Recross-examination of Rosa Lopez (part 1)

📄 Recross-examination of Rosa Lopez (part 1) — Friday, March 3, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAR\3\RECROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-ROSA-LO.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 30 of 167

◀ Redirect examination of Rosa Lopez (part 2) Sidebar (2) ▶

Witness: Rosa Lopez
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Defense • Date: Friday, March 3, 1995 • Utterances: 166

Darden conducts a short but pointed recross of Rosa Lopez, pressing her on alleged payments from the defense (including $5,000 mentioned to Sylvia Guerra, money via a San Salvador lawyer, and new clothes sent from Las Vegas), all of which she denies. The examination is interrupted by an impromptu bench viewing of a videotape — without the witness — that appears to show Cochran making signals, triggering a heated sidebar argument. The session ends with Darden introducing People's 96, a letter from Dr. Vincent D. Gilley, over Cochran's objection.

# 1 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN, ANY RECROSS?

# 2 MR. DARDEN:

JUST A LITTLE BIT.

# 3

RECROSS-EXAMINATION

# 4

BY MR. DARDEN:

# 5 Q:

MISS LOPEZ, WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU REALIZED THAT 10:00 O'CLOCK OR SHORTLY AFTER 10:00 CLOCK TIME PERIOD WAS IMPORTANT?

# 6 A:

I'VE NEVER GIVEN IT ANY IMPORTANCE.

# 7 Q:

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME -- WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT ANYONE ASKED YOU WHEN OR WHAT TIME IT WAS THAT YOU SAW THE BRONCO?

# 8 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 9 Q:

WAS MR. PAVELIC THE FIRST PERSON TO ASK YOU WHEN AND WHAT TIME IT WAS THAT YOU SAW THE BRONCO?

# 10 A:

NO. HE DIDN'T ASK ME THE FIRST TIME.

# 11 Q:

WELL, WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO ASK YOU?

# 12 A:

I ASKED -- I ASKED MICHELLE, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER IF I TOLD HER THE TIME OR ANYTHING.

# 13 Q:

NOW, YOU TOLD US THAT YOU LISTENED TO SYLVIA GUERRA'S TAPE; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 14 A:

YES, SIR.

# 15 Q:

AND YOU DENY ALL THE ALLEGATIONS SYLVIA MADE AGAINST YOU THAT'S CONTAINED ON THAT TAPE?

# 16 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECTION. LEADING, FORM OF THE QUESTION.

# 17 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 18 MR. DARDEN:

I'LL HAVE TO PLAY THE TAPE, YOUR HONOR.

# 19 MR. COCHRAN:

WITH REGARD TO THAT, YOUR HONOR, MAY WE APPROACH? THE QUESTION IS --

# 20 THE COURT:

IS THERE ANY MORE SPECIFIC YOU CAN GET WITH REGARDS TO THE SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS THAN TO JUST SAY, "DO YOU DENY ALL THE ALLEGATIONS"?

# 21 MR. DARDEN:

MAY I HAVE LEAVE OF THE COURT TO PLAY THE TAPE, YOUR HONOR?

# 22 THE COURT:

WELL, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE ALLEGATIONS ARE THAT YOU WANT TO CONFRONT HER WITH?

# 23 MR. DARDEN:

THE $5,000 ALLEGATION, THE ALLEGATION THAT --

# 24 THE COURT:

WELL, WHY CAN'T WE TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME.

# 25 MR. DARDEN:

IF THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANT IT.

# 26 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: MISS LOPEZ, DID YOU TELL SYLVIA THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE PAID $5,000?

# 27 A:

I HAVE NEVER BEEN OFFERED ANYTHING, SIR. I CAN'T TELL HER THAT.

# 28 Q:

DID YOU TELL SYLVIA THAT YOU WERE BEING OFFERED $5,000?

# 29 A:

NO, SIR.

# 30 Q:

DID YOU TELL SYLVIA THAT THE LAWYERS WOULD GIVE HER $5,000?

