Redirect examination of Rosa Lopez

📄 Redirect examination of Rosa Lopez — Friday, March 3, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAR\3\REDIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-ROSA-L.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 30 of 167

Witness: Rosa Lopez
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Defense • Date: Friday, March 3, 1995 • Utterances: 325

Johnnie Cochran conducts redirect examination of Rosa Lopez, the Salingers' housekeeper who lived next to OJ Simpson. Cochran reinforces her core alibi testimony — that she saw the Bronco parked at Rockingham after 10pm on June 12 and again the morning of June 13, that she heard Simpson's voice earlier that evening, and that she saw Detective Fuhrman after 8am on June 13. He also rehabilitates her credibility by having her deny any financial motive for testifying and walking back the damaging implication from cross that she told a former employer she would 'testify for Simpson anytime, anywhere.'

# 1 Q:

DURING CROSS-EXAMINATION, MISS LOPEZ, DO YOU RECALL SEEING A BRIEF VIDEOTAPE, I BELIEVE INVOLVING A REPORTER FROM KABC CHANNEL 7?

# 2 A:

UMM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CHANNEL IT WAS. I SAW MYSELF ON T.V. AND THAT'S ALL.

# 3 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND DURING THAT BRIEF VIDEO CLIP, IN SEEING THAT DID IT REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION ABOUT A CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAD WITH A REPORTER SHORTLY AFTER JUNE 12, 1994?

# 4 A:

YES, SIR.

# 5 Q:

AND IN THAT TAPE DID YOU TALK TO THAT REPORTER ABOUT NOISES THAT YOU HEARD IN THE LATE EVENING HOURS OF JUNE 12TH AND THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JUNE 13TH?

# 6 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION.

# 7 THE COURT:

WHAT IS THE OBJECTION?

# 8 MR. DARDEN:

CALLS FOR HEARSAY. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD ALREADY THAT SHE TALKED TO THE REPORTER ABOUT EARLY MORNING NOISES.

# 9 MR. COCHRAN:

THE TAPE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, YOUR HONOR. I THINK I HAVE ACCURATELY STATED IT. IF NOT, I THINK I CAN REFRAME IT.

# 10 THE COURT:

I AM TRYING TO RECOLLECT WHAT EXACTLY IT WAS THAT WAS SAID.

# 11 MR. COCHRAN:

ABOUT NOISES?

# 12 MR. DARDEN:

TO THIS REPORTER?

# 13 THE COURT:

YES.

# 14 MR. DARDEN:

SHE SAID --

# 15 MR. COCHRAN:

LET ME --

# 16 MR. DARDEN:

SHE SAID SHE HEARD VOICES VERY, VERY LATE.

# 17 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT.

# 18 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: DO YOU RECALL SPEAKING TO A REPORTER AFTER SEEING THAT TAPE WHERE YOU -- WHEREIN YOU INDICATED THAT YOU RECALLED HEARING VOICES LATE ON JUNE 12, 1994?

# 19 A:

YES, SIR.

# 20 Q:

HAVE YOU EVER AT ANY TIME EVER TRIED TO SELL THE INFORMATION WHICH YOU HAVE TOLD US IN COURT HERE TO EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS --

# 21 A:

NO, SIR.

# 22 Q:

WELL, LET ME GIVE YOU THE PUBLICATIONS FIRST. THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER?

# 23 A:

NO, SIR.

# 24 Q:

THE GLOBE?

# 25 A:

NO, SIR.

# 26 Q:

OR THE STAR?

# 27 A:

NO, SIR.

# 28 Q:

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO SELL WHAT YOU'VE HAD TO SAY FOR MONEY TO ANYONE?

# 29 A:

NO, SIR.

# 30 Q:

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN OFFERED ANY MONEY BY ANY LAWYER IN THIS CASE AT ALL?

# 31 A:

NO, SIR.

# 32 Q:

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN OFFERED ANY MONEY BY CATHY RANDA?

# 33 A:

NO, SIR.

# 34 Q:

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN OFFERED ANY MONEY BY MICHELLE?

# 35 A:

NO, SIR.

# 36 Q:

NOW, WITH REGARD TO THE VOICES THAT YOU HEARD ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 12, 1994, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US AND TELL US THE APPROXIMATE TIMES THAT YOU RECALL HEARING THOSE VOICES?

# 37 A:

WELL, AT ABOUT 9:00, 9:45, 11:00. FROM 11:30 TO 12:30, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I NEVER SAID --

# 38 Q:

IN THAT GENERAL TIME FRAME?

