Cross-examination of Rosa Maria Lopez (part 3)

📄 Cross-examination of Rosa Maria Lopez (part 3) — Thursday, March 2, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAR\2\CROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-ROSA-MARI.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 29 of 167

◀ Sidebar: statement foundation Lunch recess ▶

Witness: Rosa Lopez
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Defense • Date: Thursday, March 2, 1995 • Utterances: 236

Darden continues cross-examining Rosa Lopez, focusing on her weekend contact with the defense team — including seven hours spent at Cochran's office Saturday — and trying to establish that her testimony was coached despite her repeated denials. Darden also reveals that defense-affiliated attorneys and their spouses bought Lopez clothes, shoes, and a blazer during her time as a witness, raising questions about improper witness management.

# 1 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. IS YOUR MICROPHONE ON?

# 2 MR. DARDEN:

YES, IT IS. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

# 3 Q:

YOU SAY THAT SYLVIA CAME OVER TO THE SALINGER'S OFTEN, CORRECT?

# 4 THE INTERPRETER:

I'M SORRY, COUNSEL?

# 5 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: SYLVIA CAME TO THE SALINGER'S HOME OFTEN?

# 6 A:

ONCE IN A WHILE.

# 7 Q:

WELL, HOW MANY TIMES HAS SHE BEEN INSIDE THE SALINGER'S HOME?

# 8 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 9 Q:

OKAY. GIVE US AN APPROXIMATION.

# 10 A:

I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN APPROXIMATION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

# 11 Q:

WELL, IS IT MORE THAN TWENTY TIMES?

# 12 MR. COCHRAN:

SHE HAS BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED.

# 13 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 14 ROSA LOPEZ:

NO, SIR. NOT TWENTY TIMES, SIR.

# 15 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: OKAY. WAS IT LESS THAN TWENTY TIMES?

# 16 A:

YES, SIR.

# 17 Q:

WAS IT LESS THAN FIFTEEN TIMES?

# 18 A:

MAYBE, SIR.

# 19 Q:

LESS THAN FIVE TIMES?

# 20 A:

NOT FEWER THAN FIVE TIMES, SIR.

# 21 Q:

APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES?

# 22 A:

IF YOU SAY SO, SIR.

# 23 Q:

YOU TELL ME, MISS LOPEZ.

# 24 A:

I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 25 Q:

APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES?

# 26 MR. COCHRAN:

THE WITNESS SAID SHE DIDN'T REMEMBER.

# 27 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 28 ROSA LOPEZ:

I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 29 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: IS FIVE TIMES A FAIR APPROXIMATION?

# 30 A:

IT IS JUST THAT I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 31 Q:

EARLIER YOU SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN OVER MANY TIMES. DO YOU RECALL THAT?

# 32 A:

YES, SIR.

# 33 Q:

YOU SAID THAT SHE KNEW THE KITCHEN BETTER THAN YOU DID PERHAPS?

# 34 A:

YES, SIR.

# 35 Q:

OKAY. BUT SHE HAD ONLY BEEN TO THE HOUSE APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES, CORRECT.

# 36 MR. COCHRAN:

SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T REMEMBER. MISSTATES THE EVIDENCE. THAT IS NOT WHAT SHE SAID.

# 37 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED, SUSTAINED, SUSTAINED.

# 38 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

# 39 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: SHE HAD BEEN TO THE HOUSE NO MORE THAN FIVE TIMES?

# 40 MR. COCHRAN:

ASKED AND ANSWERED, YOUR HONOR.

# 41 THE COURT:

OVERRULED. IT IS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SECOND QUESTION. OVERRULED.

# 42 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: SHE HAD BEEN TO THE HOUSE NO MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, CORRECT?

# 43 MR. COCHRAN:

MISSTATES THE EVIDENCE, YOUR HONOR.

# 44 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 45 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, SIR.

# 46 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: AND DID SHE COME TO THE HOUSE AT A -- AT THE SAME TIME EACH TIME THAT SHE CAME?

# 47 A:

NO, SIR.

# 48 Q:

AND YOU HAVE KNOWN HER HOW LONG?

# 49 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER. OVER TWO YEARS, SIR.

# 50 Q:

SHE CAME TO THE HOUSE -- OVER TWO YEARS? SHE CAME TO THE HOUSE, WHAT, EVERY WEEK?

# 51 A:

NO, SIR, BUT WE WOULD TALK EVERYDAY, SIR.

