Cross-examination of Rosa Maria Lopez (part 7)

📄 Cross-examination of Rosa Maria Lopez (part 7) — Thursday, March 2, 1995

Address:

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

TRIAL

▲ Day 29 of 167

◀ Cross-examination of Rosa Maria Lopez (part 6) Sidebar: witness credibility ▶

Witness: Rosa Lopez
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Defense • Date: Thursday, March 2, 1995 • Utterances: 250

Darden cross-examines Rosa Lopez, a housekeeper at the Salinger residence adjacent to Simpson's Rockingham estate, aggressively attacking her credibility. Key lines of attack: Lopez claimed memory failures over 40 times during cross but had sharp recall during direct; she never told her employers the Salingers about seeing the Bronco or hearing voices until just before her name appeared on TV in January 1995; and she denied any contact with Detective Otis Marlowe despite Darden's suggestion otherwise. The session was also marked by a heated accusation that Cochran was physically signaling the witness during testimony.

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

# 2 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: THE VOICES YOU HEARD AROUND 11:30 OR 12:00, WERE THOSE THE LAST VOICES YOU HEARD THAT NIGHT?

# 3 A:

YES, SIR.

# 4 Q:

WELL, WHEN YOU TESTIFIED THE OTHER DAY -- THIS IS AT PAGE 16524 -- YOU TESTIFIED THAT YOU HEARD VOICES AROUND 12:30.

# 5 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO THAT, YOUR HONOR. IT'S NOT INCONSISTENT.

# 6 THE COURT:

EXCUSE ME, COUNSEL.

# 7 MR. COCHRAN:

I OBJECT TO THAT, THE FORM OF THAT LAST QUESTION, HEARD VOICES AT 12:30. SHE DIDN'T SAY HOW LONG THE VOICES LASTED. THAT'S -- OBJECTION TO THE QUESTION. IT'S NOT IMPEACHING.

# 8 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 9 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: YOU TESTIFIED THE OTHER DAY YOU SAID YOU HEARD THE VOICES AT 12:30, CORRECT?

# 10 A:

UP UNTIL 12:30, SIR. THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

# 11 Q:

OKAY. NOW, DID YOU GET THAT CUE FROM MR. COCHRAN'S OBJECTION HERE?

KEY QUOTE

# 12 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, THAT'S ARGUMENTATIVE. THAT'S ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 13 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 14 ROSA LOPEZ:

HE HASN'T GIVEN ME ANY CUE.

# 15 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: OKAY. DID YOU EVER SEE MR. COCHRAN WAIVE HIS HANDS LIKE THIS BACK AND FORTH ACROSS HIS CHEST TODAY (INDICATING)?

# 16 A:

NO, SIR.

# 17 THE COURT:

I KNOW WE HAVE VIDEOTAPE, BUT DO YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE THE GESTURE YOU JUST MADE FOR THE RECORD?

# 18 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: YOU NEVER SAW MR. COCHRAN MAKE A MOTION LIKE THIS (INDICATING) WITH HIS HANDS?

# 19 A:

NO, SIR.

# 20 THE COURT:

SORT OF A GESTURE SIMILAR TO AN EMPIRE INDICATING SAFE SEVERAL TIMES.

# 21 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DID YOU EVER SEE MR. COCHRAN MAKE A GESTURE LIKE THIS (INDICATING) DURING YOUR TESTIMONY?

# 22 A:

NO, SIR.

# 23 THE COURT:

INDICATING A THIRD BASE COACH SAYING SLIDE. THAT'S ABOUT THE CLOSEST I CAN GET.

KEY QUOTE

# 24 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WHEN THE REPORTER ASKED YOU WHAT YOU SAW AND HEARD, YOU DIDN'T -- YOU DID NOT TELL HIM THAT YOU HEARD MR. SIMPSON SPEAKING TO THE LIMOUSINE DRIVER, DID YOU?

# 25 A:

SIR, I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT HE WAS NOT THE POLICE FOR ME TO GIVE HIM MY INFORMATION.

# 26 Q:

I SHOWED YOU A DOCUMENT EARLIER THIS MORNING. IT'S A TWO-PAGE DOCUMENT FROM WILLIAM PAVELIC TO ROBERT SHAPIRO AND IT'S DATED JULY 29.

# 27 MR. DARDEN:

I BELIEVE THAT DOCUMENT HAS BEEN MARKED ALREADY, YOUR HONOR. HAS IT BEEN?