# 31 A:

NO, SIR.

# 32 Q:

DID YOU TELL SYLVIA THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED HER NAME TO THE ATTORNEYS?

# 33 A:

NO, SIR.

# 34 Q:

DID YOU TELL SYLVIA THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED HER NAME TO THE ATTORNEYS, THAT YOU WOULD GO BACK AND ASK THEM TO STRIKE ANY MENTION OF HER NAME FROM THEIR REPORTS?

# 35 A:

NO, SIR.

# 36 Q:

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US THEN WHY SYLVIA IS MENTIONED IN THE WRITTEN REPORT DATED JUNE 29?

# 37 MR. COCHRAN:

MISSTATEMENT, YOUR HONOR.

# 38 THE COURT:

JULY.

# 39 MR. DARDEN:

I AM SORRY.

# 40 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: -- DATED JULY 29, BUT IS NOT MENTIONED DURING THE TAPED CONVERSATION WE PLAYED HERE IN COURT TODAY?

# 41 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECTION. HEARSAY.

# 42 THE COURT:

OVERRULED. IF SHE KNOWS.

# 43 ROSA LOPEZ:

BECAUSE SHE CAME TO MY HOUSE THAT EVENING, SIR.

# 44 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WELL, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHY HER NAME IS NOT MENTIONED ON THE TAPE BUT IS MENTIONED ON THE WRITTEN STATEMENT?

# 45 A:

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

# 46 Q:

NOW, YOU MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO THAT YOU HAD MET THE KAPLAN CHILDREN; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 47 A:

YES, SIR.

# 48 Q:

ARE YOU AWARE THAT SYLVIA SPENT THE ENTIRE EVENING OF JUNE 12 WITH ONE OF THE KAPLAN CHILDREN?

# 49 THE INTERPRETER:

I AM SORRY?

# 50 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: -- WITH ONE OF THE KAPLAN CHILDREN?

# 51 A:

I DON'T KNOW, SIR. I DON'T LIVE WITH HER.

# 52 Q:

OKAY. WELL, HOW COULD SHE BE WITH YOU AT YOUR HOUSE --

# 53 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THE QUESTION, YOUR HONOR.

# 54 THE COURT:

IT'S ARGUMENTATIVE.

# 55 MR. DARDEN:

THAT'S FINE.

# 56 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: YOU TOLD US A MOMENT AGO THAT YOU WERE NOT EXPECTING ANY COMPENSATION AS A RESULT OF YOUR TESTIFYING IN THIS CASE, CORRECT?

# 57 A:

YES, SIR.

# 58 Q:

BUT YOU ARE EXPECTING TO BE PAID SOME MONEY WHEN YOU REACH SAN SALVADOR; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 59 A:

I HAVE NEVER BEEN PROMISED THAT, SIR. THIS IS NEWS TO ME TODAY.

# 60 Q:

HAS ANYONE ASKED YOU TO CONTACT A LAWYER IN SAN SALVADOR WHEN YOU ARRIVE THERE?

# 61 A:

NO, SIR.

# 62 Q:

HAS ANYONE TOLD YOU THAT THEY ARE GOING TO TRANSFER SOME MONEY TO YOU THROUGH A LAWYER IN SAN SALVADOR?

# 63 A:

I HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD THAT, SIR.

# 64 Q:

HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD THAT MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY WHO LIVE IN EL SALVADOR SHOULD EXPECT SOME MONEY?

# 65 A:

NO, SIR. NO, SIR. I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO MY FAMILY IN EL SALVADOR, SIR.

# 66 Q:

DID YOU TELL SYLVIANNE WALKER THAT O.J. SIMPSON DIDN'T KILL NICOLE AND RON HIMSELF --

# 67 MR. COCHRAN:

I MISSED THE LAST PART OF THE QUESTION.

# 68 THE COURT:

DID NOT KILL NICOLE AND RON HIMSELF.

# 69 MR. DARDEN:

-- BUT THAT HE HAD SOMEONE ELSE KILL THEM?