# 52 Q:

YOU WOULD TALK EVERYDAY?

# 53 A:

YES, SIR.

# 54 Q:

ON THE TELEPHONE?

# 55 A:

YES, SIR.

# 56 Q:

TO GO BACK TO THE INTERVIEWS THAT YOU HAD WITH THE ATTORNEYS SEATED HERE, YOU ALSO HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE INVESTIGATORS, CORRECT?

# 57 A:

YES, SIR.

# 58 Q:

YOU HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. BILL?

# 59 A:

NOT WITH BILL ANY MORE, SIR.

# 60 Q:

YOU HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH PATTY MC KENNA?

# 61 A:

YES, SIR.

# 62 Q:

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN YOU LEFT COURT FRIDAY AFTERNOON, YOU LEFT WITH MR. MC KENNA, CORRECT?

# 63 A:

YES, SIR.

# 64 Q:

OKAY. AND YOU AND HE WENT SOMEPLACE TOGETHER, CORRECT?

# 65 A:

YES, SIR.

# 66 Q:

AND YOU AND HE STAYED TOGETHER ALL WEEKEND, CORRECT?

# 67 A:

YES, SIR.

# 68 Q:

OKAY. AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE CASE OVER THE WEEKEND, CORRECT?

# 69 A:

HE JUST TELLS ME TO TELL THE TRUTH, SIR.

KEY QUOTE

# 70 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, MOTION TO STRIKE.

# 71 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 72 MR. DARDEN:

NONRESPONSIVE, YOUR HONOR.

# 73 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 74 MR. DARDEN:

OKAY.

# 75 Q:

MR. MC KENNA DIDN'T DISCUSS THE FACTS OF THE CASE WITH YOU LAST WEEKEND?

# 76 A:

NO, SIR.

# 77 Q:

DID ANYONE DISCUSS THE FACTS OF THE CASE WITH YOU LAST WEEKEND?

# 78 A:

NO, SIR, NOR DO I WANT TO KNOW IT.

# 79 Q:

DID ANYONE DISCUSS WITH YOU YOUR TESTIMONY LAST WEEKEND?

# 80 A:

NO, SIR.

# 81 Q:

DID YOU MEET WITH THE LAWYERS AT ALL LAST WEEKEND?

# 82 A:

NO, SIR.

# 83 Q:

AND SO WHEN YOU WENT TO MR. COCHRAN'S OFFICE AT TWO O'CLOCK SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND WHEN YOU CAME BACK TO YOUR HOTEL AROUND NINE O'CLOCK --

# 84 A:

YES, SIR.

# 85 Q:

-- YOU SPOKE TO MR. JOHNNIE OVER THE WEEKEND, DIDN'T YOU?

# 86 A:

YES, SIR.

# 87 Q:

OKAY. AND YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR TESTIMONY, CORRECT?

# 88 A:

HE JUST TELLS ME TO TELL THE TRUTH, SIR.

KEY QUOTE

# 89 Q:

DID YOU DISCUSS YOUR TESTIMONY WITH MR. JOHNNIE OVER THE WEEKEND?

# 90 A:

NO, SIR.

# 91 Q:

SO YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY ON THE WITNESS STAND?

# 92 A:

NO, SIR.

# 93 Q:

OKAY. YOU SPENT SEVEN HOURS WITH MR. JOHNNIE SATURDAY?

# 94 A:

I DON'T SPEND THEM JUST WITH HIM, SIR.

# 95 Q:

OKAY. YOU SPENT TIME WITH OTHER LAWYERS?

# 96 A:

WATCHING TELEVISION, SIR.

# 97 Q:

AND YOU SPENT TIME WITH THE INVESTIGATORS?

# 98 A:

THEY WERE VERY BUSY, I DON'T KNOW, IN THEIR OFFICES, SIR.

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

# 100 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: AND DID YOU WATCH YOUR TESTIMONY, THE TESTIMONY YOU GAVE FRIDAY, ON TELEVISION WHILE YOU WERE AT MR. JOHNNIE'S OFFICE?

# 101 A:

NO, SIR. I DON'T LIKE TO WATCH TELEVISION.

# 102 Q:

OKAY. SO YOU DIDN'T DISCUSS YOUR TESTIMONY WITH MR. JOHNNIE AT ALL ON SATURDAY; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 103 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 104 Q:

WELL, A MOMENT AGO YOU SAID YOU DID. NOW, YOU SAY YOU DON'T REMEMBER?

