Redirect examination of Rosa Maria Lopez

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

Address:

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

TRIAL

▲ Day 30 of 167

◀ Sidebar: redirect scope Sidebar: credibility and discovery ▶

Witness: Rosa Lopez
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Defense • Date: Friday, March 3, 1995 • Utterances: 223

Cochran conducts redirect examination of Rosa Maria Lopez, rehabilitating her credibility after Darden's cross. He elicits a cultural explanation for her repeated 'I don't remember' responses, clarifies her multiple surnames as a Latin naming tradition, establishes she was severely sleep-deprived (roughly 3 hours over two days) due to a solo drive to Albuquerque when she appeared in court Friday, and denies coaching her — Lopez testifies he only told her to tell the truth. She also describes seeing defense witness Michelle with a red, then swollen face after an alleged incident involving Nicole Brown Simpson.

# 1 (THE FOLLOWING PROCEEDINGS WERE HELD IN OPEN COURT:)

# 2 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. MR. COCHRAN YOU MAY COMMENCE YOUR REDIRECT.

# 3 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU VERY KINDLY, YOUR HONOR.

# 4

REDIRECT EXAMINATION

# 5

BY MR. COCHRAN:

# 6 Q:

GOOD AFTERNOON, MISS LOPEZ.

# 7 A:

GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.

# 8 Q:

MISS LOPEZ, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

# 9 A:

VERY TIRED.

# 10 Q:

VERY WELL. WE WILL TRY NOT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME THIS AFTERNOON.

# 11 A:

OKAY. THANK YOU.

# 12 Q:

MISS LOPEZ, DURING YOUR EXAMINATION BY MR. DARDEN, ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS YOU WOULD SAY "I DON'T REMEMBER SAYING THAT" OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT. WHEN YOU SAID THAT WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT TERM, "I DON'T REMEMBER SAYING THAT"?

# 13 A:

IN MY -- IN OUR LATIN COUNTRIES WE SPEAK DIFFERENT DIALECTS, SIR, AND WHEN I'M SAYING "I DON'T REMEMBER," I AM SAYING "NO."

KEY QUOTE

# 14 Q:

ALL RIGHT. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS COMMON TO YOUR PARTICULAR COUNTRY, EL SALVADOR?

# 15 A:

YES, SIR.

# 16 Q:

NOW, MISS LOPEZ, YOU WERE ASKED BY -- ASKED SOME QUESTIONS BY MR. DARDEN REGARDING AN UNEMPLOYMENT FORM AND YOU INDICATED THAT ON THAT FORM THE ADDRESS THAT YOU USED WAS YOUR SON'S ADDRESS, IF YOU RECALL.

# 17 A:

YES, SIR.

# 18 Q:

CAN YOU TELL US WHY YOU USED YOUR SON'S ADDRESS?

# 19 A:

BECAUSE MY SON, HIS MAILBOX HAS A LOCK, YOUR HONOR.

# 20 Q:

AND WHAT ABOUT -- DOES YOUR DAUGHTER'S MAILBOX HAVE A LOCK ON IT?

# 21 A:

NO, SIR.

# 22 Q:

HAS SHE EVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH HER MAIL?

# 23 A:

YES, SIR.

# 24 Q:

WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS, IF ANY, IF YOU CAN TELL US?

# 25 A:

TOO MANY CHILDREN FROM AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAY AROUND AND THEY OPEN THE MAILBOXES, AND EVEN THE GROWN-UPS.

# 26 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, ARE YOU PRESENTLY COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT AT ALL?

# 27 A:

NO, SIR.

# 28 Q:

YOU PREVIOUSLY TOLD US THAT YOU HAVE WORKED A NUMBER OF YEARS IN YOUR LIFE, PERHAPS BETWEEN FORTY AND FIFTY YEARS. AND DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, MISS LOPEZ, HOW LONG, IF ANY, HAVE YOU EVER COLLECTED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?

# 29 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, IRRELEVANT.

# 30 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 31 ROSA LOPEZ:

ONLY ONCE, SIR.