# 28 THE COURT:

88.

# 29 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: I'M GOING TO ASK THE INTERPRETER TO READ TO YOU THE FIRST FOUR PARAGRAPHS OF THE NARRATIVE AFTER, "DEAR MR. SHAPIRO." THEN I WANT TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE PARAGRAPHS.

# 30 THE INTERPRETER:

I'M SORRY. WHAT WAS YOUR LAST STATEMENT?

# 31 MR. DARDEN:

I'M GOING TO ASK HER SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED --

# 32 THE COURT:

CAN WE TAKE IT PARAGRAPH BY PARAGRAPH?

# 33 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, I INTEND TO.

# 34 THE COURT:

WELL, HOW ABOUT IF WE HAVE HER READ THE FIRST PARAGRAPH SO WE DON'T HAVE A RETENTION PROBLEM GOING BACK AND FORTH.

# 35 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WHY DON'T YOU READ THE FIRST PARAGRAPH.

# 36 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. MADAM INTERPRETER.

# 37 (THE INTERPRETER COMPLIES.)

# 38 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: BEFORE I ASK YOU ABOUT THAT --

# 39 (THE INTERPRETER CONTINUES READING.)

# 40 THE COURT:

IS THE PHONE NUMBER CHANGED NOW THAT'S IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH?

# 41 MR. DARDEN:

PARDON?

# 42 THE COURT:

THE PHONE NUMBER THAT'S IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, HAS THAT BEEN CHANGED OR --

# 43 MR. DARDEN:

YES.

# 44 THE COURT:

GO AHEAD AND READ THE PARAGRAPH.

# 45 (THE INTERPRETER COMPLIES.)

# 46 ROSA LOPEZ:

THAT IS CORRECT.

# 47 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN.

# 48 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: YOU INDICATED A MOMENT AGO THAT YOU DID NOT TELL THE REPORTER EVERYTHING BECAUSE HE WAS NOT A POLICE OFFICER, CORRECT?

# 49 A:

OF COURSE.

# 50 Q:

HAD HE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER, YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD HIM EVERYTHING, CORRECT?

# 51 A:

YES.

# 52 Q:

YOU WERE AT THE SALINGER'S ON JUNE 28TH, CORRECT?

# 53 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER.

# 54 Q:

OKAY. DID YOU SAY YES?

# 55 A:

IF IT IS A WEEKDAY WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO WORK, YES.

# 56 Q:

OKAY. WELL, LET ME SHOW YOU A PHOTOGRAPH OF A MAN AND ASK YOU IF YOU RECOGNIZE THIS MAN.

# 57 MR. DARDEN:

I HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH ON AN 8-1/2 BY 10-INCH PAGE HERE, YOUR HONOR. MAY IT BE MARKED PEOPLE'S 90?

# 58 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. PEOPLE'S 90, NOW BEING DISPLAYED ON THE ELMO.

# 59 (PEO'S 90 FOR ID = PHOTOGRAPH)

# 60 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: SEE THE MAN PICTURED IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH?

# 61 A:

YES, SIR (IN ENGLISH).

# 62 Q:

HE'S SOMEONE THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN TO BEFORE, ISN'T HE?

# 63 A:

NO, SIR.

# 64 Q:

WELL, DIDN'T YOU SPEAK TO A POLICE DETECTIVE ON JUNE 28, 1994?

# 65 A:

YES, SIR.

# 66 Q:

OKAY. YOU SPOKE TO DETECTIVE OTIS MARLOWE, CORRECT?

# 67 A:

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

# 68 Q:

YOU SPOKE TO THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH, DIDN'T YOU?

# 69 A:

NO. I DON'T REMEMBER HIM.

# 70 Q:

OKAY.

# 71 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, FOR THE RECORD, THAT IS DETECTIVE OTIS MARLOWE. HE IS RETIRED FROM THE LAPD AND HE IS NOW AN INVESTIGATOR WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

# 72 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: YOU NEVER SPOKE TO THAT MAN?

# 73 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER.

# 74 Q:

OKAY. WELL, WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE DETECTIVE THAT YOU SPOKE TO OTHER THAN MARK FUHRMAN?

# 75 MR. COCHRAN:

WELL, ASSUMES FACTS NOT IN EVIDENCE, YOUR HONOR, THAT SHE SPOKE TO SOME OTHER DETECTIVE.