# 105 MR. COCHRAN:

SHE IS CONFUSED.

# 106 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 107 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR -- THE TERM IS "TESTIMONY," YOUR HONOR, I THINK.

# 108 THE COURT:

WHY DON'T YOU REPHRASE THE QUESTION.

# 109 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DID YOU TALK WITH MR. JOHNNIE ABOUT YOUR TESTIMONY HERE IN COURT?

# 110 MR. COCHRAN:

USE ANOTHER WORD.

# 111 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 112 ROSA LOPEZ:

NO, SIR.

# 113 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: YOU DIDN'T TALK TO HIM ABOUT THAT LAST SATURDAY?

# 114 A:

NO, SIR.

# 115 Q:

OKAY. SO YOU WERE IN HIS OFFICE FOR SEVEN HOURS, THOUGH, CORRECT?

# 116 A:

YES, SIR.

# 117 Q:

AND THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY DID YOU DISCUSS YOUR TESTIMONY WITH ANY LAWYER?

# 118 A:

NO, SIR.

# 119 Q:

OKAY. DID YOU SEE ANY OF THESE LAWYERS HERE IN COURT TODAY LAST SUNDAY?

# 120 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER. I DON'T REMEMBER.

# 121 Q:

WELL TODAY IS THURSDAY, CORRECT?

# 122 A:

YES, SIR.

# 123 Q:

AND SUNDAY WAS WHAT, FIVE DAYS AGO?

# 124 A:

I THINK SO, SIR.

# 125 Q:

OKAY. YOU DON'T REMEMBER WHETHER OR NOT YOU SAW ANY OF THESE LAWYERS LAST SUNDAY?

# 126 A:

IT IS JUST THAT I WENT SHOPPING, SIR.

# 127 Q:

YOU DON'T REMEMBER IF YOU SAW ANY OF THESE LAWYERS HERE IN THE COURT LAST SUNDAY?

# 128 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER IF THEY TOOK ME OR IF THEY DIDN'T TAKE ME, SIR.

KEY QUOTE

# 129 Q:

YOU DON'T REMEMBER IF THE LAWYERS TOOK YOU SHOPPING OR NOT?

# 130 A:

MY ATTORNEY AND THE WIFE OF MY ATTORNEY TOOK ME SHOPPING, SIR.

# 131 Q:

DO YOU REMEMBER IF YOU SAW THESE ATTORNEYS LAST SUNDAY?

# 132 THE COURT:

INDICATING THE ATTORNEYS HERE IN THE COURTROOM.

# 133 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: YES OR NO?

# 134 A:

NO, SIR.

# 135 Q:

WELL, ISN'T IT TRUE THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THESE ATTORNEYS VISITED YOU AT YOUR HOTEL?

# 136 (NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE.)

# 137 Q:

LAST SUNDAY?

# 138 A:

NO, SIR.

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

# 140 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: NOW, WHEN I ASK YOU A QUESTION, YOU LOOK OVER AT THE LAWYERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE, CORRECT?

# 141 A:

(IN ENGLISH) I CAN TURN MY CHAIR THIS WAY.

# 142 MS. LEWIS:

WHAT DID SHE SAY?

# 143 ROSA LOPEZ:

(IN ENGLISH) I CAN SEE ONLY YOU. NOW, OKAY. I TURN THIS WAY. I LOOK AT HIM BETTER THAN YOU.

# 144 THE COURT:

ACTUALLY, MISS LOPEZ, SINCE WE ARE TAPE-RECORDING --

# 145 ROSA LOPEZ:

OKAY.

# 146 THE COURT:

-- I WOULD PREFER IF YOU LOOK AT MR. DARDEN?

# 147 ROSA LOPEZ:

TAKE AT MY PICTURE. BEAUTIFUL TODAY. EVERYBODY CAN LOOK AT ME TODAY.

KEY QUOTE

# 148 MR. DARDEN:

YOU CAN LOOK AT THE CAMERA IF YOU DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT ME.

# 149 ROSA LOPEZ:

OKAY. THAT'S FINE.

# 150 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: LET ME ASK YOU AGAIN. WERE YOU VISITED AT YOUR HOTEL BY ONE OF THESE LAWYERS ON SUNDAY?

# 151 A:

NO, SIR.