# 39 A:

YES, SIR.

# 40 Q:

AND IF YOU RECALL, WHOSE VOICE -- WHOSE VOICE OR VOICES DID YOU HEAR ABOUT 9:00, 9:45 I THINK YOU SAID?

# 41 A:

I HEARD MR. SIMPSON.

# 42 Q:

AND YOU MENTIONED HEARING VOICES I GUESS AFTER 11:30?

# 43 A:

YES, SIR.

# 44 Q:

AND DID YOU RECOGNIZE ANY OF THOSE VOICES, MA'AM?

# 45 A:

NO, SIR.

# 46 Q:

WHEN YOU TESTIFIED EARLIER ABOUT HEARING FOOTSTEPS DURING THE EVENING AND YOU SAID YOU WERE AFRAID -- DO YOU RECALL THAT?

# 47 A:

YES, SIR.

# 48 Q:

DID THERE COME A TIME AFTER YOU HEARD THOSE FOOTSTEPS THAT YOU WEREN'T AFRAID ANY MORE?

# 49 A:

WHEN I HEARD THAT MR. SIMPSON CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE.

KEY QUOTE

# 50 Q:

AND WAS THAT BEFORE YOU WENT OUT TO WALK WITH THE DOG THE LAST TIME THAT EVENING?

# 51 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, THAT IS LEADING.

# 52 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 53 MR. COCHRAN:

I SAID BEFORE -- WAS THAT BEFORE?

# 54 THE COURT:

LEADING.

# 55 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT.

# 56 Q:

WHEN WAS THAT WITH RELATION TO THE TIME THAT YOU WENT OUT TO WALK THE DOG FOR THE LAST TIME?

# 57 A:

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT IT WAS AFTER 10:00, SIR.

# 58 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND MR. SIMPSON RETURNED HOME ABOUT WHAT TIME, IF YOU RECALL?

# 59 A:

OH, 15 TO 9:00 OR 9:00, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DON'T REMEMBER.

# 60 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DO YOU MEAN 15 TO 9:00 OR A LATER TIME?

# 61 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR.

# 62 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 63 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: WHAT TIME DO YOU MEAN THAT MR. SIMPSON RETURNED HOME?

# 64 MR. DARDEN:

SAME OBJECTION.

# 65 MR. COCHRAN:

I'M ASKING.

# 66 THE COURT:

OVERRULED. OVERRULED.

# 67 ROSA LOPEZ:

AT ABOUT 9:00, 9:00. (IN ENGLISH) 9:30, 9:45. I DON'T REMEMBER, SIR.

# 68 ROSA LOPEZ:

(THROUGH THE INTERPRETER.) 9:30, 9:45. I DO NOT REMEMBER, SIR.

# 69 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT.

# 70 Q:

NOW, YOU WERE SHOWN A PICTURE OF A DETECTIVE MARLOW, I BELIEVE, AND ASKED WHETHER OR NOT YOU SAW THIS INDIVIDUAL ON OR ABOUT JUNE 28, 1994. DO YOU RECALL THAT?

# 71 A:

YES, SIR.

# 72 Q:

AND DID YOU RECOGNIZE EVER HAVING SEEN THAT MAN BEFORE?

# 73 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER WELL BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE HIM. HE CAME TO THE HOUSE, BUT THE LADY MET HIM.

# 74 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WHEN YOU SAY "THE LADY," WHAT LADY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

# 75 A:

MRS. SALINGER.

# 76 Q:

AND WAS THAT ON OR ABOUT JUNE 28?

# 77 A:

MORE OR LESS. I DON'T REMEMBER THE TIME -- THE DATE.

# 78 Q:

DID THE POLICE OFFICER WHO CAME AROUND THAT TIME EVER ASK TO SPEAK WITH YOU?

# 79 A:

NO, SIR.

# 80 Q:

YOU WERE SHOWN A COPY OF A PHONE BILL AND ASKED WHETHER OR NOT DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 12, 1994, YOU HAD OCCASION TO CALL THE UNITED KINGDOM IN AN EFFORT TO REACH THE --

# 81 A:

YES, SIR.

# 82 Q:

-- SALINGERS?

# 83 A:

YES, SIR.

# 84 Q:

AND DO YOU RECALL WHETHER OR NOT YOU EVER REACHED THEM?