# 76 THE COURT:

NO. SHE INDICATED SHE DID IF IT WAS A WORKDAY ON JUNE 28TH.

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

# 78 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE OTHER DETECTIVE THAT YOU SPOKE TO?

# 79 A:

MARK FURHMAN.

# 80 Q:

OKAY. AND THERE WAS A SECOND ONE THAT YOU SPOKE TO ON JUNE 28TH, CORRECT?

# 81 A:

NO, SIR. ONLY ONE OF THEM CAME TO MY HOUSE.

# 82 Q:

OKAY. DIDN'T YOU SPEAK TO A DETECTIVE ON JUNE 28TH WHILE THE DETECTIVES WERE SEARCHING MR. SIMPSON'S HOUSE?

# 83 A:

WHEN DID YOU SAY? THE 28TH OF WHAT?

# 84 Q:

JUNE 28TH, TUESDAY.

# 85 A:

JUNE 28TH WHAT?

# 86 Q:

TUESDAY, JUNE 28TH.

# 87 A:

A DETECTIVE CAME ONLY ONCE, SIR, AND I NEVER SAW ANOTHER ONE.

# 88 Q:

ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THE DETECTIVE PICTURED IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH ASKED YOU IF YOU HAD HEARD OR SEEN ANYTHING UNUSUAL THE NIGHT OF JUNE 12TH?

# 89 A:

NO, SIR (BEFORE INTERPRETATION).

# 90 MR. DARDEN:

I NEED ONE MOMENT TO FIND THE DOCUMENT, YOUR HONOR. YOUR HONOR, THE RECORD SHOULD REFLECT THAT THE WITNESS ANSWERED THE QUESTION BEFORE THE INTERPRETER INTERPRETED THE QUESTION.

# 91 THE COURT:

I THINK THE VIDEOTAPE WILL REFLECT THAT.

# 92 MR. DARDEN:

CAN I HAVE ONE MOMENT?

# 93 THE COURT:

CERTAINLY.

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

# 95 MR. DARDEN:

MAY I, YOUR HONOR?

# 96 THE COURT:

PLEASE.

# 97 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: YOU TOLD US THAT DETECTIVE FUHRMAN WENT TO THE BACKYARD AT THE SALINGER'S HOME, CORRECT?

# 98 A:

YES, SIR.

# 99 Q:

OKAY. AND DO YOU RECALL A DETECTIVE GOING TO THE BACKYARD SEVERAL DAYS LATER?

# 100 A:

THEY WENT AGAIN WITH THE LADY AND THEN THE LADY, MRS. SALINGER, LET THEM GO.

# 101 Q:

OKAY. AND THAT WAS ON JUNE 28, CORRECT?

# 102 A:

I DON'T KNOW WHAT DATE IT WAS BECAUSE I DID NOT OPEN THE DOOR, SIR.

# 103 Q:

OKAY. WELL, DIDN'T MRS. SALINGER INTRODUCE THE DETECTIVE TO YOU?

# 104 A:

NO, SIR. WHY?

# 105 Q:

WHY? BECAUSE YOU TOLD THE SALINGER'S YOU WERE HOME THE NIGHT OF JUNE 12TH, CORRECT?

# 106 A:

THE LADY HASN'T TOLD ME ANYTHING.

# 107 Q:

OKAY. WELL, DIDN'T DETECTIVE MARLOWE ASK YOU IF YOU RECALLED ANYTHING UNUSUAL?

# 108 A:

NO.

# 109 Q:

HEARD ANY NOISE, SAW ANY PERSON AT OR AROUND THE AREA?

# 110 A:

NO, SIR.

# 111 Q:

SO YOU NEVER SPOKE TO THIS MAN BEFORE, CORRECT?

# 112 A:

NO, SIR.

# 113 Q:

SO IF THIS DETECTIVE WERE TO TESTIFY THAT YOU DID, HE WOULD BE LYING, CORRECT?

KEY QUOTE

# 114 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THAT QUESTION. ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 115 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 116 ROSA LOPEZ:

I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING SPOKEN TO HIM, SIR.

# 117 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WELL, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU DID NOT SPEAK TO HIM OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU MAY HAVE SPOKEN TO HIM, BUT YOU DON'T REMEMBER?

# 118 A:

I HAVE NOT -- I DID NOT TALK TO THAT GENTLEMAN.