# 152 Q:

WERE YOU VISITED BY MR. DOUGLAS HERE WITH THE RED TIE HERE, (INDICATING)?

# 153 (NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE.)

# 154 Q:

LAST SUNDAY?

# 155 A:

NO, SIR.

# 156 Q:

OKAY. NOW, YOU SAY YOU WERE TAKEN SHOPPING?

# 157 A:

YES, SIR.

# 158 Q:

OKAY. AND WHEN YOU WENT SHOPPING, DID YOU SPEND YOUR OWN MONEY?

# 159 A:

MONEY THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME AS A GIFT, SIR.

# 160 Q:

OKAY. WHEN YOU WENT SHOPPING ON SUNDAY, DID SOMEONE BUY YOU CLOTHES?

# 161 A:

MY WIFE'S --

# 162 THE INTERPRETER:

EXCUSE ME. SCRATCH THAT.

# 163 THE COURT:

THE WIFE OF MY ATTORNEY.

# 164 ROSA LOPEZ:

MY ATTORNEY'S WIFE, SIR.

# 165 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DO YOU SEE YOUR ATTORNEY'S WIFE HERE IN COURT NOW?

# 166 A:

NO, SIR.

# 167 Q:

WAS THAT MR. JONES' WIFE THAT BOUGHT YOU CLOTHES?

# 168 A:

NO, SIR.

# 169 Q:

WAS IT MISS HAMBURGER'S WIFE THAT BOUGHT YOU CLOTHES?

# 170 MR. COCHRAN:

I THINK COUNSEL -- YOUR HONOR, COUNSEL MISSTATES HIMSELF, OBVIOUSLY.

# 171 THE COURT:

NO. I THINK IT IS DELIBERATELY ASKED THAT WAY.

# 172 MR. COCHRAN:

WELL, YOUR HONOR, I OBJECT TO THE FORM.

# 173 THE COURT:

HOW ABOUT THE SPOUSE OF MISS HAMBURGER, JUST TO CLARIFY.

# 174 MR. DARDEN:

OKAY.

# 175 MS. CLARK:

SHE SAID "WIFE."

# 176 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WHO IS THE HUSBAND OF THE WIFE THAT BOUGHT YOU CLOTHES ON SUNDAY?

# 177 A:

MR. CARL JONES, SIR.

# 178 Q:

OKAY. MR. CARL JONES' WIFE BOUGHT YOU CLOTHES?

# 179 A:

YES, SIR.

# 180 Q:

OKAY. OKAY. DID HE BUY YOU THE SHOES YOU ARE WEARING TODAY?

# 181 A:

HE BOUGHT ME TWO PAIR, SIR.

# 182 Q:

TWO PAIRS OF SHOES. AND DID HE BUY YOU THE LAVENDER DRESS YOU WORE IN COURT ON MONDAY?

# 183 A:

YES, SIR.

# 184 Q:

AND DID HE BUY YOU THE LOVELY DRESS YOU ARE WEARING HERE TODAY?

# 185 A:

THANK YOU, SIR, BUT THIS WAS BOUGHT FOR ME BY MISS HAMBURGER.

KEY QUOTE

# 186 Q:

OKAY. AND THE BLAZER YOU ARE WEARING, WHO BOUGHT THAT FOR YOU?

# 187 A:

THE LADY BOUGHT IT FOR ME YESTERDAY.

# 188 Q:

WHAT LADY?

# 189 A:

MRS. HAMBURGER.

# 190 Q:

OKAY. NOW, WHEN YOU LEFT THE SALINGER'S ON FEBRUARY 10, THEY GAVE YOU SOME MONEY, CORRECT?

# 191 A:

YES, SIR, THEY HAD TO PAY ME.

# 192 Q:

OKAY. THEY GAVE YOU MORE THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS?

# 193 A:

NO, SIR.

# 194 Q:

HOW MUCH MONEY DID THEY GIVE YOU?

# 195 A:

DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, SIR?

KEY QUOTE

# 196 Q:

YES.

# 197 A:

THAT I CAN REMEMBER, SIR, THEY GAVE ME TWO SMALL CHECKS, SIR.

# 198 Q:

WAS ONE OF THOSE SMALL CHECKS FOR $700.00?

# 199 A:

NO, SIR.

# 200 Q:

WHAT WAS THE CHECK FOR?

# 201 A:

318, SIR, AND SOME CENTS.

# 202 Q:

OKAY. WHAT WAS THE OTHER CHECK FOR?