# 85 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER IF I TALKED TO THEM, NO. I DON'T REMEMBER. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TIMES.

# 86 Q:

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

# 87 A:

THAT THE LADY SAYS THAT WHEN IT IS DAYTIME HERE, OVER THERE IT IS NIGHTTIME.

# 88 Q:

SO AS YOU SIT HERE NOW DO YOU RECALL ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO THEM ON THE PHONE WHILE THEY WERE IN EUROPE?

# 89 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, ASKED AND ANSWERED.

# 90 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 91 THE INTERPRETER:

I DIDN'T GET THE LAST PART OF THAT QUESTION, MR. COCHRAN.

# 92 MR. COCHRAN:

CERTAINLY.

# 93 Q:

DO YOU EVER RECALL ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO THEM WHILE THEY WERE IN EUROPE?

# 94 A:

NO, SIR.

# 95 Q:

NOW, YOU WERE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT A LADY BY THE NAME OF SYLVIA WALKER. DO YOU RECALL THOSE QUESTIONS.

# 96 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, THAT MISSTATES THE EVIDENCE. IT IS SYLVIA ANNE WALKER.

# 97 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED. REPHRASE THE QUESTION.

# 98 MR. COCHRAN:

WELL, LET ME GIVE YOU THE FULL CORRECT NAME.

# 99 Q:

YOU WERE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SYLVIA ANNE WALKER. DO YOU RECALL THOSE QUESTIONS?

# 100 A:

SLYVIANNE WALKER, YES, SIR.

# 101 Q:

AND YOU WERE FORMERLY EMPLOYED BY THE WALKERS, WERE YOU?

# 102 A:

YES, SIR.

# 103 Q:

DURING THE TIME THAT YOU WORKED FOR THE WALKERS, HOW LONG WAS THAT THAT YOU WORKED FOR THEM?

# 104 A:

I WORKED FOR HER FOR NINE YEARS.

# 105 Q:

AND DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME DID SHE EVER AT ANY TIME DEDUCT SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES FOR YOU?

# 106 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. IT IS IRRELEVANT.

# 107 MR. COCHRAN:

IT IS RELEVANT.

# 108 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 109 MR. DARDEN:

CALLS FOR SPECULATION, YOUR HONOR.

# 110 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 111 ROSA LOPEZ:

NEVER.

# 112 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND DID YOU PAY YOUR OWN SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES DURING THAT TIME?

# 113 A:

I PAID, SIR. (IN ENGLISH) SOME.

# 114 Q:

NOW, HOW DID YOU GET ALONG WITH MR. WALKER, THE HUSBAND OF THIS FAMILY, DURING THIS TIME?

# 115 A:

VERY WELL, SIR.

# 116 Q:

AND HOW DID YOU GET ALONG WITH MISS SYLVIA ANNE WALKER?

# 117 A:

WELL, SOMETIMES FINE AND SOMETIMES WE WOULD ARGUE. (IN ENGLISH) THE HOUSEKEEPER, YOU KNOW.

# 118 ROSA LOPEZ:

(THROUGH THE INTERPRETER) THE HOUSEKEEPER, YOU KNOW.

# 119 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

# 120 A:

THAT -- I HAVE BEEN WITH HER FOR A LONG TIME SO THERE WAS -- WE WERE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH EACH OTHER.

# 121 Q:

DID YOU EVER AT ANY TIME, MISS LOPEZ, TELL MISS WALKER THAT YOU WOULD TESTIFY FOR MR. SIMPSON ANYTIME OR ANYWHERE?

# 122 A:

NO, SIR.

# 123 Q:

DO YOU RECALL A CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAD WITH HER DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST OF 1994?

# 124 A:

YES, SIR.

# 125 Q:

WOULD YOU TELL US WHAT YOU RECALL SAYING TO HER AT THAT TIME?

# 126 A:

IT WAS FOR ME TO PREPARE THE DINNER FOR HER HUSBAND'S BIRTHDAY.

# 127 Q:

DID YOU DO THAT?

# 128 A:

YES, SIR.

# 129 Q:

DURING THE COURSE OF THAT TIME FRAME, DURING AUGUST OF 1994, DID SHE EVER MAKE ANY STATEMENTS TO YOU ABOUT THE O.J. SIMPSON CASE?

# 130 A:

I DON'T REMEMBER.

# 131 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION AS HEARSAY.

# 132 MR. COCHRAN:

NO, YOUR HONOR.

