

# 46 A:

OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.

# 47 Q:

OKAY. WERE YOU STILL ON MR. SIMPSON'S PROPERTY AT THAT TIME?

# 48 A:

YES, IN HIS DRIVEWAY.

# 49 Q:

AND WHAT DID YOU AND DETECTIVE LANGE DO AT THAT TIME, IF ANYTHING?

# 50 A:

WELL, WE -- WE DISCUSSED WHAT -- WHAT HAD BEEN FOUND, THE FACT THAT WE MAY HAVE AN EXTENSION OF THE CRIME SCENE FROM BUNDY, AND WE MADE A DETERMINATION THAT DETECTIVE LANGE WOULD RETURN TO THE BUNDY CRIME SCENE IMMEDIATELY AND START THAT INVESTIGATION.

# 51 Q:

OKAY. AND DID DETECTIVE LANGE LEAVE YOUR PRESENCE AT THAT TIME?

# 52 A:

YES.

# 53 Q:

OKAY. DID YOU WATCH HIM LEAVE?

# 54 A:

YES.

# 55 Q:

WHAT TIME WAS IT WHEN DETECTIVE LANGE LEFT ROCKINGHAM THAT MORNING?

# 56 A:

APPROXIMATELY 6:45.

# 57 Q:

NOW, YOU SAY THAT YOU AND DETECTIVE LANGE DISCUSSED THE IDEA THAT YOU NOW HAD AN EXTENSION OF THE BUNDY CRIME SCENE?

# 58 A:

WELL, WE BELIEVED AT THAT POINT THAT THE PROBABILITY OF WHAT HAD BEEN FOUND, THAT WE HAD AN EXTENSION FROM THE BUNDY CRIME SCENE.

# 59 Q:

OKAY. NOW, DID YOU WALK DETECTIVE LANGE TO HIS CAR?

# 60 A:

NO.

# 61 Q:

OKAY. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID YOU DO AFTER DETECTIVE LANGE LEFT?

# 62 A:

I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE RESIDENCE AND I STARTED LOOKING AROUND, AND IN THE VICINITY OF THE -- OF ONE OF THE VEHICLES PARKED IN THE ROCKINGHAM DRIVEWAY I OBSERVED WHAT -- WHAT APPEARED TO ME TO BE A BLOOD SPOT ON THE GROUND.

# 63 Q:

YOU SAW A BLOOD SPOT?

# 64 A:

WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BLOOD SPOT, YES.

# 65 Q:

DID YOU SAY THAT YOU SAW THAT BLOOD SPOT IN THE VICINITY OF A PARKED VEHICLE?

# 66 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 67 Q:

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THIS VEHICLE FOR US?

# 68 A:

IT WAS NEAR THE TWO VEHICLES THAT WERE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I BELIEVE IT WAS CLOSEST TO THE BENTLEY THAT WAS PARKED THERE.

# 69 Q:

NOW, WAS THAT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU NOTICED THIS BLOOD DROP OR APPARENT BLOOD DROP?

# 70 A:

THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

# 71 Q:

AND WHAT SIGNIFICANCE, IF ANY, DID YOU ATTACH TO YOUR OBSERVATION OF THAT APPARENT BLOOD DROP?

# 72 A:

WELL, SEEING THAT BLOOD DROP OBVIOUSLY TRIGGERED THE FACT THAT I HAD SEEN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BLOOD TRAIL LEAVING THE CRIME SCENE AT BUNDY WITH SOMEONE THAT WAS EITHER INJURED OR CARRYING SOMETHING BLOODY THAT WAS DRIPPING, IMMEDIATELY MADE ME THINK THAT I PICKED UP THE BLOOD TRAIL AGAIN FROM BUNDY.

KEY QUOTE

# 73 Q:

WHAT DID YOU DO AT THAT POINT? WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DETECTIVE?

# 74 A:

I WALKED WEST IN THE DRIVEWAY CONCENTRATING ON LOOKING AT THE DRIVEWAY TO SEE IF I COULD FIND ANY OTHER BLOOD DROPS OR WHAT APPEARED TO BE BLOOD DROPS, AND I DID. I FOUND APPROXIMATELY THREE OR FOUR MORE DROPS BETWEEN THE REAR END OF THE BRONCO AND THE FIRST ONE THAT I DISCOVERED.

# 75 Q:

AND AT THAT TIME DID YOU APPROACH THE BRONCO AGAIN?

# 76 A:

I DID, YES.

# 77 Q:

WHAT DID YOU DO AT THAT TIME?

# 78 A:

WELL, SEEING THE -- WHAT APPEARED TO BE ANOTHER BLOOD TRAIL, I WALKED TO THE BRONCO TO HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BRONCO TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER BLOOD I COULD SEE THERE. I LOOKED IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BLOOD SMEAR ALONG THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONSOLE AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE BLOOD ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE VEHICLE.

# 79 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, DETECTIVE?

# 80 A:

I THEN WALKED BACK EAST IN THE DRIVEWAY AGAIN LOOKING AT THE -- WHAT APPEARED TO BE BLOOD DROPS, AND FOLLOWED THEM TO THE -- FOUND AN ADDITIONAL THREE OR FOUR DROPS THAT LED TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE LOCATION.

# 81 Q:

YOU TOLD US THAT AT SOME POINT A CRIMINALIST APPEARED AT THE ROCKINGHAM HOUSE?

# 82 A:

YES, SIR.

# 83 Q:

THAT WAS DENNIS FUNG?

# 84 A:

YES.

# 85 Q:

AND WHAT TIME DID HE ARRIVE?