# 32 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND FOR HOW LONG DID YOU COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?

# 33 A:

FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS OR TWO MONTHS. I DON'T REMEMBER.

# 34 Q:

AND IS THAT ALL?

# 35 A:

YES, SIR.

# 36 Q:

NOW, MR. DARDEN MENTIONED THE FACT THAT YOU MENTIONED SOME OTHER NAMES ASSOCIATED WITH YOU.

# 37 A:

YES, SIR.

# 38 Q:

HE MENTIONED THE NAME REYES. DO YOU RECALL THAT?

# 39 A:

YES, SIR.

# 40 Q:

AND HE MENTIONED THE NAME LOPEZ.

# 41 A:

YES, SIR.

# 42 Q:

DO YOU RECALL THAT?

# 43 A:

YES, SIR.

# 44 Q:

AND I BELIEVE -- AND I BELIEVE HE MENTIONED THE NAME MARTINEZ.

# 45 A:

YES, SIR.

# 46 Q:

CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR THE COURT AT THIS POINT WHAT NAMES YOU HAVE AND HOW THEY WERE GIVEN TO YOU?

# 47 A:

REYES WAS GIVEN TO ME BECAUSE I WAS BORN ON JANUARY 6TH.

KEY QUOTE

# 48 Q:

AND IS JANUARY 6TH THE DATE THAT THE WISE MEN CAME, CALLED EPIPHANY, THE DATE OF EPIPHANY?

# 49 A:

YES, SIR.

# 50 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND THE NAME LOPEZ?

# 51 A:

THAT IS MY MOTHER'S LAST NAME, SIR.

# 52 Q:

AND FINALLY THE NAME MARTINEZ?

# 53 A:

THAT'S MY FATHER, SIR.

# 54 Q:

AND WHAT NAME DO YOU GO BY NORMALLY?

# 55 A:

I USE ROSA MARIA LOPEZ, SIR.

# 56 Q:

NOW, BEFORE YOU CAME TO COURT LAST FRIDAY, ON THE DATE WE PROMISED WE WOULD FINISH WITH YOU LAST FRIDAY, CAN YOU TELL THE COURT WHERE YOU HAD BEEN, WITHOUT GIVING US THE NAME OF THE STATE, JUST PRIOR TO YOUR COMING BACK TO CALIFORNIA?

# 57 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, IRRELEVANT.

# 58 MR. COCHRAN:

I WILL LINK IT UP, YOUR HONOR.

# 59 THE COURT:

OVERRULED. OVERRULED.

# 60 ROSA LOPEZ:

(IN ENGLISH) IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, SIR.

# 61 MR. COCHRAN:

SHE ALREADY GAVE US THE STATE.

# 62 ROSA LOPEZ:

(THROUGH THE INTERPRETER) IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.

# 63 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND WHEN HAD YOU GONE TO THIS OTHER STATE?

# 64 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 65 ROSA LOPEZ:

I LEFT ON WEDNESDAY AT 1:00 P.M., SIR.

# 66 Q:

AND THAT WOULD BE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 67 A:

YES, SIR.

# 68 Q:

AND HOW DID YOU GET TO THIS OTHER STATE?

# 69 A:

DRIVING, SIR.

# 70 Q:

AND DID YOU DRIVE WITH ANYONE ELSE?

# 71 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, IRRELEVANT.

# 72 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 73 ROSA LOPEZ:

JUST BY MYSELF, SIR.

# 74 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND WHAT WERE YOU DRIVING AT THAT TIME?

# 75 A:

MY SMALL LITTLE CAR, SIR.

# 76 Q:

OKAY. AND ABOUT HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GET FROM LOS ANGELES TO THIS OTHER STATE?

# 77 MR. DARDEN:

SAME OBJECTION.

# 78 THE COURT:

THAT IS --

# 79 MR. COCHRAN:

I'M GOING TO LINK IT UP.