# 133 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 134 MR. COCHRAN:

COUNSEL WENT INTO THIS ON CROSS-EXAMINATION. I THINK THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO ELICIT THE RESPONSE, IF THE COURT PLEASES.

# 135 THE COURT:

WHAT SYLVIA WALKER SAID TO HER?

# 136 MR. COCHRAN:

SYLVIANNE WALKER'S RESPONSE TO WHAT -- YES, YOUR HONOR. I HAVE AN OFFER OF PROOF.

# 137 MR. DARDEN:

THE WITNESS HAS ANSWERED "I DON'T REMEMBER," WHICH MEANS "NO," AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

# 138 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 139 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. THE OBJECTION IS OVERRULED.

# 140 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

# 141 Q:

DO YOU RECALL ANY CONVERSATION WITH MISS SYLVIA ANNE WALKER REGARDING THE O.J. SIMPSON CASE AT ALL?

# 142 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, ASKED AND ANSWERED.

# 143 THE COURT:

OVERRULED. YOU CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.

# 144 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, SIR.

# 145 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU RECALL SAYING TO HER, IF ANYTHING, WHAT SHE SAID TO YOU?

# 146 MR. DARDEN:

HEARSAY.

# 147 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 148 ROSA LOPEZ:

NO, SIR.

# 149 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: YOU HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF THAT?

# 150 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, ASKED AND ANSWERED.

# 151 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 152 ROSA LOPEZ:

NO, SIR.

# 153 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: DID YOU EVER AT ANY TIME SAY: "OH, SENORA, O.J. SIMPSON IS A GREAT GUY AND I WILL TESTIFY TO ANYTHING ANYTIME"?

# 154 A:

MAYBE I SAID THAT TO HER. I DON'T REMEMBER.

KEY QUOTE

# 155 Q:

DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION OF THAT?

# 156 A:

NO.

# 157 Q:

DID YOU EVER SAY OR DID SHE EVER RESPOND: "YEAH, ROSA, BUT -- SO I THOUGHT, FINE, HE'S A GREAT GUY, OKAY, AND THEN I SAID, WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK, MEANING DO YOU THINK HE DID IT" OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT?

# 158 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, THAT IS VAGUE.

# 159 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 160 MR. COCHRAN:

I QUOTED FROM THE --

# 161 MR. DARDEN:

WHO IS TALKING?

# 162 MR. COCHRAN:

I CAN MAKE IT CLEARER.

# 163 THE COURT:

OVERRULED. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION?

# 164 ROSA LOPEZ:

NO, SIR.

# 165 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT.

# 166 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT. DID MISS WALKER EVER SAY TO YOU: "YEAH, ROSA" --

# 167 THE INTERPRETER:

THE INTERPRETER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST.

# 168 THE COURT:

YES.

# 169 THE INTERPRETER:

IF YOU ARE READING FROM SOMETHING, MAY I SEE IT?

# 170 MR. COCHRAN:

CERTAINLY. MAY I APPROACH?

# 171 THE COURT:

YES.

# 172 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 173 MR. COCHRAN:

MAY I PROCEED NOW, YOUR HONOR?

# 174 THE COURT:

YES. MR. DARDEN, I MEAN, DID YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT --

# 175 MR. COCHRAN:

LET ME START OVER, IF I MIGHT, YOUR HONOR.

# 176 Q:

DO YOU EVER RECALL MISS SYLVIA WALKER SAYING: "YEAH, ROSA, BUT SO I THOUGHT, FINE, HE'S A GREAT GUY, OKAY. AND THEN I SAID," MEANING SYLVIA WALKER," WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK, MEANING DO YOU THINK HE DID IT?" DO YOU EVER RECALL MISS SYLVIA ANNE WALKER MAKING THAT STATEMENT TO YOU?

# 177 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. THE QUESTION IS VAGUE AND IT CALLS FOR SPECULATION. MISS WALKER WAS EXPRESSING HER OWN THOUGHTS.

# 178 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. OVERRULED.

# 179 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, SIR.

# 180 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND WHEN SHE SAID THAT TO YOU, DO YOU RECALL WHAT YOUR RESPONSE WAS, IF ANY?

# 181 A:

NO, I DON'T REMEMBER.

# 182 Q:

AND WHEN YOU TALKED TO MISS WALKER, DID YOU BELIEVE THAT MR. SIMPSON WAS GUILTY OF THESE CRIMES?

# 183 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, IRRELEVANT.

# 184 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 185 ROSA LOPEZ:

NO, SIR.