# 86 A:

APPROXIMATELY 7:10 IN THE MORNING.

# 87 Q:

OKAY. AND DID A CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER APPEAR AT ROCKINGHAM?

# 88 A:

YES.

# 89 Q:

AT WHAT POINT DURING THE DAY WAS THAT?

# 90 A:

I BELIEVE HE ACCOMPANIED DETECTIVE FUHRMAN BACK TO THE LOCATION, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN SHORTLY AFTER THE CRIMINALIST ARRIVED.

# 91 Q:

OKAY. WERE THOSE APPARENT BLOOD DROPS PHOTOGRAPHED?

# 92 A:

YES.

# 93 Q:

AND WAS THE BRONCO SEIZED?

# 94 A:

YES.

# 95 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)

# 96 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, WE HAVE A BOARD HERE. IT IS ENTITLED "BLOOD TRAIL AT 360 NORTH ROCKINGHAM AVENUE." MAY IT BE MARKED PEOPLE'S 118?

# 97 THE CLERK:

120.

# 98 MR. DARDEN:

120?

# 99 THE CLERK:

YES.

# 100 MR. DARDEN:

PEOPLE'S 120.

# 101 (PEO'S 120 FOR ID = POSTERBOARD W/PHOTOS)

# 102 MR. DARDEN:

IT CONTAINS SEVERAL PHOTOGRAPHS, YOUR HONOR. THEY ARE LETTERED A THROUGH G.

# 103 THE COURT:

LOOKS LIKE A THROUGH K TO ME.

# 104 MR. DARDEN:

TO ME, TOO.

# 105 THE COURT:

IT IS AMAZING HOW I CAN SEE THROUGH THE BOARD.

KEY QUOTE

# 106 MR. DARDEN:

THAT IS WHY YOU ARE THE JUDGE AND I'M THE LAWYER.

# 107 Q:

DETECTIVE, IF YOU WILL STEP DOWN FROM THE WITNESS STAND FOR A MOMENT, PLEASE.

# 108 A:

YES, SIR. (WITNESS COMPLIES.)

# 109 Q:

DETECTIVE, IF YOU WILL WALK OVER TO THIS SIDE OF THE BOARD, PLEASE, AND DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO PHOTOGRAPH A ON THE BOARD THAT HAS BEEN MARKED PEOPLE'S 120.

# 110 A:

YES, SIR. WHERE DO I GO? I HAVE NO PLACE TO GO.

# 111 Q:

KEEP YOUR VOICE UP, DETECTIVE.

# 112 A:

YES, SIR. I'M SORRY.

# 113 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 114 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DETECTIVE, SHOWING YOU WHAT IS MARKED PEOPLE'S 120, PHOTOGRAPH A. DO YOU SEE THAT PHOTOGRAPH?

# 115 A:

YES, SIR. YES, I DO.

# 116 Q:

WHAT IS DEPICTED IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH?

# 117 A:

THIS IS THE ROCKINGHAM GATE, THE ENTRANCE TO THE RESIDENCE. THIS IS THE REAR OF THE BRONCO. THIS SHOWS THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS AND THESE TWO SMALL WHITE CARDS YOU SEE ARE EVIDENCE TAGS TO MARK APPARENT BLOOD DROPS.

# 118 Q:

OKAY. WHAT IS SHOWN IN PHOTOGRAPH B?

# 119 A:

PHOTOGRAPH B IS A CLOSE-UP OF THE FIRST BLOOD DROP THAT IS IN THE ASPHALT STREET THERE.

# 120 Q:

OKAY. AND PHOTOGRAPH C, THAT IS A PERSPECTIVE SHOT OF THE -- OF A PORTION OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 360 NORTH ROCKINGHAM?

# 121 A:

YES, SIR, IT IS. IT IS LOOKING EAST TOWARD THE GARAGE.

# 122 Q:

OKAY. DO YOU SEE THE WHITE MARKERS THERE IN THE DRIVEWAY?

# 123 A:

YES, SIR.

# 124 Q:

OKAY. WHAT ARE THOSE MEANT TO DEPICT OR INDICATE?

# 125 A:

THOSE ARE EVIDENCE TAGS THAT ARE PUT THERE BY THE CRIMINALIST WHEN HE IS MARKING AND PHOTOGRAPHING EVIDENCE.

# 126 Q:

OKAY. AND WHAT IS THE CRIMINALIST INTENDING OR ATTEMPTING TO MARK?

# 127 A:

TO SHOW THE TRAIL WHICH WOULD BE LEADING EAST TOWARD THE RESIDENCE.

# 128 Q:

AND PHOTOGRAPH D?

# 129 A:

PHOTOGRAPH D IS THE -- SHOWS THE FIRST DROP THAT I OBSERVED IN THE DRIVEWAY.

# 130 Q:

AND IS THAT THE -- THAT IS THE DROP YOU REFERRED TO EARLIER WHEN YOU SAID YOU SAW AN APPARENT BLOOD DROP IN THE VICINITY OF A VEHICLE?

# 131 A:

THAT'S CORRECT, YES, SIR.

# 132 Q:

OKAY. WHICH VEHICLE IS THAT DEPICTED IN THE PHOTOGRAPH, IF YOU CAN TELL?

# 133 A:

I BELIEVE THAT IS THE REAR VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT IS THE SAAB, AS I RECALL.

# 134 Q:

AND PHOTOGRAPH E?

# 135 A:

PHOTOGRAPH E IS A CLOSE-UP OF THAT, I BELIEVE.

# 136 Q:

THAT BEING WHAT?