# 119 Q:

OKAY. WELL, DO YOU RECOGNIZE HIM AS THE DETECTIVE THAT SPOKE WITH MRS. SALINGER?

# 120 A:

NO, SIR. I DON'T REMEMBER.

# 121 Q:

WELL, WHEN YOU SAY, "NO SIR, I DON'T REMEMBER", IS IT THAT YOU DON'T REMEMBER OR IS IT THAT HE IS NOT THE DETECTIVE YOU SPOKE TO?

# 122 A:

I -- I DID NOT TALK TO HIM, SIR.

# 123 Q:

WELL, THE SALINGER'S WERE NOT AT HOME ON JUNE 12, CORRECT?

# 124 A:

NO.

# 125 Q:

OKAY. IN FACT, THE SALINGER'S WERE OUT OF THE COUNTRY UNTIL WHAT, JUNE 18?

# 126 A:

ABOUT. I THINK THEY CAME BACK ON THE 17TH.

# 127 Q:

OKAY. NOW, THEY WERE IN BRITAIN, CORRECT?

# 128 A:

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY LEFT TO. I THINK IT WAS BRITAIN.

# 129 Q:

OKAY. WELL, YOU TELEPHONED THEM IN BRITAIN, DIDN'T YOU?

# 130 A:

I CALLED THEM. I CALL THEM WHENEVER THERE'S A PROBLEM AT HOME, BUT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T CALL THEM THAT WEEK.

# 131 Q:

OKAY. YOU DIDN'T CALL THE SALINGER'S BETWEEN JUNE 12 AND JUNE 16?

# 132 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 133 Q:

WELL, WERE YOU THE ONLY ONE STAYING IN THE HOUSE DURING THAT TIME PERIOD?

# 134 A:

YES, SIR.

# 135 Q:

OKAY. SO IF SOMEONE TELEPHONED THE SALINGER'S FROM THE SALINGER'S HOME DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN YOU?

# 136 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, THAT DOESN'T FOLLOW -- THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FOLLOW THE QUESTION. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE THERE TO USE THE PHONE. THAT QUESTION --

# 137 THE COURT:

YEAH. WHY DON'T YOU REPHRASE THE QUESTION.

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

# 139 MR. DARDEN:

YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OBJECTIONS --

# 140 THE COURT:

YES, THAT'S TRUE. FOUNDATION.

# 141 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECTION. FOUNDATION.

# 142 THE COURT:

THANK YOU.

# 143 MR. DARDEN:

IS THERE AN EXTRA MICROPHONE FOR MR. COCHRAN, YOUR HONOR?

# 144 THE COURT:

I'M RELUCTANT TO PUT A MICROPHONE ON COUNSEL TABLE.

# 145 MR. DARDEN:

WELL, IF OBJECTIONS ARE BEING MADE AND THERE'S INTERRUPTIONS IN THE TESTIMONY, THE JURY OUGHT TO HEAR IT. AND GIVEN MR. COCHRAN'S PROPENSITY FOR MAKING SPEAKING OBJECTIONS WHICH HAVE A TENDENCY OF THEM BEING REPEATED BY THE WITNESS --

# 146 THE COURT:

I'LL NOTE THAT. THANK YOU. I'LL NOTE THAT. PROCEED.

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

# 148 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DID ANYONE ELSE STAY IN THE SALINGER HOME DURING JUNE 12 THROUGH JUNE 16?

# 149 A:

NO, SIR.

# 150 Q:

DID YOU ALLOW ANYONE ENTRY INTO THE SALINGER HOME BETWEEN JUNE 12 AND JUNE 16?

# 151 A:

NO, SIR.

# 152 Q:

OKAY. AND YOU HAD A TELEPHONE IN YOUR ROOM, CORRECT?

# 153 A:

YES, SIR.

# 154 Q:

YOU HAD YOUR OWN TELEPHONE NUMBER, CORRECT?

# 155 A:

NOT MINE. THE LADY'S.

# 156 Q:

OKAY. WELL, YOUR PHONE NUMBER WAS 472-09 --

# 157 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECTION. IS THAT THE SAME PHONE NUMBER, YOUR HONOR? IS THAT THE SAME PHONE NUMBER NOW, YOUR HONOR? PERHAPS WE SHOULD -- IF IT'S STILL THE SAME --

# 158 THE COURT:

NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

# 159 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT.

# 160 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WAS THAT THE PHONE NUMBER, 472-0900?

# 161 A:

YES, SIR.