# 186 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: YOU DON'T RECALL ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE CONVERSATION WITH HER?

# 187 A:

NO, SIR.

# 188 Q:

NOW, THIS MORNING YOU WERE SHOWN A NUMBER OF PHOTOGRAPHS BY MR. DARDEN. DO YOU RECALL THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS?

# 189 A:

YES, SIR.

# 190 Q:

I WANT TO SHOW YOU ONE THAT I DON'T THINK WE PUT ON THE ELMO, IF I CAN.

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

# 192 MR. COCHRAN:

MAY I GET IT FROM THE CLERK?

# 193 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 194 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

# 195 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: JUST BEFORE WE PUT THAT ON --

# 196 MR. DARDEN:

YOUR HONOR, MAY THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS ALREADY PLACED ON THE MONITOR AND THE WITNESS GLANCED OVER AT IT?

# 197 MR. COCHRAN:

IT DOESN'T MATTER, YOUR HONOR. LET ME GO RIGHT TO -- YOU CAN PUT IT ON, MR. HARRIS.

# 198 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. MR. COCHRAN.

# 199 MR. COCHRAN:

YES, YOUR HONOR.

# 200 Q:

WITH REGARD -- MR. DARDEN DIDN'T SHOW THIS PHOTOGRAPH ON THE ELMO, SO I WILL ASK YOU, THE MARK -- THE RED MARK DOWN THAT I WILL TRY TO -- IF YOU CAN SEE -- CAN YOU -- CAN YOU STEP DOWN AND CAN YOU, WITH THE COURT'S PERMISSION, CAN YOU LOOK UP AT THIS RED MARK RIGHT THERE?

# 201 A:

YES, SIR.

# 202 Q:

AND WAS THAT MARK PLACED BY YOU THIS MORNING?

# 203 A:

YES, SIR.

# 204 Q:

AND DOES THAT MARK INDICATE THE PLACE YOU WERE WHEN YOU LAST SAW THE BRONCO THAT PARTICULAR EVENING ON JUNE 12, 1994, MA'AM?

# 205 A:

THAT IS WHERE I WAS STANDING, SIR.

# 206 Q:

AND PRIOR TO BEING AT THAT LOCATION AT THE RED MARK ON -- YOUR HONOR, THIS IS PEOPLE'S 92-A, FOR THE RECORD -- PRIOR TO GOING TO THE RED MARK ON PEOPLE'S 92-A FOR IDENTIFICATION, WHEN YOU WERE WITH THE -- THIS DOG -- AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE DOG; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 207 A:

YES, SIR.

# 208 Q:

DID YOU WALK -- CAN YOU DESCRIBE FOR THE COURT WHETHER OR NOT YOU WALKED BETWEEN THE TREES OR HOW, AND THE TREES ARE DEPICTED HERE ON 92-A BY RED ARROWS?

# 209 A:

I COULDN'T HAVE WALKED ON TOP OF THE TREES. I WALKED BETWEEN THE TREES.

KEY QUOTE

# 210 Q:

ALL RIGHT. BETWEEN THE TWO TREES THAT YOU CAN SEE THERE ON THE MONITOR?

# 211 A:

YES, SIR.

# 212 Q:

AND YOU HAD THE DOG ON A LEASH AT THAT TIME?

# 213 A:

YES, SIR.

# 214 Q:

AND DO YOU RECALL WHETHER OR NOT THE DOG WAS PULLING YOU AT ALL?

# 215 A:

THE DOG ALWAYS PULLS, SIR.

# 216 Q:

AND DO YOU RECALL WHETHER OR NOT, WHILE YOU WERE OUT THERE ON THIS OCCASION, THAT YOU WALKED INTO SOME IVY OUT THERE?

# 217 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION. THAT IS LEADING.

# 218 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 219 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT.

# 220 Q:

CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO THE COURT WHERE THE DOG PULLED YOU, IF ANY PLACE?

# 221 MR. DARDEN:

SAME OBJECTION.

# 222 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 223 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, SIR. THE DOG ALWAYS PULLS ME TOWARD THE STREET BECAUSE -- AND SINCE SHE NEVER GOES OUTSIDE, SHE LOVES GOING TO THE STREET.

# 224 MR. COCHRAN:

I MISSED THE LAST PART. SHE LOVES --

# 225 THE INTERPRETER:

SHE LOVES GOING TO THE STREET.