# 137 A:

THIS DROP THAT IS DEPICTED HERE IN PHOTOGRAPH D, (INDICATING).

# 138 Q:

OKAY. LET ME ASK YOU TO STEP TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOARD, IF YOU WILL.

# 139 A:

YES, SIR. (WITNESS COMPLIES.)

# 140 Q:

PHOTOGRAPH F, WHAT IS DEPICTED IN PHOTOGRAPH F?

# 141 A:

THAT AGAIN IS A CONTINUATION OF THE BLOOD DROPS THAT RUN TOWARD OR WHAT APPEARED TO BE BLOOD DROPS THAT RUN TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE. THESE TAGS AGAIN ARE PLACED BY THE CRIMINALIST TO SHOW THE LOCATION OF THOSE DROPS.

# 142 Q:

AFTER YOU RETURNED FROM THE BRONCO, DID YOU FOLLOW -- YOU FOLLOWED THE APPARENT BLOOD DROPS?

# 143 A:

I DID, YES, SIR.

# 144 Q:

AND WHERE DID THEY LEAD YOU?

# 145 A:

WELL, THEY -- THEY -- THEY ULTIMATE -- I ULTIMATELY DETERMINED THAT THEY LED ME RIGHT INTO THE RESIDENCE.

# 146 Q:

RIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR?

# 147 A:

RIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, THAT'S CORRECT.

# 148 Q:

WHAT IS SHOWN IN PHOTOGRAPH G?

# 149 A:

PHOTOGRAPH G I ALSO BELIEVE IS A CLOSE-UP OF THE FIRST EVIDENCE TAG THAT IS DEPICTED IN PHOTOGRAPH A -- F HERE, (INDICATING).

# 150 Q:

AND PHOTOGRAPH H?

# 151 A:

PHOTOGRAPH H WOULD BE A CLOSE-UP, I BELIEVE, OF THE DROP THAT IS DEPICTED IN PHOTOGRAPH F AND PHOTOGRAPH I TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE.

# 152 Q:

OKAY. PHOTOGRAPH I?

# 153 A:

IS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, A CLOSER PERSPECTIVE OF THE EVIDENCE TAG THAT IS DEPICTED IN PHOTOGRAPH F HERE, (INDICATING).

# 154 Q:

AND WHAT IS DEPICTED IN PHOTOGRAPH J?

# 155 A:

PHOTOGRAPH J IS A CLOSE-UP OF THE DROPLET THAT YOU SEE FROM A DISTANCE IN PHOTOGRAPH K. IT IS FIRST SHOWN IN A PERSPECTIVE TO THE FRONT DOOR AND THEN THE PHOTOGRAPHER TAKES A CLOSE-UP OF IT TO IDENTIFY IT.

# 156 Q:

AND PHOTOGRAPH K?

# 157 A:

THAT IS A PERSPECTIVE OF THE SAME DROP IN J FROM A DISTANCE THAT SHOWS THE FRONT DOOR, THE PERSPECTIVE TO THE FRONT DOOR.

# 158 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)

# 159 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: NOW, DETECTIVE, THERE IS ALSO A DIAGRAM CONTAINED ON THIS BOARD; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 160 A:

YES, SIR.

# 161 Q:

OKAY. DO YOU SEE THE RED LINES AND THE RED DROPS DEPICTED ON THE DIAGRAM?

# 162 A:

YES.

# 163 Q:

WHAT ARE THEY INTENDED TO INDICATE, DETECTIVE?

# 164 A:

THAT WOULD INDICATE THE START OF THE TRAIL AT THE BACK OF THE BRONCO WHICH WAS PARKED ON THE STREET, LEADS INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND RIGHT TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE HOME.

# 165 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, IF WE MAY, MAY WE SHOW THE JURY THE BOARD?

# 166 THE COURT:

YES.

# 167 MR. DARDEN:

THE ENTIRE JURY THE BOARD.

# 168 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 169 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: NOW, DETECTIVE YESTERDAY YOU TOLD US THAT THE BLOOD TRAIL AT BUNDY ENDED AT THE APRON BEHIND 875 SOUTH BUNDY; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 170 A:

YES.

# 171 Q:

OKAY. IF YOU RECALL, WHAT IS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE -- THE BLOOD DROP CLOSEST TO THE REAR OF THE BRONCO LOCATED AT 360 NORTH ROCKINGHAM?

# 172 A:

THE DISTANCE FROM THE REAR OF THE BRONCO TO THE BLOOD DROP?

# 173 Q:

YEAH, YEAH.

# 174 A:

I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY. I WOULD HAVE TO ESTIMATE THAT.

# 175 Q:

WELL, GO AHEAD. ESTIMATE.

# 176 A:

OH, PROBABLY THREE, FOUR FEET MAYBE.

# 177 Q:

OKAY. SO YOU PICK UP THE TRAIL AT THE REAR OF THE BRONCO AT ROCKINGHAM?

# 178 A:

YES.

# 179 Q:

OKAY. NOW, YOU TOLD US A MOMENT AGO THAT THE BLOOD TRAIL -- THAT YOU FOLLOWED THE BLOOD TRAIL INTO THE FRONT DOOR?

# 180 A:

I FOLLOWED IT TO THE FRONT DOOR. AT THAT POINT OTHER DETECTIVES WERE THERE AND POINTED OUT BLOOD SPOTS RIGHT IN THE FOYER OF THE HOME TO ME.

# 181 Q:

OTHER DETECTIVES POINTED OUT BLOOD DROPS INSIDE MR. SIMPSON'S HOME?