# 80 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. LINK IT UP.

# 81 MR. DARDEN:

CAN I HAVE AN OFFER OF PROOF, YOUR HONOR?

# 82 THE COURT:

TWO MORE QUESTIONS, MR. COCHRAN.

# 83 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. I DIDN'T GET THE LAST ANSWER, YOUR HONOR.

# 84 Q:

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GET TO THE OTHER STATE?

# 85 A:

SIR, I LEFT AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. I STOPPED MY CAR FOR A LITTLE WHILE AT 3:30 IN THE MORNING. I GOT UP AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING AND I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN UP UNTIL 11:00 IN THE MORNING, SIR.

# 86 Q:

AND WHEN YOU SAID YOU GOT UP, WHERE DID YOU SLEEP?

# 87 A:

IN THE CAR, SIR.

# 88 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN DID YOU HAVE OCCASION TO CALL BACK TO LOS ANGELES ON LAST THURSDAY, WHICH WAS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD, BECAUSE YOU WERE DUE IN COURT ON THE 24TH.

# 89 THE INTERPRETER:

WHAT DAY?

# 90 MR. COCHRAN:

SHE WAS DUE IN COURT ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH.

# 91 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, SIR.

# 92 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND -- ALLOW ME A LITTLE INDULGENCE ON THIS. WHAT TIME DID YOU ARRIVE BACK IN LOS ANGELES?

# 93 A:

I WAS TOLD THAT AT 1:15.

# 94 Q:

AND HOW MUCH DID YOU SLEEP LAST FRIDAY MORNING?

# 95 A:

I LEFT THE AIRPORT -- I ARRIVED AT MY HOTEL AT 2:20 IN THE MORNING.

# 96 Q:

ALL RIGHT. HOW LONG DID YOU SLEEP, MA'AM?

# 97 A:

I WAS WOKEN UP AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING, SIR.

# 98 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND BETWEEN THE TIME OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND AND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH, HOW MANY HOURS DID YOU SLEEP, MA'AM?

# 99 A:

ABOUT THREE HOURS DURING THOSE TWO DAYS.

KEY QUOTE

# 100 Q:

AND WHEN YOU CAME TO COURT LAST FRIDAY, WERE YOU TIRED AT ALL?

# 101 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, LEADING.

# 102 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 103 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, SIR.

# 104 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: NOW, I BELIEVE YOU SHARED WITH US THAT BEFORE YOU TALKED TO MR. PAVELIC YOU SPOKE TO SOMEONE BY THE NAME OF MICHELLE.

# 105 A:

YES, SIR.

# 106 Q:

AND AFTER YOU TALKED TO MICHELLE DID YOU TALK TO ANYONE ELSE?

# 107 A:

YES, SIR.

# 108 Q:

AND WHO WAS THAT?

# 109 A:

MRS. CATHY.

# 110 Q:

AND THEN AFTER YOU TALKED TO CATHY, WHO DID YOU TALK TO, IF YOU RECALL?

# 111 A:

WITH BILL.

# 112 Q:

IS THAT MR. PAVELIC?

# 113 A:

YES, SIR.

# 114 Q:

NOW, YOU DESCRIBED ON CROSS-EXAMINATION THAT YOU MET CATHY ON THE STREET, I BELIEVE IT WAS CLIFFWOOD. DO YOU RECALL THAT.

# 115 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, MISSTATES THE TESTIMONY.

# 116 MR. COCHRAN:

CLIFF SOMETHING.

# 117 MR. DARDEN:

SHE SAID CLIFFORD.

# 118 MR. COCHRAN:

WELL, I DON'T --

# 119 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 120 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: WHAT STREET, IF YOU RECALL, DID YOU MEET CATHY ON?

# 121 A:

(IN ENGLISH) ON CLIFFORD.

# 122 ROSA LOPEZ:

(THROUGH THE INTERPRETER) CLIFFORD.

# 123 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: AND -- ALL RIGHT. AND WHY DID YOU MEET HER ON THIS STREET CLIFFORD?