# 226 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: YOU WOULDN'T LET THE DOG GO IN THE STREET, WOULD YOU?

# 227 A:

NO, SIR.

# 228 Q:

AND THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY WHAT TIME ON JUNE 12, 1994, IN THE EVENING HOURS?

# 229 A:

AFTER 10:00, SIR.

# 230 Q:

AND IS THAT YOUR BEST RESPONSE?

# 231 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, VAGUE.

# 232 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 233 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, SIR.

# 234 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND YOU HAVE ALREADY DESCRIBED FOR US WHAT DID YOU BEFORE YOU CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 235 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, LEADING.

# 236 THE COURT:

IT IS A "SO WHAT" QUESTION. NEVER MIND. GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THE QUESTION.

# 237 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, SIR.

# 238 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: NOW, YOU WERE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS BY MR. DARDEN ABOUT THE SALINGER'S CLOCKS. DO YOU RECALL THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CLOCKS?

# 239 A:

YES, SIR.

# 240 Q:

AND DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 12, TO AT LEAST JUNE 17, 1994, THE SALINGERS WERE NOT AT HOME, WERE THEY?

# 241 A:

YES, SIR.

# 242 Q:

AND BEFORE YOU LEFT TO GO OUT TO WALK THE DOG THE LAST TIME THAT EVENING, DID YOU HAVE OCCASION TO LOOK AT BOTH CLOCKS INSIDE THE HOUSE, IF YOU RECALL?

# 243 MR. DARDEN:

LEADING.

# 244 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 245 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

# 246 Q:

WHAT CLOCKS, IF ANY, DID YOU LOOK AT BEFORE YOU WENT OUTSIDE FOR THE LAST TIME THAT EVENING?

# 247 MR. DARDEN:

SAME OBJECTION.

# 248 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 249 ROSA LOPEZ:

THE ONE IN MY BEDROOM, SIR.

# 250 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU SEE ANY OTHER CLOCK?

# 251 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, ASKED AND ANSWERED.

# 252 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 253 ROSA LOPEZ:

THE ONE IN THE KITCHEN, SIR.

# 254 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT. WHICH DID YOU SEE FIRST, IF YOU RECALL?

# 255 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION AS VAGUE.

# 256 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 257 ROSA LOPEZ:

THE ONE IN MY BEDROOM, SIR.

# 258 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT. NOW, IS THERE ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU SAW DETECTIVE FUHRMAN IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON JUNE 13, 1994?

# 259 THE COURT:

AREN'T WE SORT OF MIXING APPLES AND ORANGES HERE? EARLY MORNING HOURS IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS CASE MEANS 1:00 OR 2:00 IN THE MORNING.

# 260 MR. COCHRAN:

YES.

# 261 Q:

IS THERE ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU SAW DETECTIVE FUHRMAN AFTER EIGHT O'CLOCK A.M. ON JUNE 13, 1994?

# 262 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION. THAT IS LEADING.

# 263 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 264 MR. DARDEN:

CAN WE HAVE A FEW MOMENTS?

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

# 266 MR. DARDEN:

CAN WE HAVE A PRIVATE CONVERSATION FOR A MOMENT, YOUR HONOR?

# 267 THE COURT:

CERTAINLY.

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

# 269 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, IS THIS PART OF THE DISCOVERY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT?

# 270 THE COURT:

COULD BE.

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

# 272 MR. DARDEN:

WE HAVE ADDITIONAL DISCOVERY FOR MR. COCHRAN, YOUR HONOR.

# 273 MR. COCHRAN:

I MIGHT NEED A FEW MINUTES NOW, BUT BEFORE I GET TO THAT POINT, LET ME PROCEED AND THEN GET TO THAT POINT. MAY I PROCEED, YOUR HONOR?

# 274 THE COURT:

YOU MAY, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

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

# 276 MR. COCHRAN:

I WAS LISTENING TO COUNSEL. SHE WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH HERSELF. THREW ME OFF. I'M TRYING TO FIND THE LAST QUESTION AND ANSWER, YOUR HONOR.

# 277 THE COURT:

I THINK WE HAD JUST --

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

# 279 THE COURT:

ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND ABOUT TALKING TO DETECTIVE FUHRMAN AFTER EIGHT O'CLOCK A.M. ON JUNE THE 13TH? LAST QUESTION.

# 280 MR. COCHRAN:

AND WAS THERE AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, YOUR HONOR?

# 281 THE COURT:

NO, THERE WAS NOT.