# 182 A:

THAT'S CORRECT, YES

# 183 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)

# 184 MR. DARDEN:

MAY I HAVE ONE MOMENT, YOUR HONOR?

# 185 THE COURT:

CERTAINLY.

# 186 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND DEFENSE COUNSEL.)

# 187 MR. DARDEN:

PEOPLE'S 112, YOUR HONOR.

# 188 Q:

DETECTIVE, SHOWING YOU A PHOTOGRAPH PREVIOUSLY MARKED AS PEOPLE'S 112, WHAT IS DEPICTED IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH?

# 189 A:

THAT PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS THE FOYER AREA OF MR. SIMPSON'S HOME AND IT SHOWS A CRIMINALIST EVIDENCE TAG OF AN AREA THAT CONTAINED WHAT APPEARED TO BE BLOOD DROPS.

# 190 MR. DARDEN:

OKAY. YOUR HONOR, WE HAVE A SECOND PHOTOGRAPH. IT HAS NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY MARKED. MAY IT BE MARKED PEOPLE'S 121?

# 191 THE COURT:

YES.

# 192 (PEO'S 121 FOR ID = PHOTOGRAPH)

# 193 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)

# 194 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: AND SHOWING YOU WHAT HAS BEEN MARKED AS PEOPLE'S 121, DETECTIVE, WHAT IS DEPICTED IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH?

# 195 A:

THAT IS A CLOSE-UP OF THE APPARENT BLOOD DROPS THAT WAS SHOWN IN THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPH ON A CLOSER PERSPECTIVE.

# 196 Q:

AND THESE BLOOD DROPS ARE LOCATED INSIDE THE FOYER OF MR. SIMPSON'S HOME?

# 197 A:

INSIDE THE FRONT DOOR, YES, SIR.

# 198 Q:

DID YOU CONTINUE TO SEARCH THAT AREA FOR OTHER BLOOD DROPS?

# 199 A:

NOT AT THAT POINT, NO.

# 200 Q:

WHAT DID YOU DO AT THAT POINT?

# 201 A:

I HAD OTHER DETECTIVES THAT HAD ARRIVED AND I HAD A UNIFORMED OR A COUPLE OF UNIFORMED OFFICERS THERE. I INFORMED THEM THAT IT WAS NOW A CRIME SCENE, TO SEAL IT, NOT TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL I RETURNED, THAT I WAS GOING TO DO A SEARCH WARRANT TO GET INTO THE RESIDENCE.

# 202 Q:

WEREN'T YOU ALREADY INSIDE THE RESIDENCE?

# 203 A:

YES, BUT I HADN'T SEARCHED IT.

# 204 Q:

NOW, WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU TOLD THE OTHER DETECTIVES TO SEAL THE LOCATION, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

# 205 A:

NOT LET ANYONE IN OR -- INTO THE LOCATION TO CONTAMINATE ANY POSSIBLE EVIDENCE THAT MAY BE THERE.

# 206 Q:

WHAT DID YOU DO NEXT?

# 207 A:

I HAD -- I HAD OBSERVED THAT ARNELLE SIMPSON HAD RETURNED TO THE LOCATION WITH A MAN THAT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY IDENTIFIED AS AL COWLINGS WITH THE TWO MINOR CHILDREN. I SPOKE WITH MR. COWLINGS AND ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS A PLACE THAT THEY COULD GO TO LEAVE THE RESIDENCE BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO BE SEALED AS A CRIME SCENE AND HE STATED "YES" AND THEY LEFT.

# 208 Q:

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, DETECTIVE?

# 209 A:

I LEFT THE LOCATION AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30.

# 210 Q:

WAS THE CRIMINALIST ALREADY THERE?

# 211 A:

OH, YES.

# 212 Q:

OKAY. WHAT WAS HE DOING AT 7:30, IF YOU KNOW?

# 213 A:

WELL, AT -- WHEN HE ARRIVED I HAD SHOWN HIM THE EVIDENCE THAT HAD BEEN DISCOVERED. I TOLD HIM THAT I WANTED IT TAGGED, PHOTOGRAPHED AND TO BE COLLECTED BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE ELEMENTS AND THERE WAS A DOG RUNNING LOOSE ON THE PROPERTY, AND HE WAS WORKING AT THAT WHEN I LEFT.

# 214 Q:

OKAY. NOW, WHERE WAS DETECTIVE FUHRMAN WHEN YOU LEFT THE PROPERTY AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING?

# 215 A:

THE LAST TIME I SAW DETECTIVE FUHRMAN HE WAS WITH DETECTIVE ROBERTS BY THE FRONT DOOR OF THE RESIDENCE.

# 216 Q:

TO GO BACK FOR A MOMENT TO YOUR CONVERSATION WITH MR. KAELIN, AT ANY TIME DID YOU ASK MR. KAELIN IF THERE WAS AN EXTRA SET OF KEYS TO THE BRONCO?

# 217 A:

YES.

# 218 Q:

DID HE RESPOND?

# 219 A:

YES.

# 220 Q:

WHAT DID HE SAY?

# 221 A:

HE CONDUCTED A SEARCH OF THE KITCHEN AREA WHERE EXTRA KEYS TO THE VEHICLE WERE NORMALLY KEPT. NONE WERE FOUND.

# 222 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)

# 223 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, WE HAVE ANOTHER BOARD. IT IS ENTITLED "BRONCO EVIDENCE." MAY IT BE MARKED PEOPLE'S 122?

# 224 THE COURT:

PEOPLE'S 122.

