Re-redirect examination of James Williams

📄 Re-redirect examination of James Williams — Wednesday, March 29, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAR\29\RE-REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-JAM.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 47 of 167

◀ Redirect examination of James Williams Redirect examination of James Williams (part 2) ▶

Witness: James Williams
Examiner: Marcia Clark
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Wednesday, March 29, 1995 • Utterances: 11

Defense attorney Carl Douglas conducts a brief recross of airport employee James Williams, attempting to establish that Simpson was never near a trash can on the night of June 12th. The strategy backfires: Williams confirms Simpson was in fact standing near the trash can, though he did not see Simpson do anything with it. Clark immediately requests further redirect.

# 1

RECROSS-EXAMINATION

# 2

BY MR. DOUGLAS:

# 3 Q:

MR. WILLIAMS, THERE IS A LOST AND FOUND SECTION AT THE AIRPORT; IS THERE NOT?

# 4 A:

YES, THERE IS.

# 5 Q:

SO IF LUGGAGE IS LEFT BEHIND OR LOST THERE IS A LOCATION WHERE IT CAN ALL BE TAKEN, TRUE?

# 6 A:

YES.

# 7 Q:

AND MR. WILLIAMS, YOU DON'T RECALL EVER SEEING MR. SIMPSON ANYWHERE NEAR THAT TRASH ON JUNE THE 12TH, DO YOU, SIR?

KEY QUOTE

# 8 A:

YES, HE WAS STANDING NEAR THE TRASH CAN.

KEY QUOTE

# 9 Q:

OKAY. DID YOU SEE HIM DO ANYTHING WITH THE TRASH CAN?

# 10 A:

NO, I DIDN'T SEE HIM DO ANYTHING WITH THE TRASH CAN.

KEY QUOTE

# 11 MS. CLARK:

CAN I ASK --

FURTHER REDIRECT EXAMINATION

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (3)

MR. DOUGLAS

AND MR. WILLIAMS, YOU DON'T RECALL EVER SEEING MR. SIMPSON ANYWHERE NEAR THAT TRASH ON JUNE THE 12TH, DO YOU, SIR?

Douglas appears to be fishing for a denial, framing the question to expect agreement — a leading question that assumes a helpful answer.

WILLIAMS

YES, HE WAS STANDING NEAR THE TRASH CAN.

The witness directly contradicts the implication of the defense's question, undermining the point Douglas was trying to establish.

WILLIAMS

NO, I DIDN'T SEE HIM DO ANYTHING WITH THE TRASH CAN.

Williams walks back slightly — confirming proximity but not any act — giving both sides partial support.

Evidence (1)

Informal

A trash can at the airport, referenced in the context of Simpson's movements on the night of June 12th, 1994

discussed

Notable Exchanges (2)

MR. DOUGLAS•WILLIAMS

Douglas poses a leading question expecting Williams to deny seeing Simpson near the trash; Williams instead confirms Simpson was standing near it, neutralizing the defense's intended point.

backfiring

MARCIA CLARK•JUDGE ITO

Clark immediately requests further redirect examination after Williams' answer places Simpson near the trash can.

strategic

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 5490 • 11 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103