# 162 Q:

OKAY. AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO REFLECT CAREFULLY, PLEASE. DO YOU RECALL CALLING THE SALINGER'S IN ENGLAND?

# 163 A:

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

# 164 Q:

OKAY. SO WAS IT YOUR TESTIMONY THAT YOU DID NOT CALL THE SALINGER'S?

# 165 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 166 Q:

OKAY. WELL, HAD YOU TELEPHONED THE SALINGER'S DURING THAT TIME PERIOD?

# 167 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 168 Q:

OKAY. WELL, YOU WOULD ONLY CALL THEM IN EUROPE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO TELL THEM, CORRECT?

# 169 A:

YES, SIR.

# 170 Q:

OKAY. AND SO IF YOU CALLED THEM IN ENGLAND DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM THAT YOU SAW THE BRONCO AND HEARD THE NOISES NEXT-DOOR; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 171 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, I OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THE QUESTION.

# 172 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED. SPECULATION.

# 173 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WELL, DO YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT YOU HEARD THESE VOICES AND SAW THE BRONCO IMPORTANT?

# 174 A:

YES, SIR.

# 175 Q:

OKAY.

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

# 177 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: SO IF YOU FAILED TO TELL THAT INFORMATION OR GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO THE SALINGER'S, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT YOU DID NOT TELL THEM SOMETHING YOU CONSIDERED IMPORTANT, CORRECT?

# 178 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THAT QUESTION, YOUR HONOR. THAT'S ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 179 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 180 MR. COCHRAN:

IT'S ARGUMENTATIVE, SPECULATIVE, YOUR HONOR.

# 181 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED. SUSTAINED. I SAID SUSTAINED.

# 182 MR. DARDEN:

WELL, SHE JUST SAID SHE CONSIDERED THE INFORMATION IMPORTANT, YOUR HONOR.

# 183 THE COURT:

I KNOW. SHE DID. I AGREE, BUT THE WAY THE QUESTION IS STATED, IT'S ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 184 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: OKAY. WELL, DID YOU EVER TELL THE SALINGER'S THAT YOU SAW THE BRONCO PARKED ON ROCKINGHAM?

# 185 A:

OVER THE PHONE OR HOW?

# 186 Q:

WELL, HOW ABOUT OVER THE PHONE FIRST?

# 187 A:

NO, SIR.

# 188 Q:

OKAY. AND YOU DIDN'T TELL THEM THAT YOU SAW THE BRONCO DURING THE MONTH OF JULY OR AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER OF 1994 EITHER, DID YOU?

# 189 A:

OVER THE PHONE, SIR?

# 190 Q:

OVER THE PHONE OR IN PERSON.

# 191 A:

NO, SIR.

# 192 Q:

YOU DIDN'T TELL THE SALINGER'S THAT YOU SAW THAT BRONCO AT ALL AT ANY TIME DURING 1994, DID YOU?

# 193 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER IF I TOLD THE LADY OR NOT, SIR.

# 194 Q:

OKAY. ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THE FIRST TIME YOU MENTIONED THE BRONCO TO THE SALINGER'S WAS AFTER YOU HEARD YOUR NAME MENTIONED ON TELEVISION?

# 195 A:

I HAD ALREADY TOLD THEM THAT I HAD HEARD VOICES AND STEPS ON THE OTHER SIDE ALSO.

# 196 Q:

WHEN DID YOU TELL THEM THAT?

# 197 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 198 Q:

OKAY. IT WAS SOMETIME IN 1995, WASN'T IT?

# 199 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 200 Q:

ARE YOU TRYING TO AVOID GIVING ME A DIRECT RESPONSE, MISS LOPEZ?

# 201 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, I OBJECT. IT'S ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 202 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 203 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WHEN YOU TESTIFIED THE OTHER DAY, YOU REMEMBERED WHAT HAPPENED AT 9:45 ON JUNE 12, CORRECT?

# 204 A:

YES, SIR.

# 205 Q:

AND YOU REMEMBERED WHAT HAPPENED AT 11:00 P.M., DIDN'T YOU?

# 206 A:

YES, SIR.

# 207 Q:

BUT TODAY, YOU'VE TOLD US THAT YOU CAN NOT REMEMBER EVENTS OR TIMES ON MORE THAN 40 OCCASIONS, CORRECT?