# 225 (PEO'S 122 FOR ID = POSTERBOARD W/PHOTOS)

# 226 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DETECTIVE, BEFORE YOU STEP DOWN, YOU TOLD US YESTERDAY -- I'M SORRY -- YOU TOLD US THIS MORNING THAT YOU HAD ASKED DETECTIVE FUHRMAN TO RETURN TO BUNDY TO LOOK AT THE GLOVE AT BUNDY?

# 227 A:

YES.

# 228 Q:

HAD HE RETURNED FROM BUNDY BY THE TIME YOU LEFT AT 7:30?

# 229 A:

YES.

# 230 Q:

WHEN IN PROXIMITY IN TIME TO YOUR DEPARTURE FROM ROCKINGHAM DID DETECTIVE FUHRMAN RETURN?

# 231 (NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE.)

# 232 Q:

IF YOU KNOW?

# 233 A:

HE ARRIVED, I BELIEVE, ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE CRIMINALIST OR SHORTLY AFTER THE CRIMINALIST, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN 7:10 TO 7:15.

# 234 Q:

DETECTIVE, IF YOU WILL STEP DOWN FOR A MOMENT, PLEASE.

# 235 A:

YES, SIR.

# 236 MR. SHAPIRO:

YOUR HONOR, I WOULD OBJECT TO HIM STEPPING DOWN. THE OBJECTION WOULD BE IT WOULD BE LEADING AND SUGGESTIVE UNTIL HE TESTIFIES.

# 237 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 238 (WITNESS COMPLIES.)

# 239 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DETECTIVE, SHOWING YOU THE BOARD MARKED PEOPLE'S 122 AND ENTITLED "BRONCO EVIDENCE," FIRST, IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER, DOES THAT PHOTOGRAPH DEPICT THE BRONCO YOU SAW PARKED AT 360 NORTH ROCKINGHAM?

# 240 A:

IT WOULD APPEAR TO, YES.

# 241 Q:

AND SHOWING YOU THE PHOTOGRAPH MARKED A ON PEOPLE'S 122, WHAT IS SHOWN IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH?

# 242 A:

THAT IS THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE VEHICLE.

# 243 Q:

AND THE WHITE TAGS? DO YOU SEE WHITE TAGS IN PHOTOGRAPH A?

# 244 A:

YES, I DO.

# 245 Q:

AND WHAT ARE THOSE TAGS INTENDED TO INDICATE?

# 246 A:

THOSE ARE CRIMINALIST'S EVIDENCE TAGS THAT ARE PLACED THERE WHERE EVIDENCE IS LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THAT IS TO PHOTOGRAPH AND DOCUMENT THE LOCATION OF THE ITEMS.

# 247 Q:

OKAY. WHAT ITEMS ARE BEING MARKED IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH?

# 248 A:

THERE IS BLOOD, WHAT APPEARS TO BE BLOOD AT THESE AREAS INSIDE THE DOOR OF THE CAR.

# 249 Q:

DID YOU SEE THAT BLOOD IN THE BRONCO?

# 250 A:

I SAW -- I SAW BLOOD INSIDE THE BRONCO ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR HERE ALONG THE TOP, (INDICATING), AND ALONG THIS AREA HERE, (INDICATING).

# 251 Q:

YOU ARE INDICATING --

# 252 A:

21 AND 22.

# 253 Q:

OKAY. YOU ALSO SEE AN EVIDENCE TAG NO. 23 IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 254 A:

YES, SIR.

# 255 Q:

DID YOU SEE BLOOD AT THAT LOCATION?

# 256 A:

I -- I -- I DON'T RECALL SEEING IT THERE. THERE WAS -- NO, NOT AT THAT TIME. I DON'T RECALL SEEING IT THERE.

# 257 Q:

OKAY. AND DIRECTING YOUR ATTENTION TO PHOTOGRAPH B.

# 258 A:

YES, SIR.

# 259 Q:

WHAT IS SHOWN IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH?

# 260 A:

THAT IS THE CONSOLE AREA PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

# 261 Q:

AND THERE ARE TWO EVIDENCE TAGS, (INDICATING), IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH AS WELL; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 262 A:

THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

# 263 Q:

TAG NUMBERS 31 AND 30?

# 264 A:

YES.

# 265 Q:

WHAT ARE THEY INTENDED TO INDICATE?

# 266 A:

AGAIN, THEY ARE CRIMINALIST EVIDENCE TAGS TO INDICATE THE LOCATION OF EVIDENCE AND TO DOCUMENT ITS LOCATION WHEN IT IS PHOTOGRAPHED.

# 267 Q:

NOW, DETECTIVE, YOU TOLD US A MOMENT AGO THAT YOU LOOKED THROUGH THE PASSENGER WINDOW INSIDE THE VEHICLE; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 268 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 269 Q:

OKAY. DID YOU EVER LOOK INSIDE THE VEHICLE FROM ANY OTHER PERSPECTIVE?

# 270 A:

I -- I DID A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT MORNING, YES, BUT EARLIER IN THE MORNING.

# 271 Q:

AND YOU ALSO TESTIFIED THAT YOU ASKED MR. KAELIN IF THERE WAS AN EXTRA SET OF KEYS TO THE BRONCO?

# 272 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 273 Q:

WHY DID YOU ASK HIM FOR AN EXTRA SET OF KEYS?

# 274 A:

THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY WAY TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE.

# 275 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU TOUCH THE DOOR HANDLE?

# 276 A:

NO, I DID NOT.

# 277 Q:

HOW DO YOU KNOW THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED?