# 282 MR. COCHRAN:

I WILL ASK IT AGAIN.

# 283 MR. DARDEN:

IS THAT OBJECTION OVERRULED?

# 284 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: IS THERE ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND --

# 285 THE COURT:

I HAVE HEARD PROSECUTORS ASK THAT QUESTION, TOO.

# 286 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: IS THERE ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU SPOKE WITH AND SAW DETECTIVE FUHRMAN AFTER EIGHT O'CLOCK ON JUNE 13, 1994?

# 287 A:

NO, SIR.

# 288 Q:

AND WHEN YOU SAW HIM AT THAT TIME AND YOU SPOKE WITH HIM, DID YOU SEE HIM WRITE ANY NOTES?

# 289 A:

NO, SIR.

# 290 Q:

IS THERE ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU HEARD FOOTSTEPS DURING THE EVENING HOURS ON JUNE 12, 1994?

# 291 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, LEADING.

# 292 MR. COCHRAN:

I SAID "ANY DOUBT," YOUR HONOR.

# 293 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 294 MR. DARDEN:

MISSTATES THE EVIDENCE.

# 295 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ANY DOUBT THAT YOU HEARD VOICES THAT EVENING?

# 296 MR. DARDEN:

IT MISSTATES THE EVIDENCE, YOUR HONOR.

# 297 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 298 ROSA LOPEZ:

NO, SIR.

# 299 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ANY DOUBT THAT YOU SAW THE BRONCO AFTER TEN O'CLOCK PARKED AT THE CURB THERE AT ROCKINGHAM?

# 300 A:

NO, SIR.

# 301 Q:

AND DID YOU HAVE OCCASION, MISS LOPEZ, TO SEE THAT BRONCO AFTER EIGHT O'CLOCK ON MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1994?

# 302 A:

YES, SIR.

# 303 Q:

AND WHERE WAS IT AT THAT TIME WHEN YOU SAW IT?

# 304 A:

IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE I HAD SEEN IT AT NIGHT, SIR.

# 305 Q:

WITH REGARD TO HOW IT WAS PARKED, DID IT SEEM TO BE PARKED IN THE SAME WAY?

# 306 MR. DARDEN:

LEADING.

# 307 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 308 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: HOW WAS IT PARKED WHEN YOU SAW IT IN THE MORNING ON THE 13TH?

# 309 A:

SOMEWHAT CROOKED.

# 310 Q:

NOW, YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN EMPLOYED OR PAID BY MR. SIMPSON; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 311 A:

NO, SIR.

# 312 Q:

AND IN THE COURSE OF YOUR TESTIMONY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, HAVE YOU TOLD US THE TRUTH?

# 313 A:

YES, SIR.

# 314 Q:

AND ARE YOU GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF TESTIFYING HERE TODAY?

# 315 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, VAGUE.

# 316 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 317 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ARE YOU RECEIVING ANY COMPENSATION FOR TESTIFYING HERE TODAY?

# 318 MR. DARDEN:

SAME OBJECTION.

# 319 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 320 THE COURT:

YOU CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.

# 321 ROSA LOPEZ:

NO, SIR.

# 322 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: DO YOU EXPECT TO BE PAID AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE?

# 323 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, VAGUE.

# 324 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 325 ROSA LOPEZ:

NO, SIR.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (5)

Rosa Lopez

NO, SIR. (to every question about selling information to National Enquirer, Globe, Star, or receiving money from any lawyer, Cathy Randa, or Michelle)

Blanket denial of financial motivation, directly rebutting the prosecution's credibility attack from cross

Rosa Lopez

MAYBE I SAID THAT TO HER. I DON'T REMEMBER.

Partial admission that she may have told former employer Sylvia Walker she would testify for Simpson 'anytime or anywhere' — a credibility concession Cochran had to immediately contain

Rosa Lopez

SOMEWHAT CROOKED.

Her description of how the Bronco was parked on the morning of June 13, consistent with her prior night sighting and corroborating the defense timeline

Rosa Lopez

I COULDN'T HAVE WALKED ON TOP OF THE TREES. I WALKED BETWEEN THE TREES.

Deadpan literal response to a location question about People's 92-A; illustrates her straightforward, unpolished character as a witness

Rosa Lopez

WHEN I HEARD THAT MR. SIMPSON CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE.