# 203 A:

318, SIR.

# 204 Q:

SO HE GAVE YOU $638.00?

# 205 A:

(IN ENGLISH) SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

# 206 THE COURT:

36.

# 207 MR. COCHRAN:

36.

# 208 THE INTERPRETER:

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

# 209 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: NOW, WHEN YOU LEFT THE SALINGER'S YOU WENT TO YOUR DAUGHTER'S HOUSE, RIGHT?

# 210 A:

YES, SIR.

# 211 Q:

NOW, THE ATTORNEY THAT YOU GOT ORIGINALLY -- MR. JONES, RIGHT?

# 212 A:

YES, SIR.

# 213 Q:

-- HE WAS RECOMMENDED TO YOU BY MR. JOHNNIE?

# 214 A:

YES, SIR.

# 215 Q:

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY MR. JONES, CORRECT?

# 216 A:

WE HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS THAT I'M GOING TO PAY HIM LITTLE BY LITTLE WHEN I START WORKING, SIR.

# 217 Q:

OKAY. WELL, LAST FRIDAY WHEN YOU TESTIFIED, YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE GOING TO PAY HIM WHEN THE CASE WAS OVER, CORRECT?

# 218 MR. COCHRAN:

WELL, YOUR HONOR, I OBJECT. I OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THAT QUESTION WITH REGARD TO TESTIMONY. I THINK IT IS IMPROPER FORM. THE QUESTION IS NOT BASED ON FACTS.

# 219 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 220 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: LAST FRIDAY YOU TOLD US THAT YOU WERE TO PAY MR. JONES AFTER THE CASE WAS OVER, CORRECT?

# 221 A:

YES, SIR.

# 222 Q:

AND THAT IS THE ARRANGEMENT YOU HAVE WITH HIM, CORRECT?

# 223 A:

YES, SIR.

# 224 Q:

OKAY. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY HIM IN SMALL PORTIONS, AS YOU JUST INDICATED A MOMENT AGO, CORRECT.

# 225 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO THE FORM. THAT IS NOT INCONSISTENT, YOUR HONOR.

# 226 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 227 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, I DO, SIR.

# 228 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WELL, HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO PAY HIM -- WELL, STRIKE THAT. HOW MUCH DOES MR. JONES CHARGE PER HOUR?

# 229 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, I OBJECT TO THAT. MAY WE APPROACH? I THINK WE --

# 230 THE COURT:

I HAVEN'T HEARD AN OBJECTION. OVERRULED.

# 231 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: HOW MUCH DOES MR. JONES CHARGE PER HOUR?

# 232 MR. COCHRAN:

ISN'T THAT PRIVILEGED, YOUR HONOR?

# 233 MS. HAMBURGER:

YOUR HONOR --

# 234 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, WE WENT THROUGH THIS LAST WEEK. MR. JONES WAS HERE AND I CONFERRED WITH HIM PRIOR TO EVEN DISCUSSING THE FEE ARRANGEMENT, AND HE HAD NO OBJECTION AND THERE WAS A WAIVER, CLEARLY A WAIVER IN THE RECORD ALREADY.

# 235 MR. COCHRAN:

THAT IS A PRIVILEGED STATEMENT, IT SEEMS TO ME.

# 236 THE COURT:

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (5)

Rosa Lopez

TAKE AT MY PICTURE. BEAUTIFUL TODAY. EVERYBODY CAN LOOK AT ME TODAY.

Lopez's spontaneous, playful response to being asked to face the camera — a disarming moment that briefly lightened a contentious cross-examination and showed her unpredictable personality on the stand.

Rosa Lopez

HE JUST TELLS ME TO TELL THE TRUTH, SIR.

Lopez's repeated deflection when asked whether she discussed her testimony with Cochran — she gave this answer twice, which Darden used to highlight the evasion.

Rosa Lopez

DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, SIR?

Lopez's resistance to disclosing her severance payment from the Salingers, revealing discomfort with financial scrutiny and undercutting her image as a forthcoming witness.

Rosa Lopez

THANK YOU, SIR, BUT THIS WAS BOUGHT FOR ME BY MISS HAMBURGER.

Lopez confirms that her courtroom clothing — including the dress she wore that day and a blazer — was purchased by defense attorneys, a damaging disclosure suggesting financial entanglement with the defense team.

Rosa Lopez

I DON'T REMEMBER IF THEY TOOK ME OR IF THEY DIDN'T TAKE ME, SIR.