# 278 A:

YOU COULD TELL BY LOOKING AT THE KNOBS, THE LOCK KNOBS, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO TOUCH IT BECAUSE IT WAS BEING PRESERVED AS EVIDENCE. I ASKED FOR THE KEYS BECAUSE I KNEW THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO BE IMPOUNDED AND IT WOULD HAVE MADE IT EASIER FOR THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO HAVE IMPOUNDED IT IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE KEYS.

# 279 Q:

NOW, REFERRING YOUR ATTENTION AGAIN TO PHOTOGRAPH A, DO YOU SEE ANY PORTION OF THE DOOR LOCK IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH?

# 280 A:

YES. YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT HERE, (INDICATING).

# 281 Q:

DID YOU EVER SEE ANYONE OPEN THE DOOR TO THE BRONCO THAT MORNING?

# 282 A:

NO.

# 283 Q:

DID YOU EVER SEE DETECTIVE FUHRMAN OPEN THE DOOR?

# 284 A:

NO.

# 285 Q:

DID YOU EVER OPEN THE DOOR?

# 286 A:

NO.

# 287 Q:

DID YOU EVER SEE ANYONE WIPE A BLOODY GLOVE AROUND INSIDE THAT VEHICLE?

# 288 A:

NO.

# 289 Q:

NOW, THE PHOTOGRAPHS CONTAINED ON PEOPLE'S 122, WERE THEY TAKEN AT ROCKINGHAM?

# 290 A:

YES. I -- I -- NO, NO. LET ME CORRECT THAT. THEY WERE TAKEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING AT THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT PRINT SHACK WHERE WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO.

# 291 Q:

NOW, YOU TOLD US A MOMENT AGO THAT YOU COULD NOT SEE THE EVIDENCE MARKED WITH THE NO. 23; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 292 A:

I -- I DON'T RECALL SEEING IT DOWN THERE. I -- I COULD HAVE, BUT I DON'T RECALL AT THIS POINT.

# 293 Q:

OKAY. YOU DIDN'T OPEN THE DOOR TO LOOK?

# 294 A:

NO.

# 295 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)

# 296 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: COULD YOU SEE EACH AND EVERY AREA, EACH SQUARE INCH OF THE INTERIOR OF THE BRONCO?

# 297 A:

NO, I COULD NOT.

# 298 Q:

YOU ALWAYS REMAINED OUTSIDE?

# 299 A:

YES.

# 300 Q:

ARE THE WINDOWS TINTED AT ALL?

# 301 A:

TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE, BUT I'M NOT REALLY POSITIVE ON THAT.

# 302 Q:

THANK YOU, DETECTIVE. YOU CAN RETAKE THE STAND?

# 303 (WITNESS COMPLIES.)

# 304 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, MAY WE SHOW THE BOARD TO THE REST OF THE JURY?

# 305 THE COURT:

YES.

# 306 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 307 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: NOW, THE WHITE -- THE WHITE MARKERS WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT, THOSE ARE EVIDENCE MARKERS?

# 308 A:

YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

# 309 Q:

OKAY. WERE THOSE ITEMS COLLECTED?

# 310 A:

YES.

# 311 Q:

COLLECTED BY THE CRIMINALIST?

# 312 A:

YES.

# 313 Q:

AND I'M REFERRING SPECIFICALLY TO PEOPLE'S 122, THE BRONCO BOARD.

# 314 A:

YES.

# 315 Q:

NOW, YOU EARLIER TOLD US THAT MR. SIMPSON WAS NOT A SUSPECT. THAT IS WHILE YOU WERE AT BUNDY; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 316 A:

AT WHAT POINT ARE YOU ASKING ME, SIR?

# 317 Q:

OKAY. WELL, AFTER YOUR FIRST WALK THROUGH AT BUNDY WAS HE A SUSPECT?

# 318 A:

NO.

# 319 Q:

AND WHEN YOU FIRST ARRIVED AT ROCKINGHAM WAS HE A SUSPECT?

# 320 A:

NO.

# 321 Q:

DURING THE TIME THAT YOU WERE RINGING THE BUZZER AT THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY, WAS HE A SUSPECT THEN?

# 322 A:

NO.

# 323 Q:

AND WHEN YOU RANG THE FRONT DOOR AT ROCKINGHAM, WAS HE A SUSPECT THEN?

# 324 A:

NO.

# 325 Q:

AT SOME POINT IN TIME DID YOU CONSIDER HIM A SUSPECT?

# 326 A:

ABSOLUTELY, YES.

# 327 Q:

AND AT WHAT POINT IN TIME WAS -- WAS IT THAT YOU CONSIDERED HIM A SUSPECT?

# 328 A:

HE BECOME A SUSPECT AS SOON AS I SAW THE GLOVE AT THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE. IT APPEARED TO BE A MATCH TO THE GLOVE -- THE OPPOSITE GLOVE TO THE GLOVE THAT I HAD SEEN EARLIER AT BUNDY. AND THEN AFTER COMING OUT INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND FINDING THE BLOOD TRAIL, HE BECAME A VERY STRONG SUSPECT.

KEY QUOTE

# 329 Q:

AND HOW, IF AT ALL, DID YOUR OBSERVATIONS OF THE BLOOD INSIDE THE BRONCO FIGURE INTO YOUR DECISION THAT MR. SIMPSON WAS A SUSPECT?

# 330 A:

THAT APPEARED TO BE THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION -- THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT HAD TRANSPORTED THE BLOOD TRAIL FROM BUNDY TO ROCKINGHAM.