# 124 A:

BECAUSE THERE WERE MANY REPORTERS AND SHE TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THEM KNEW HER AND THAT --

# 125 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, HEARSAY. MOTION TO STRIKE.

# 126 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 127 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: YOU LEFT YOUR RESIDENCE, THE SALINGER'S RESIDENCE, AND YOU MET HER ON THIS STREET CLIFFORD; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 128 (NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE.)

# 129 Q:

ON CLIFFORD; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 130 (NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE.)

# 131 Q:

SALINGER'S?

# 132 A:

YES, SIR.

# 133 Q:

AND WHEN YOU ARRIVED ON CLIFFORD DID YOU SEE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PRESS THERE?

# 134 A:

THERE WERE MANY. YES, THERE WERE.

# 135 Q:

ALL RIGHT. YOU TALKED TO MISS RANDA THERE OR DID YOU GO SOME OTHER PLACE?

# 136 A:

WE WENT TO MR. SIMPSON'S OFFICE.

# 137 Q:

ALL RIGHT. YOU SAW REPORTERS ON CLIFFORD ALSO?

# 138 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, ASKED AND ANSWERED.

# 139 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 140 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: DID YOU SEE ANY REPORTERS ON CLIFFORD ALSO?

# 141 A:

YES, SIR.

# 142 Q:

NOW, DID YOU MEET WITH ANY LAWYER IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CASE DURING THE YEAR 1994?

# 143 A:

NO, SIR.

# 144 Q:

ARE YOU ABLE TO READ ENGLISH?

# 145 (NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE.)

# 146 Q:

VERY WELL?

# 147 A:

NO, SIR.

# 148 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION AS VAGUE.

# 149 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 150 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: YOU WERE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT TELLING TIME. YOU ARE ABLE TO TELL TIME, ARE YOU NOT?

# 151 A:

YES, SIR.

# 152 Q:

AND WHETHER -- YOU CAN TELL TIME WHETHER IT IS A DIGITAL CLOCK OR A REGULAR ELECTRIC CLOCK; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 153 THE COURT:

ANALOG.

# 154 MR. COCHRAN:

HUM?

# 155 THE COURT:

ANALOG.

# 156 MR. COCHRAN:

ANALOG, BETTER PUT, IF THAT TRANSLATES.

# 157 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION. THE QUESTION IS VAGUE.

# 158 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 159 ROSA LOPEZ:

YES, SIR.

# 160 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: YOU DESCRIBED ON CROSS-EXAMINATION THAT YOU HAD SEEN MICHELLE SHORTLY AFTER SHE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON. DO YOU RECALL THAT?

# 161 A:

YES, SIR.

# 162 Q:

DO YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT MICHELLE WAS SLAPPED OR PUNCHED BY MISS SIMPSON?

# 163 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, CALLS FOR HEARSAY.

# 164 THE COURT:

CALLS FOR SPECULATION.

# 165 MR. COCHRAN:

LET ME ASK THIS -- WITHDRAW THAT, YOUR HONOR.

# 166 Q:

AS YOU LOOKED AT MICHELLE, DID YOU SEE SOMETHING ON HER FACE WHICH INDICATED TO YOU THAT THERE WAS SOME MARK OR BRUISING ON HER FACE?

# 167 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, THAT IS LEADING.

# 168 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 169 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID YOU NOTICE UNUSUAL ABOUT MICHELLE WHEN YOU SAW HER ON THIS OCCASION?

# 170 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION. THAT IS LEADING ALSO.

# 171 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 172 ROSA LOPEZ:

BECAUSE HER FACE WAS RED AND SHE WAS CRYING A LOT.

# 173 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: DID YOU SEE HER A DAY OR SO AFTER THAT?

# 174 A:

YES, SIR.

# 175 Q:

AND WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID YOU NOTICE ABOUT HER FACE THEN?

# 176 A:

IT WAS SWOLLEN.