# 70 THE INTERPRETER:

I AM SORRY. CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT YOUR QUESTION?

# 71 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THAT -- OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THAT QUESTION.

# 72 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 73 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: DID YOU TELL SYLVIANNE WALKER THAT O.J. SIMPSON DID NOT KILL RON AND NICOLE HIMSELF BUT THAT HE HAD SOMEONE ELSE DO IT FOR HIM?

# 74 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING TOLD THE LADY THAT.

# 75 Q:

DID SOMEONE ELSE BUY YOU A NEW DRESS AND NEW SHOES FOR TODAY'S HEARING?

# 76 A:

SIR, THIS WAS SENT TO ME FROM LAS VEGAS. I DON'T KNOW BY WHOM. I DON'T KNOW THE GENTLEMAN.

KEY QUOTE

# 77 Q:

AND SO THAT THE RECORD IS CLEAR, YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING ANY MONEY FROM MR. SHAPIRO, CORRECT?

# 78 A:

FROM NONE OF THEM, SIR, AND I DON'T WANT IT.

KEY QUOTE

# 79 Q:

NOT FROM MR. BAILEY OR MR. DOUGLAS OR MR. KARDASHIAN?

# 80 A:

NO, SIR.

# 81 Q:

OKAY. NOT FROM MISS CHAPMAN?

# 82 A:

NO, SIR.

# 83 Q:

ARE YOU EXPECTING MONEY FROM SKIP TAFT?

# 84 A:

WHAT'S THAT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

# 85 Q:

YOU DON'T KNOW A PERSON NAMED SKIP TAFT?

# 86 A:

NO.

# 87 Q:

HOW ABOUT THE PERSON YOU DESCRIBED EARLIER, BRIAN? ARE YOU EXPECTING MONEY FROM BRIAN?

# 88 A:

I DON'T KNOW WHO BRIAN MAY BE, SIR.

# 89 Q:

IS THE ANSWER NO?

# 90 A:

NO, SIR.

# 91 Q:

ARE YOU EXPECTING MONEY AT ALL FROM MR. MC NALLY OR MR. MC KENNA OR MR. PAVELIC?

# 92 A:

NO, SIR. I DON'T NEED IT.

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

# 94 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: WELL, LAST WEEK YOU TOLD US YOU WERE SLEEPING ON THE STREET, CORRECT?

# 95 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, THIS IS BEYOND THE SCOPE.

# 96 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 97 ROSA LOPEZ:

OF COURSE I DID.

# 98 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: YOU TOLD US YOU WERE BROKE.

# 99 A:

NOT BROKE. I HAVE VERY LITTLE MONEY, SIR.

# 100 MR. DARDEN:

CAN I HAVE ONE MOMENT, YOUR HONOR?

# 101 THE COURT:

YES.

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

# 103 MR. DARDEN:

CAN I TAKE A MOMENT TO TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT A VIDEOTAPE? THEN I'LL BE FINISHED. TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

# 104 MR. COCHRAN:

HAVE WE SEEN IT?

# 105 MR. DARDEN:

I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

# 106 THE COURT:

WHY DON'T YOU APPROACH WITHOUT THE REPORTER, PLEASE.

# 107 (A CONFERENCE WAS HELD AT THE BENCH, NOT REPORTED.)

# 108 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. MISS LOPEZ, I NEED TO LOOK AT A VIDEOTAPE REAL QUICKLY HERE. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO STEP BACK IN THE JURY ROOM. AND, MISS HAMBURGER, WOULD YOU ACCOMPANY HER BACK IN THE JURY ROOM, PLEASE. THIS SHOULD ONLY TAKE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.

# 109 (THE WITNESS EXITS THE COURTROOM.)

# 110 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. THE RECORD SHOULD REFLECT THAT THE WITNESS HAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE COURTROOM.

# 111 (AT 3:25 P.M., A VIDEOTAPE, WAS PLAYED.)

# 112 MR. DARDEN:

LOOKING GOOD SO FAR.