KEY QUOTE

# 331 Q:

NOW, DID YOU TESTIFY EARLIER THAT YOU DECLARED ROCKINGHAM A CRIME SCENE?

# 332 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 333 Q:

NOW, AT THAT POINT, WHAT WERE YOUR INVESTIGATIVE CONCERNS?

# 334 A:

AT WHAT POINT, SIR?

# 335 Q:

AT THE POINT IN TIME THAT YOU DECLARED ROCKINGHAM A CRIME SCENE.

# 336 A:

AT THAT POINT MY INVESTIGATIVE CONCERNS WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE LOCATION WAS SECURED, THAT THERE WAS NO DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE AND TO FURTHER THE INVESTIGATION BY GETTING A SEARCH WARRANT FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE RESIDENCE.

# 337 Q:

OKAY. AND DID YOU OBTAIN A SEARCH WARRANT?

# 338 A:

I DID.

# 339 Q:

OKAY. DID YOU CONSIDER THE BRONCO EVIDENCE AT ALL?

# 340 A:

OH, ABSOLUTELY, YES.

# 341 Q:

OKAY. NOW, WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO PRESERVE THE BRONCO?

# 342 A:

I HAD A UNIFORMED OFFICER STATIONED ON THE VEHICLE WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO PROTECT IT, NOT TO LET ANYONE APPROACH OR DO ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE.

# 343 Q:

OKAY. WELL, YOU HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWN BY THE DEFENSE IN THIS CASE?

# 344 A:

I HAVE.

# 345 Q:

DID YOU SEE THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WOMAN PEERING THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE BRONCO?

# 346 A:

YES.

# 347 Q:

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN, IF YOU KNOW?

# 348 A:

WELL, I DON'T -- I WASN'T THERE AT THAT TIME, SO I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW, BUT IT UPSETS ME THAT IT DID HAPPEN.

# 349 Q:

AND IN TERMS OF OBTAINING A SEARCH WARRANT FOR THE PROPERTY, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID YOU DO?

# 350 A:

I LEFT THE LOCATION OF ROCKINGHAM, DROVE TO THE BUNDY LOCATION TO INFORM MY PARTNER VERY BRIEFLY OF WHAT I HAD FOUND, AND THEN PROCEEDED TO WEST L.A. STATION WHERE I SAT DOWN AND WORKED ON THE WARRANT.

# 351 Q:

NOW, DID YOU ACTUALLY LEAVE ROCKINGHAM AT 7:30 A.M. THAT MORNING?

# 352 A:

APPROXIMATELY 7:30, YES.

# 353 Q:

OKAY. WHAT TIME DID YOU LEAVE BUNDY, THE SECOND TIME?

# 354 A:

PROBABLY 7:45.

# 355 Q:

OKAY. SO YOU LEFT DETECTIVE LANGE'S PRESENCE AT 7:45?

# 356 A:

APPROXIMATELY 7:45, YES.

# 357 Q:

AND WHERE DID YOU GO AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME?

# 358 A:

TO WEST LOS ANGELES STATION.

# 359 Q:

WHAT TIME DID YOU ARRIVE THERE?

# 360 A:

CLOSE TO EIGHT O'CLOCK.

# 361 Q:

AND YOU RETURNED TO ROCKINGHAM AT SOME POINT?

# 362 A:

YES.

# 363 Q:

AND WHY DID YOU GO BACK TO ROCKINGHAM?

# 364 A:

I HAD A SEARCH WARRANT.

# 365 Q:

AND WHAT TIME DID YOU RETURN TO ROCKINGHAM?

# 366 A:

APPROXIMATELY NOON.

# 367 Q:

NOW, PRIOR TO RETURNING TO ROCKINGHAM WITH A SEARCH WARRANT DID YOU STOP AGAIN AT THE BUNDY LOCATION?

# 368 A:

YES, I DID.

# 369 Q:

OKAY. WHY DID YOU STOP THERE?

# 370 A:

TO INFORM MY PARTNER THAT I HAD A SEARCH WARRANT AND THAT I WAS GOING TO THE ROCKINGHAM LOCATION TO HAVE THAT EXECUTED.

# 371 Q:

AND WHEN YOU RETURNED TO ROCKINGHAM AT APPROXIMATELY NOON THAT DAY WERE OTHER DETECTIVES AT THE LOCATION?

# 372 A:

YES.

# 373 Q:

WAS DETECTIVE FUHRMAN THERE?

# 374 A:

YES.

# 375 Q:

WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE OTHER DETECTIVES THAT WERE AT ROCKINGHAM AT THAT TIME?

# 376 A:

DETECTIVE ROBERTS WAS THERE, DETECTIVE LUPER, DETECTIVE LEFALL, AND I DON'T RECALL ANY OTHER DETECTIVES AT THAT POINT.

# 377 Q:

WERE THERE SOME UNIFORMED OFFICERS AT THE LOCATION AT THAT TIME?

# 378 A:

YES.

# 379 Q:

HOW MANY UNIFORMED OFFICERS WERE THERE AT THE LOCATION AT THAT TIME?

# 380 A:

I ONLY SAW TWO OR POSSIBLY THREE. THERE WERE TWO AT THE ROCKINGHAM GATE AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE AT THE ASHFORD GATE, BUT I'M NOT POSITIVE ON THAT.

# 381 Q:

ARE YOU ACQUAINTED WITH OFFICER THOMPSON?

# 382 A:

I NOW KNOW WHO HE IS, YES.

# 383 Q:

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. DID YOU SEE HIM AT THE LOCATION, THAT IS, AT ROCKINGHAM WHEN YOU RETURNED AT 12:00 NOON?