# 177 Q:

NOW, YOU INDICATED THAT LAST WEEKEND YOU CAME OVER TO MY LAW OFFICE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 178 A:

YES, SIR.

# 179 Q:

AND HOW DID YOU GET OVER THERE?

# 180 A:

PATTY TOOK ME THERE, MR. MC KENNA.

# 181 Q:

IS THAT PATTY MC KENNA?

# 182 A:

YES, SIR.

# 183 Q:

WHEN YOU LEFT WHEREVER YOU LEFT FROM, DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE BEING FOLLOWED?

# 184 A:

NO, SIR.

# 185 Q:

AND ONCE YOU ARRIVED AT THE LAW OFFICE, DID YOU STAY THERE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME?

# 186 A:

FOR A SHORT TIME.

# 187 Q:

AND WHILE YOU WERE AT THE LAW OFFICE, AT ANY TIME DID I EVER TELL YOU WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU CAME TO COURT TO TESTIFY ON MONDAY?

# 188 A:

NO, SIR.

# 189 Q:

DID I EVER COACH YOU AS TO WHAT TO SAY?

# 190 MR. DARDEN:

OBJECTION, VAGUE AS TO "COACH."

# 191 THE COURT:

SUSTAIN. REPHRASE THE QUESTION.

# 192 MR. COCHRAN:

CERTAINLY, YOUR HONOR.

# 193 Q:

DID I EVER AT ANY TIME TELL YOU WHAT I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD SAY OR RESPOND TO ANY PARTICULAR QUESTION?

# 194 MR. DARDEN:

ALSO LEADING, YOUR HONOR.

# 195 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 196 ROSA LOPEZ:

ONLY TO TELL THE TRUTH.

KEY QUOTE

# 197 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: DID I EVER GIVE YOU ANY SIGNAL OR HAND SIGNALS BETWEEN THE TWO OF US?

# 198 A:

NO, SIR.

# 199 Q:

AND WHILE YOU WERE AT THE OFFICE DO YOU RECALL WHAT YOU DID DURING MUCH OF THE TIME YOU WERE THERE?

# 200 A:

I WATCHED -- I WATCHED A LITTLE BIT OF T.V. AND I WAS TALKING WITH IRMA.

# 201 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO ON LAST SATURDAY?

# 202 A:

MR. MC KENNA TOOK ME TO HIS APARTMENT.

# 203 Q:

WAS THAT AFTER YOU LEFT MY OFFICE?

# 204 A:

YES, SIR.

# 205 Q:

AND HOW LONG DID YOU STAY THERE?

# 206 A:

I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I FELL ASLEEP IN THE CAR.

# 207 Q:

AND DID YOU GO SOMEPLACE AFTER THAT?

# 208 A:

TO THE HOTEL.

# 209 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, DID YOU EVER SEE THIS GENTLEMAN TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT HERE, MR. CARL DOUGLAS, ON SUNDAY, LAST SUNDAY, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH? DID CARL DOUGLAS EVER COME TO YOUR HOTEL ON THAT DATE?

# 210 A:

(IN ENGLISH) NO, SENOR.

# 211 ROSA LOPEZ:

(THROUGH THE INTERPRETER) NO, SIR.

# 212 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: WHAT DID YOU DO ON THAT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH?

# 213 THE INTERPRETER:

RESPECTFULLY, THE INTERPRETER WILL ASK PLEASE ALLOW ME TO COMPLETE MY INTERPRETATIONS. THERE ARE DATES THAT NEED TO BE WRITTEN, THERE ARE DAYS THAT HAVE TO BE WRITTEN, AND UNLESS I WRITE THEM DOWN I CANNOT GIVE YOU A PRECISE RENDITION OF THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED.

# 214 THE COURT:

THANK YOU, MADAM INTERPRETER. MR. COCHRAN, AND MISS LOPEZ, WILL YOU PLEASE LET THE INTERPRETER FINISH INTERPRETING BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR ANSWER.

# 215 MR. COCHRAN:

LET ME ASK THE LAST QUESTION AGAIN.