# 113 MR. SHAPIRO:

THERE'S THE LIMO DRIVER.

# 114 MR. DARDEN:

WHAT WAS THAT?

# 115 MS. CLARK:

WHAT IS THIS?

# 116 THE COURT:

I THINK THAT WAS THE PICTURE OF MR. COCHRAN MAKING HIS SIGNAL.

# 117 (AT 3:25 P.M., THE PLAYING OF THE VIDEOTAPE ENDED.)

# 118 MS. CLARK:

CAN WE SEE THAT ONE MORE TIME?

# 119 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, FOR THE RECORD, I WAS TALKING TO THE COURT REPORTER.

# 120 (AT 3:25 P.M., A VIDEOTAPE, WAS PLAYED.)

# 121 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, I MUST RESPOND TO THAT IF IT'S FINISHED. MAY I RESPOND, YOUR HONOR? THAT IS --

# 122 THE COURT:

HOLD ON.

# 123 (AT 3:28 P.M., THE VIDEOTAPE CONTINUES PLAYING.)

# 124 (AT 3:28 P.M., THE PLAYING OF THE VIDEOTAPE ENDED.)

# 125 MR. COCHRAN:

THAT IS -- THAT IS ABSOLUTELY PREPOSTEROUS. LET ME JUST INDICATE TO THE COURT THAT WE HAVE A RATE FOR ALL OF OUR EXPERTS TO STAY AT THE BEL AGE AT $95 A NIGHT. THAT -- THAT -- THEY SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ALLOWED TO BE ON TELEVISION WITH THAT KIND OF STUFF. AND THE CAR THAT WAS A LIMOUSINE WAS BAILEY'S BLACK CHRYSLER. IT WAS NOT A LIMOUSINE AT ALL. THAT IS PREPOSTEROUS.

KEY QUOTE

# 126 MS. CLARK:

WAIT A MINUTE. ALL OF YOUR EXPERT WITNESSES STAY AT BEL AGE? SWEAR ME IN.

# 127 MR. COCHRAN:

THE BEL AGE IS -- THEY HAVE A RATE, YOUR HONOR, AND SHE'S NOT STAYING AT THE BEL AGE THANK HEAVEN ANYMORE BECAUSE THE COURT ASKED US TO MOVE HER TO SOME OTHER PLACE LAST FRIDAY. SHE STAYED THERE ONE NIGHT, THURSDAY NIGHT, FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS. THAT IS PREPOSTEROUS.

# 128 MR. DARDEN:

WHERE I COME FROM, A CHRYSLER IS JUST LIKE A LIMOUSINE, MR. COCHRAN.

KEY QUOTE

# 129 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, WE ARE NOT AWARE OF WHERE HE COMES FROM AND THAT'S NOT THE TEST HERE IN THIS COURTROOM. YOUR HONOR, IT'S NOT VERY FUNNY. IT'S REALLY SAD FROM THIS STANDPOINT. THIS LADY WAS TOLD SHE WOULD BE FINISHED LAST FRIDAY AND SHE'S STILL HERE SEVEN DAYS LATER.

# 130 THE COURT:

WELL, THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL YACKING ABOUT A VIDEOTAPE THAT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SHOW TO ANYBODY AT THIS POINT --

# 131 MR. DARDEN:

WELL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO INDICATE THAT I HAVEN'T SEE THE VIDEOTAPE. I'VE BEEN SANDBAGGED BY MY OWN OFFICE THIS TIME.

# 132 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. CAN WE CONCLUDE? CAN WE CONCLUDE?

# 133 MS. CLARK:

I THINK SO.

# 134 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. LET'S HAVE THE WITNESS BACK, PLEASE, MRS. ROBERTSON.

# 135 MR. DARDEN:

THERE IS ONE ADDITIONAL AREA, THE LETTER WE RECEIVED DATED MARCH 2, THE LETTER FROM A DR. VINCENT D. GILLEY AND THE CONTENT OF WHICH HAS NOW FOUND ITS WAY IN THE RECORD AND HAS BEEN REPEATED BY THE WITNESS ON THE WITNESS STAND.