# 208 MR. COCHRAN:

I OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THAT QUESTION. IT'S ARGUMENTATIVE, YOUR HONOR.

# 209 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 210 MR. COCHRAN:

WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THAT, JUDGE? THAT'S THE PART I'M OBJECTING TO.

# 211 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: CORRECT? CORRECT?

# 212 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 213 THE INTERPRETER:

REPEAT THE QUESTION, PLEASE.

# 214 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: BUT YOU TOLD US TODAY THAT YOU COULD NOT REMEMBER OR RECALL CERTAIN EVENTS OR TIMES OR LOCATIONS MORE THAN 40 TIMES TODAY.

KEY QUOTE

# 215 A:

SIR, I COULD NOT GIVE TESTIMONY TO MRS. SALINGER BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS CASE.

KEY QUOTE

# 216 Q:

SO YOU DIDN'T TELL THE SALINGER'S ANYTHING ABOUT SEEING THE BRONCO OR HEARING VOICES, CORRECT?

# 217 A:

I TOLD THEM YEAH -- I TOLD THEM YES, THAT I HAD HEARD VOICES.

# 218 Q:

BUT YOU TOLD THEM AFTER YOU HEARD YOUR NAME ON TELEVISION, CORRECT?

# 219 A:

NO, SIR. I TOLD THEM A LITTLE BEFORE THAT.

# 220 Q:

OKAY. AND YOU HEARD YOUR NAME ON TELEVISION THE LAST WEEK OF JANUARY 1995, CORRECT?

# 221 A:

YES, SIR.

# 222 Q:

OKAY. SO YOU DIDN'T TELL THEM AT ALL ABOUT THAT DURING THE YEAR 1994, CORRECT? CORRECT?

# 223 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 224 Q:

WELL, YOU JUST TOLD US THAT IT WAS AFTER OR RIGHT BEFORE YOU HEARD YOUR NAME ON TELEVISION, RIGHT?

# 225 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECTION. MISSTATES THE STATEMENT; "NO, SIR, I TOLD THEM A LITTLE BEFORE THAT." MISSTATES THE TESTIMONY.

# 226 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED. REPHRASE THE QUESTION.

# 227 MR. DARDEN:

I'LL WITHDRAW THE QUESTION.

# 228 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DID ANYONE LIVE IN THE SALINGER HOME OTHER THAN YOURSELF AND MR. AND MRS. SALINGER?

# 229 A:

NO. JUST ME.

# 230 Q:

OKAY. AND YOU WOULD SEE THE SALINGER'S ALMOST EVERY DAY, CORRECT?

# 231 MR. COCHRAN:

AT WHAT POINT, YOUR HONOR? VAGUE.

# 232 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 233 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, SIR.

# 234 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: OKAY. YOU SAW THEM IN THE MORNING?

# 235 A:

OF COURSE I DID. I HAVE TO SERVE THEM THEIR BREAKFAST, SIR.

# 236 Q:

OKAY. YOU SAW THEM IN THE EVENING?

# 237 A:

YES, SIR. I SERVED THEM LUNCH, SIR.

# 238 Q:

AND THERE WERE OCCASIONS WHEN YOU AND THE SALINGER'S DISCUSSED THE CHARGES PENDING AGAINST MR. SIMPSON, CORRECT?

# 239 A:

NOT THAT I CAN REMEMBER, SIR.

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

# 241 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: THERE WAS NEVER ANY DISCUSSION IN THE SALINGER HOME ABOUT THE O.J. SIMPSON MURDER CASE?

# 242 MR. COCHRAN:

ONCE AGAIN, I OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THE QUESTION, YOUR HONOR.

# 243 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 244 ROSA LOPEZ:

NO, SIR.

# 245 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: CAN YOU GIVE ME THE FIRST NAMES OF YOUR THREE CLOSEST FRIENDS?

# 246 MR. COCHRAN:

I OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THAT QUESTION.

# 247 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 248 MR. COCHRAN:

I OBJECT. MAY WE APPROACH, YOUR HONOR?

# 249 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT.

# 250 MR. COCHRAN:

THAT'S BEYOND THE SCOPE. I DON'T -- MAY WE APPROACH?

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (5)

Christopher Darden

DID YOU GET THAT CUE FROM MR. COCHRAN'S OBJECTION HERE?

Darden directly accused Cochran of coaching Lopez through his objection, alleging she changed 'at 12:30' to 'up until 12:30' after hearing Cochran's framing.