# 384 A:

I DID.

# 385 Q:

AND WAS A SEARCH CONDUCTED OF MR. SIMPSON'S HOME AT THAT TIME?

# 386 A:

SHORTLY AFTER THAT, YES.

# 387 Q:

OKAY. DID YOU CONDUCT THAT SEARCH PERSONALLY?

# 388 A:

I DID NOT.

# 389 Q:

WHO CONDUCTED THE SEARCH, IF YOU KNOW?

# 390 A:

THE SEARCH WAS -- I TURNED OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SEARCH AND THE SEARCH WARRANT TO DETECTIVE LUPER FROM ROBBERY/HOMICIDE DIVISION.

# 391 Q:

AND WHY DID YOU DO THAT, DETECTIVE?

# 392 A:

BECAUSE I HAD TO LEAVE THE LOCATION.

# 393 MR. DARDEN:

MAY I HAVE ONE MOMENT, YOUR HONOR?

# 394 THE COURT:

CERTAINLY.

# 395 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)

# 396 MR. DARDEN:

JUST ONE MORE MOMENT IF I MAY, YOUR HONOR.

# 397 THE COURT:

CERTAINLY.

# 398 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 399 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.)

# 400 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DETECTIVE, YOU TOLD US THAT MR. SIMPSON BECAME A SUSPECT AFTER YOU FOUND -- OR RATHER AFTER DETECTIVE FUHRMAN FOUND THE GLOVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 401 A:

AFTER IT WAS SHOWN TO ME HE BECAME A SUSPECT TO ME, YES.

# 402 Q:

OKAY. AND NOT BEFORE THAT?

# 403 A:

NO.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Detective Vannatter

SEEING THAT BLOOD DROP OBVIOUSLY TRIGGERED THE FACT THAT I HAD SEEN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BLOOD TRAIL LEAVING THE CRIME SCENE AT BUNDY WITH SOMEONE THAT WAS EITHER INJURED OR CARRYING SOMETHING BLOODY THAT WAS DRIPPING, IMMEDIATELY MADE ME THINK THAT I PICKED UP THE BLOOD TRAIL AGAIN FROM BUNDY.

Core prosecution narrative: the blood trail connecting Bundy to Rockingham, establishing the Bronco as the likely mode of transport.

Detective Vannatter

HE BECOME A SUSPECT AS SOON AS I SAW THE GLOVE AT THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE. IT APPEARED TO BE A MATCH TO THE GLOVE -- THE OPPOSITE GLOVE TO THE GLOVE THAT I HAD SEEN EARLIER AT BUNDY. AND THEN AFTER COMING OUT INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND FINDING THE BLOOD TRAIL, HE BECAME A VERY STRONG SUSPECT.

Establishes the precise moment Simpson became a suspect — critical to the defense's argument that the warrantless entry was pretextual.

Detective Vannatter

THAT APPEARED TO BE THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT HAD TRANSPORTED THE BLOOD TRAIL FROM BUNDY TO ROCKINGHAM.

Direct testimony linking the Bronco to the crime scene, supporting prosecution's timeline.

Lance A. Ito

IT IS AMAZING HOW I CAN SEE THROUGH THE BOARD.

Rare moment of levity from the judge, prompting Darden's quip in return.

Evidence (5)

People's 120

Posterboard titled 'Blood Trail at 360 North Rockingham Avenue' containing photographs A through K of blood drops in the driveway and a diagram showing the trail from the Bronco to the front door

introduced and discussed in detail with witness at board

People's 112

Photograph of the foyer area of Simpson's home showing a criminalist evidence tag marking apparent blood drops

discussed

People's 121

Close-up photograph of the apparent blood drops inside the foyer of Simpson's home

introduced and discussed

People's 122

Posterboard titled 'Bronco Evidence' containing photographs of blood smear on driver's door and blood on passenger-side console, with evidence tags numbered 21, 22, 23, 30, 31

introduced and discussed in detail with witness at board

Informal

The glove found on the south walkway at Rockingham, referenced as matching the left-handed glove found at Bundy

discussed as the moment Simpson became a suspect

Notable Exchanges (3)

Christopher Darden•Detective Vannatter

Darden asks directly: 'Did you ever see anyone wipe a bloody glove around inside that vehicle?' — Vannatter answers no. A preemptive strike against a defense theory, framed as a rhetorical denial.

strategic

Christopher Darden•Detective Vannatter

Vannatter admits it 'upsets him' that a woman was photographed peering through the Bronco window, acknowledging a lapse in evidence preservation while distancing himself personally.

revealing

Christopher Darden•Detective Vannatter

Lengthy back-and-forth establishing the precise timeline: Fuhrman leaves at 6:40, Lange at 6:45, Vannatter discovers blood trail alone, Fung arrives at 7:10, Vannatter departs at 7:30. Prosecution building an airtight chain of custody narrative.

methodical

Light Moments (2)

Lance A. Ito / Christopher Darden

After Darden says the board photos go 'A through G,' Judge Ito corrects him: 'Looks like A through K to me.' Darden agrees. Ito adds: 'It is amazing how I can see through the board.' Darden responds: 'That is why you are the judge and I'm the lawyer.'

Detective Vannatter

Vannatter, stepping down to approach the evidence board, looks around helplessly and says: 'Yes, sir. Where do I go? I have no place to go.'

Witness Demeanor

(WITNESS COMPLIES.) — multiple instances stepping down and returning to stand

(NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE.) — brief hesitation when asked about Fuhrman's return time

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 1 overruled)

Proceeding 5323 • 403 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103