# 136 THE COURT:

HOLD ON.

# 137 (THE WITNESS IS AGAIN PRESENT.)

# 138 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. MRS. LOPEZ IS AGAIN ON THE STAND. ALL RIGHT. MR. DARDEN, YOU MAY CONCLUDE.

# 139 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, MAY I MARK THE LETTER I JUST DESCRIBED AS PEOPLE'S --

# 140 THE CLERK:

96.

# 141 THE COURT:

PEOPLE'S 96.

# 142 (PEO'S 96 FOR ID = LETTER)

# 143 MR. DARDEN:

AND IF I MAY, MAY I ASK THE INTERPRETER TO READ TO THE WITNESS THE MIDDLE PARAGRAPH?

# 144 THE COURT:

IF YOU MUST.

# 145 MR. DARDEN:

I MUST.

# 146 THE INTERPRETER:

MAY I READ IT TO MYSELF FIRST?

# 147 THE COURT:

YOU MAY. DID WE JUST HAVE A PHOTO FLASH? UNIDENTIFIED PHOTOGRAPHER: MY MISTAKE.

# 148 MR. COCHRAN:

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

# 149 THE COURT:

THE INTERPRETER WOULD LIKE TO READ THE DOCUMENT BEFORE SHE HAS TO TRANSLATE IT, WHICH IS THE WAY ONE NORMALLY WORKS WITH AN INTERPRETER, AND TRANSLATE THE DOCUMENT.

# 150 THE INTERPRETER:

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ IT TO HER?

# 151 MR. DARDEN:

READ THE MIDDLE PARAGRAPH TO HER, PLEASE.

# 152 (THE INTERPRETER COMPLIES.)

# 153 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, MAY I BE HEARD ON THIS? MAY I BE HEARD?

# 154 THE COURT:

MR. DARDEN IS IN THE PROCESS OF ASKING A QUESTION.

# 155 MR. COCHRAN:

I WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ABOUT SOMETHING THIS MORNING YOUR HONOR SAID ABOUT THIS VERY LETTER. I WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD.

# 156 THE COURT:

WELL, LET'S LET HIM ASK THE QUESTION.

# 157 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: MISS LOPEZ, SHOWING YOU THE LETTER THAT'S JUST BEEN MARKED --

# 158 THE COURT:

MICROPHONE. MICROPHONE.

# 159 MR. DARDEN:

IT'S ON MUTE.

# 160 Q:

BY MR. DARDEN: SHOWING YOU THE LETTER THAT'S JUST BEEN MARKED PEOPLE'S 96, DID YOU SEE THIS DOCUMENT EARLIER TODAY?

# 161 A:

I'M NOT SHOWN DOCUMENTS, SIR.

# 162 Q:

OKAY. WELL, THE INTERPRETER JUST READ FOR YOU THE MIDDLE PARAGRAPH OF THIS DOCUMENT, CORRECT?

# 163 A:

YES, SIR.

# 164 Q:

OKAY. AND THAT PARAGRAPH DISCUSSES --

# 165 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, NOW I WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD. WE DISCUSSED THIS EARLIER.

# 166 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. LET ME SEE COUNSEL AT THE SIDEBAR, PLEASE.

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (5)

Rosa Lopez

SIR, THIS WAS SENT TO ME FROM LAS VEGAS. I DON'T KNOW BY WHOM. I DON'T KNOW THE GENTLEMAN.

Lopez admits receiving new clothes from an unknown sender in Las Vegas, which Darden uses to imply undisclosed defense compensation.

Rosa Lopez

FROM NONE OF THEM, SIR, AND I DON'T WANT IT.

Blanket denial of expecting payment from any defense attorney — emphatic but delivered under sustained impeachment pressure.

Christopher Darden

WHERE I COME FROM, A CHRYSLER IS JUST LIKE A LIMOUSINE, MR. COCHRAN.

Comic deflection during the sidebar dispute about the videotape, lightening a tense moment.