Lopez's claim not to remember whether defense lawyers took her shopping just days earlier — an implausible lapse that Darden used to undermine her overall credibility.

Evidence (3)

Informal

Two checks from the Salingers totaling approximately $636 paid to Lopez upon her departure on February 10

discussed

Informal

Clothing and shoes purchased for Lopez by defense-affiliated attorneys (Carl Jones' wife, Ms. Hamburger) during her time as a witness — including two pairs of shoes, a lavender dress worn Monday, and a blazer purchased the day prior

disclosed through testimony

Informal

Fee arrangement between Lopez and her attorney Carl Jones, recommended by Cochran

challenged; privilege dispute arose over hourly rate question

Notable Exchanges (4)

Christopher Darden•Rosa Lopez

Darden establishes Lopez spent seven hours at Cochran's office Saturday, then presses her repeatedly on whether she discussed her testimony. Lopez twice deflects with 'he just tells me to tell the truth,' then says 'I don't remember' — directly contradicting her prior denials. Darden highlights the contradiction and Ito declines to strike.

strategic

Christopher Darden•Rosa Lopez•Johnnie Cochran

Darden systematically catalogs the clothing and shoes purchased for Lopez by defense-affiliated parties. Cochran objects to the question about 'Miss Hamburger's wife,' prompting Ito to suggest 'the spouse of Miss Hamburger' to clarify, and Marcia Clark to note 'she said wife.'

revealing

Lance A. Ito•Rosa Lopez•Christopher Darden

When Darden notes Lopez keeps looking over at defense counsel, Lopez spontaneously offers to turn her chair, then breaks into English: 'Take at my picture. Beautiful today. Everybody can look at me today.' Darden responds: 'You can look at the camera if you don't want to look at me.'

light

Christopher Darden•Johnnie Cochran•Ms. Hamburger•Lance A. Ito

Cochran objects on privilege grounds when Darden asks Lopez how much her attorney charges per hour. Darden argues Jones previously waived privilege on the record. Ito has not yet ruled when the transcript ends.

procedural

Light Moments (3)

Rosa Lopez

After Darden notes she looks over at defense counsel, Lopez switches to English unprompted: 'Take at my picture. Beautiful today. Everybody can look at me today.' The courtroom clearly reacts.

Christopher Darden / Marcia Clark / Lance A. Ito

Darden asks whether 'Miss Hamburger's wife' bought Lopez clothes — Cochran objects, Ito corrects to 'the spouse of Miss Hamburger,' and Clark interjects 'she said wife.'

Rosa Lopez

When asked about Sylvia knowing the kitchen, Lopez's approximation of visits collapses into 'if you say so, sir' — a non-answer that foreshadows her evasive pattern throughout the session.

Credibility Attacks (4)

⚔ Rosa Lopez

prior inconsistent statement

Darden catches Lopez saying she doesn't remember discussing her testimony with Cochran, then moments later she implies she does, having previously said 'he just tells me to tell the truth' — a direct contradiction within the same examination.

⚔ Rosa Lopez

bias / financial entanglement

Darden reveals that defense-affiliated attorneys purchased Lopez's courtroom clothing (two pairs of shoes, a lavender dress, a blazer) and that her attorney was hand-picked and potentially funded by Cochran's team, suggesting Lopez's loyalty to the defense was cultivated through material benefits.

⚔ Rosa Lopez

implausible memory failure

Lopez claims not to remember whether defense lawyers took her shopping or visited her hotel just days earlier, despite remembering minute details from June 1994 — a selective memory pattern Darden highlights to undermine her overall reliability.

⚔ Rosa Lopez

witness coaching implication

Darden establishes Lopez spent seven hours at Cochran's office Saturday and was with defense investigator McKenna all weekend, while Lopez denies any substantive case discussion — the circumstantial case for coaching is built through logistics rather than any direct admission.

Witness Demeanor

(IN ENGLISH) I CAN TURN MY CHAIR THIS WAY. — Lopez spontaneously switches to English mid-session

(NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE.) — twice, when asked if defense lawyer Douglas visited her hotel Sunday

(IN ENGLISH) SOMETHING LIKE THAT. — Lopez answers a math question in English

Repeated 'I don't remember' responses to questions about events days earlier, suggesting coached evasion or genuine confusion

Objections

13 objections (1 sustained, 11 overruled)

Proceeding 5105 • 236 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103