Christopher Darden

BUT YOU TOLD US TODAY THAT YOU COULD NOT REMEMBER OR RECALL CERTAIN EVENTS OR TIMES OR LOCATIONS MORE THAN 40 TIMES TODAY.

Darden's quantified assault on Lopez's selective memory — she recalled fine-grained details from direct but claimed ignorance repeatedly on cross.

Rosa Lopez

SIR, I COULD NOT GIVE TESTIMONY TO MRS. SALINGER BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS CASE.

Lopez's explanation for why she withheld information from her employers — a rare unguarded moment that inadvertently acknowledged she had information she was strategically not sharing.

Christopher Darden

SO IF THIS DETECTIVE WERE TO TESTIFY THAT YOU DID, HE WOULD BE LYING, CORRECT?

Darden boxed Lopez into either calling a retired LAPD detective a liar or conceding contact she denied — she retreated to 'I don't remember.'

Lance A. Ito

INDICATING A THIRD BASE COACH SAYING SLIDE. THAT'S ABOUT THE CLOSEST I CAN GET.

Judge Ito's deadpan description for the record of the gesture Darden alleged Cochran made to signal Lopez — a remarkable moment of judicial color commentary.

Evidence (2)

Exhibit 88

Two-page document from William Pavelic to Robert Shapiro dated July 29 — defense investigator's report, read paragraph by paragraph via interpreter

discussed, read into record

People's 90

Photograph of Detective Otis Marlowe, retired LAPD, now investigator with the Public Defender's Office

introduced, shown to witness for identification — witness denied recognizing him

Notable Exchanges (4)

Christopher Darden•Johnnie Cochran•Rosa Lopez

Darden accused Cochran of making a hand signal (described by Ito as similar to a baseball umpire's 'safe' call or a third base coach signaling 'slide') to cue Lopez to change her testimony. Lopez denied seeing it. Cochran objected it was argumentative.

heated

Christopher Darden•Rosa Lopez

Darden caught Lopez answering 'No, sir' in English before the interpreter translated the question about Detective Marlowe — he formally noted it for the record, and Ito confirmed the videotape would reflect it.

revealing

Christopher Darden•Rosa Lopez

Darden pressed Lopez repeatedly on why she never told the Salingers about seeing the Bronco or hearing voices — Lopez's timeline eventually collapsed to admitting she first told them just before her name appeared on TV in late January 1995.

strategic

Christopher Darden•Johnnie Cochran

Darden complained to the court that Cochran's speaking objections were being heard by Lopez and repeated in her answers, requesting an extra microphone at counsel table so the jury could hear the objections too.

heated

Light Moments (2)

Lance A. Ito

Judge Ito attempted to describe Darden's alleged Cochran gesture for the record: first 'sort of a gesture similar to an empire indicating safe several times,' then revised to 'indicating a third base coach saying slide. That's about the closest I can get.'

Lance A. Ito

Ito noted concern about reading phone numbers into the record still in service — Darden confirmed the number had been changed before proceeding.

Credibility Attacks (4)

⚔ Rosa Lopez

selective memory / prior inconsistent statement

Darden documented Lopez claiming inability to remember on 40+ occasions during cross, contrasted with sharp specific recall during direct — including precise times like 9:45 PM and 11:00 PM on June 12.

⚔ Rosa Lopez

omission / delayed disclosure

Lopez never told her employers the Salingers about seeing the Bronco or hearing voices until shortly before her name appeared on TV in late January 1995 — over seven months after the murders.

⚔ Rosa Lopez

witness coaching allegation

Darden alleged Cochran used hand signals to cue Lopez to adjust her testimony about the timing of voices (from 'at 12:30' to 'up until 12:30') after his objection framed the distinction.

⚔ Rosa Lopez

prior inconsistent statement / false denial

Lopez denied any contact with Detective Otis Marlowe despite Darden's suggestion Marlowe would testify otherwise; Lopez also answered in English before translation, undermining her reliance on interpretation.

Witness Demeanor

Witness answered question in English ('No, sir') before interpreter translated it

Witness repeatedly hedged between 'I don't remember' and flat denials throughout cross

Witness gave unsolicited explanation: 'SIR, I COULD NOT GIVE TESTIMONY TO MRS. SALINGER BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS CASE'

Objections

16 objections (5 sustained, 7 overruled)

Proceeding 5113 • 250 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103