Her explanation for why she stopped being afraid after hearing footsteps — placing Simpson home that evening

Evidence (4)

People's 92-A

Aerial or overhead photograph of the Rockingham property showing trees and the area where Lopez walked the dog; contains red mark placed by Lopez indicating her position when she last saw the Bronco, and red arrows indicating trees

Discussed and used to clarify Lopez's location and dog-walking path on the night of June 12

Informal

Phone bill showing calls Lopez made to the United Kingdom during the week of June 12, 1994, attempting to reach the Salingers

Referenced in redirect; Lopez says she does not recall actually speaking to them due to time zone difference

Informal

Brief KABC Channel 7 videotape of Lopez speaking to a reporter shortly after June 12, 1994, in which she discussed hearing voices late that evening

Referenced to refresh recollection; Lopez confirms seeing herself on TV and that it refreshed her memory

Informal

Photograph of Detective Marlow shown to Lopez to ask if she recognized him visiting the Salinger residence around June 28, 1994

Referenced; Lopez says she did not personally meet him — Mrs. Salinger did

Notable Exchanges (4)

Johnnie Cochran•Christopher Darden•Lance A. Ito

Mid-examination pause where Darden requests a private sidebar to deliver new discovery to Cochran. The interruption causes confusion about the last pending question on Fuhrman, requiring the judge to remind Cochran of where they left off.

procedural, mildly chaotic

Johnnie Cochran•Rosa Lopez

Cochran attempts to have Lopez deny saying she would testify for Simpson 'anytime or anywhere.' Lopez gives a partial admission — 'Maybe I said that to her. I don't remember' — before reverting to 'No.' The exchange is inconclusive and leaves the damaging prior statement partially unrefuted.

strategically awkward

Johnnie Cochran•The Interpreter

The interpreter interrupts to request to see what Cochran is reading from before translating a long, compound quotation attributed to Sylvia Walker. Cochran approaches with the document.

procedural

Lance A. Ito•Johnnie Cochran

Judge corrects Cochran's use of 'early morning hours' regarding the Fuhrman sighting, clarifying that in this case's context that means 1:00 or 2:00 AM. Cochran rephrases to 'after eight o'clock a.m.'

procedural, helpful correction

Light Moments (5)

Rosa Lopez

When asked whether she walked between the trees on People's 92-A, Lopez responded with dry literalism: 'I COULDN'T HAVE WALKED ON TOP OF THE TREES. I WALKED BETWEEN THE TREES.'

Lance A. Ito

Judge Ito dismisses one of Cochran's recap questions as: 'IT IS A "SO WHAT" QUESTION. NEVER MIND. GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THE QUESTION.'

Johnnie Cochran

Cochran, after losing his place during the Darden sidebar, explains: 'I WAS LISTENING TO COUNSEL. SHE WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH HERSELF. THREW ME OFF.'

Lance A. Ito

When Cochran asks 'Is there any doubt in your mind' — a phrasing typically used by prosecutors — Ito quips: 'I HAVE HEARD PROSECUTORS ASK THAT QUESTION, TOO.'

Rosa Lopez

Lopez on why the dog pulled toward the street: 'THE DOG ALWAYS PULLS ME TOWARD THE STREET BECAUSE -- AND SINCE SHE NEVER GOES OUTSIDE, SHE LOVES GOING TO THE STREET.'

Credibility Attacks (2)

⚔ Rosa Lopez

prior inconsistent statement / bias

Cochran addresses the prosecution's prior cross-examination attack — that Lopez told former employer Sylvia Walker she would testify for Simpson 'anytime or anywhere.' Lopez partially admits she may have said it but claims no memory. Cochran also preemptively forecloses the financial-motive attack by eliciting denials of any tabloid deals or payments from anyone connected to Simpson.

⚔ Sylvia Walker

bias / impeachment of prosecution witness

Cochran elicits that Lopez and Walker had a long employer-employee relationship with occasional arguments, and that Lopez never actually said she would testify to anything for Simpson — attempting to undermine Walker's credibility as a witness who testified about Lopez's alleged pro-Simpson bias.

Witness Demeanor

(BRIEF PAUSE.) — during discussion about Walker's statement to Lopez

Lopez gives answers in both English and Spanish through the interpreter at several points, particularly on time estimates: '(IN ENGLISH) 9:30, 9:45. I don't remember, sir.'

Lopez is consistent and flat in her denials but visibly uncertain on time estimates, offering ranges rather than fixed times throughout

Objections

22 objections (7 sustained, 14 overruled)

Proceeding 5140 • 325 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103