Johnnie Cochran

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY PREPOSTEROUS.

Cochran's indignant reaction to the videotape allegedly showing him making signals — his forceful denial becomes part of the record.

Christopher Darden

I'VE BEEN SANDBAGGED BY MY OWN OFFICE THIS TIME.

Rare moment of prosecutorial candor — Darden admits he hadn't seen the videotape before showing it, revealing internal prosecution coordination problems.

Evidence (4)

null

Sylvia Guerra tape — recorded conversation containing allegations about $5,000 payment offers and Lopez mentioning Guerra's name to defense attorneys

discussed, specific allegations drawn out question by question

null

Videotape played outside witness's presence allegedly showing Cochran making signals in court

viewed by judge and counsel at bench, ultimately not shown to anyone

People's 96

Letter dated March 2 from Dr. Vincent D. Gilley, middle paragraph read to Lopez by interpreter

introduced and marked; question about contents cut off by Cochran objection and sidebar

null

Written report dated July 29 in which Sylvia Guerra's name appears, contrasted with tape where her name is absent

discussed to impeach Lopez's account of her relationship with Guerra

Notable Exchanges (3)

Christopher Darden•Rosa Lopez

Darden methodically lists every possible defense-side paymaster — Shapiro, Bailey, Douglas, Kardashian, Chapman, Skip Taft, 'Brian,' McNally, McKenna, Pavelic — extracting a denial from Lopez on each name, then pivots to her prior testimony that she was sleeping on the street and broke.

strategic

Lance A. Ito•Johnnie Cochran•Marcia Clark•Christopher Darden

With Lopez removed from the courtroom, all parties watch a videotape twice. Ito identifies it as showing Cochran making a signal. Cochran explodes in denial, Clark asks to be sworn in over the Bel Age hotel rate revelation, and Darden quips about Chryslers. Ito ultimately declines to use the tape.

heated

Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

Cochran repeatedly tries to be heard about People's 96 (the Gilley letter), citing a prior morning ruling, but Ito keeps cutting him off until finally agreeing to a sidebar.

procedural

Light Moments (3)

Marcia Clark

Marcia Clark hears that all defense experts stay at the Bel Age hotel and sarcastically offers to be sworn in: 'ALL OF YOUR EXPERT WITNESSES STAY AT BEL AGE? SWEAR ME IN.'

Christopher Darden

Darden responds to Cochran's insistence that Bailey's black Chrysler was not a limousine: 'WHERE I COME FROM, A CHRYSLER IS JUST LIKE A LIMOUSINE, MR. COCHRAN.'

Unidentified Photographer

A photographer accidentally fires a flash during the interpreter's pre-reading of People's 96. Ito notes it; the photographer says 'MY MISTAKE.'

Credibility Attacks (4)

⚔ Rosa Lopez

prior inconsistent statement / bias

Darden confronts Lopez with Sylvia Guerra's taped statements that Lopez offered Guerra $5,000 and mentioned her name to defense attorneys, all of which Lopez denies. Darden also highlights that Guerra's name appears in the July 29 written report but not on the tape, which Lopez cannot explain.

⚔ Rosa Lopez

extrinsic evidence of payment / motive

Darden establishes that Lopez received a dress and shoes sent from Las Vegas by an unknown man, and presses her on whether money was arranged for her through a San Salvador lawyer — implying undisclosed defense compensation despite her prior testimony that she expected nothing.

⚔ Rosa Lopez

prior inconsistent statement

Lopez previously testified she was sleeping on the street and had very little money; Darden juxtaposes this with the new clothing and alleged money arrangements to suggest her poverty testimony was misleading.

⚔ Johnnie Cochran

videotape evidence

Prosecution attempted to show a videotape allegedly depicting Cochran making courtroom signals, which Cochran vigorously denied. Judge Ito identified the content on the record but ultimately chose not to admit or act on the tape.

Objections

7 objections (2 sustained, 3 overruled)

Proceeding 5134 • 166 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103