# 216 Q:

DO YOU RECALL WHETHER OR NOT ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1994, YOU SAW MR. CARL DOUGLAS, THE MAN TO MY IMMEDIATE RIGHT -- TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT, AT YOUR HOTEL?

# 217 A:

NO, SIR.

# 218 Q:

DID YOU EVER SEE HIM AT ALL THAT DAY?

# 219 A:

NO, SIR.

# 220 Q:

DO YOU RECALL WHAT YOU DID ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH?

# 221 A:

MY ATTORNEY'S WIFE ARRIVED, MR. CARL JONES' WIFE, MRS. BURGER --

# 222 Q:

IS THAT HAMBURGER?

# 223 A:

HAMBURGER, YES. AND THEY TOOK ME SHOPPING, SIR, AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Rosa Maria Lopez

IN MY -- IN OUR LATIN COUNTRIES WE SPEAK DIFFERENT DIALECTS, SIR, AND WHEN I'M SAYING 'I DON'T REMEMBER,' I AM SAYING 'NO.'

Directly rehabilitates a central impeachment from cross-examination — reframes dozens of 'I don't remember' answers as flat denials, not evasion or faulty memory

Rosa Maria Lopez

ONLY TO TELL THE TRUTH.

Her answer when asked if Cochran ever told her what to say — a clean, simple denial of witness coaching

Rosa Maria Lopez

ABOUT THREE HOURS DURING THOSE TWO DAYS.

Explains her confused or inconsistent demeanor during Friday's testimony as sleep deprivation — she had driven alone to New Mexico, slept in her car, and returned by 2:20 AM before being woken at 5:00 AM

Rosa Maria Lopez

REYES WAS GIVEN TO ME BECAUSE I WAS BORN ON JANUARY 6TH.

Cultural context for her multiple surnames that Darden used to suggest identity obfuscation — her names reflect Latin naming conventions and Epiphany birth date, not deception

Notable Exchanges (3)

Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

Cochran repeatedly promises to 'link up' the relevance of Lopez's New Mexico travel, buying time against Darden's objections. Ito gives him a hard two-question limit before requiring a link.

strategic

The Interpreter•Lance A. Ito•Johnnie Cochran

The interpreter stops the proceedings to ask both Cochran and Lopez to slow down and let her finish interpreting before Lopez answers — dates especially require her to write them down for accurate rendition.

procedural

Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

When Cochran asks about a 'regular electric clock,' Ito corrects him mid-question: 'Analog.' Cochran stumbles — 'Hum?' — and then adopts the correction.

light

Light Moments (2)

Rosa Maria Lopez / Johnnie Cochran

Lopez refers to her attorney's wife as 'Mrs. Burger.' Cochran clarifies: 'Is that Hamburger?' Lopez confirms: 'Hamburger, yes.'

Rosa Maria Lopez / Johnnie Cochran

Lopez immediately blurts out 'In Albuquerque, New Mexico' in English after Cochran explicitly asked her not to name the state — prompting Cochran to ruefully note 'She already gave us the state.'

Credibility Attacks (2)

⚔ Rosa Maria Lopez

rehabilitation of prior impeachment

Cochran rehabilitates Lopez's 'I don't remember' responses by eliciting a cultural-linguistic explanation — in her El Salvadoran dialect, the phrase functions as a flat 'no,' not an admission of faulty memory

⚔ Johnnie Cochran

coaching allegation (implicit, from cross)

Cochran addresses the implied coaching allegation directly: Lopez testifies he never told her what to say, never gave hand signals, and only instructed her to tell the truth

Witness Demeanor

Witness answers some questions with (NO AUDIBLE RESPONSE) on two consecutive questions before responding

Witness responds in English without interpreter on several answers ('In Albuquerque, New Mexico, sir'; 'On Clifford'; 'No, Senor') before interpreter repeats in Spanish

Objections

15 objections (3 sustained, 11 overruled)

Proceeding 5129 • 223 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103