Direct examination of David Adkins

📄 Direct examination of David Adkins — Friday, March 31, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAR\31\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-DAVID-AD.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 49 of 167

◀ Videotape hearing and witness scheduling Witness transition and scheduling ▶

Witness: David Adkins
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Defense • Date: Friday, March 31, 1995 • Utterances: 293

David Adkins, the principal photographer for the LAPD, testified about the video documentation of OJ Simpson's Rockingham residence on June 13, 1994. He explained that he dispatched videographer Willie Ford to the scene after a call from Detective Haro, and that the primary stated purpose was to document the condition of the home for potential civil liability protection. The defense used his testimony to highlight that no video was shot at the Bundy crime scene, and to probe the real purposes behind the Rockingham video.

# 1 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. HERE'S OUR FIRST WITNESS.

DAVID ADKINS (402), CALLED AS A WITNESS BY THE DEFENDANT, PURSUANT TO EVIDENCE CODE SECTION 402, WAS SWORN AND TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS:

# 2 THE CLERK:

RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. YOU DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE IN THE CAUSE NOW PENDING BEFORE THIS COURT SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD?

# 3 DAVID ADKINS:

I DO.

# 4 THE CLERK:

PLEASE HAVE A SEAT IN THE WITNESS STAND AND STATE AND SPELL YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAMES FOR THE RECORD.

# 5 DAVID ADKINS:

DAVID ADKINS, D-A-V-I-D A-D-K-I-N-S.

# 6

DIRECT EXAMINATION

# 7

BY MR. COCHRAN:

# 8 Q:

GOOD MORNING, MR. ADKINS.

# 9 A:

GOOD MORNING.

# 10 Q:

AND WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION, SIR?

# 11 A:

I'M THE PRINCIPLE PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

# 12 Q:

AND BY WHICH DEPARTMENT ARE YOU EMPLOYED?

# 13 A:

THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT.

# 14 Q:

AND ARE YOU A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THAT DEPARTMENT?

# 15 A:

YES, I AM.

# 16 Q:

AND FOR HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT, SIR?

# 17 A:

ALMOST SIX YEARS.

# 18 Q:

I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION BACK TO THE DATE OF JUNE 13TH, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS A MONDAY, OF 1994. DID YOU AT SOME TIME ON THAT DAY RECEIVE A CALL TO COME TO A LOCATION ON ROCKINGHAM IN THE BRENTWOOD AREA?

# 19 A:

YES, I DID.

# 20 Q:

AND CAN YOU TELL THE COURT WHO CALLED YOU AT THAT TIME AND WHAT TIME DID THEY CALL YOU?

# 21 A:

I WAS CALLED BY DETECTIVE HARO AND IT WAS PROBABLY BETWEEN -- ABOUT 1:30 AND 2:30.

# 22 Q:

OKAY. DETECTIVE HARO CALLED YOU?

# 23 A:

YES.

# 24 Q:

AND WHAT'S HIS FIRST NAME?

# 25 A:

I DON'T KNOW.

# 26 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND --

# 27 A:

I THINK IT'S BILL.

# 28 Q:

HUH?

# 29 A:

I THINK IT MAY BE BILL.

# 30 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AT THAT TIME, YOU WERE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, EMPLOYED IN THE PHOTO LAB OF THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND WHAT WAS YOUR -- WHAT WAS YOUR TITLE OR RANK THEREIN?

# 31 A:

I'M THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE SECTION. I MANAGE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION.

# 32 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHAT -- THAT EXISTED BACK IN JUNE OF 1994?

# 33 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 34 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WHEN YOU GOT THIS CALL BETWEEN 1:30 AND 2:30, WHAT WAS THE -- WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE CALL? WHAT WERE YOU ASKED TO DO?

# 35 A:

I WAS CALLED TO RESPOND TO PHOTOGRAPH -- MAKE A VIDEO OF MR. SIMPSON'S HOME.

# 36 Q:

ALL RIGHT. A VIDEO OF MR. SIMPSON'S HOME?

# 37 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 38 Q:

AND YOU GOT THESE INSTRUCTIONS FROM MR. HARO?

# 39 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 40 Q:

AND DID MR. HARO TELL YOU WHY HE WANTED YOU TO MAKE A VIDEO OF MR. SIMPSON'S HOME?

# 41 A:

NO.

# 42 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND BASED UPON THAT CALL, DID YOU DO SOMETHING?

# 43 A:

YES.

# 44 Q:

AND WHAT DID YOU DO?

# 45 A:

I RESPONDED BY TRYING TO LOCATE A PHOTOGRAPHER. THAT WAS A VERY BUSY DAY AND I HAD TO PULL SOMEBODY FROM OUR DISPATCHER TO TAKE THEM OUT TO THE SCENE.

# 46 Q:

AND DID YOU ULTIMATELY LOCATE A PHOTOGRAPHER?

# 47 A:

WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT, PLEASE?

# 48 Q:

DID YOU ULTIMATELY LOCATE A PHOTOGRAPHER?

# 49 A:

YES, I DID.

# 50 Q:

AND WHO DID YOU LOCATE?

# 51 A:

WILLIE FORD.

# 52 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND HE'S ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN WHO WORKS IN YOUR PARTICULAR SECTION?

# 53 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 54 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU HAVE OCCASION TO GO OUT TO THE ROCKINGHAM RESIDENCE?

# 55 A:

YES, I DID.

# 56 Q:

AND DID YOU GO WITH SOMEONE ELSE?

# 57 A:

OTHER THAN MR. FORD?

# 58 Q:

THE TWO OF YOU WENT TOGETHER?

# 59 A:

AT THAT TIME?

# 60 Q:

YES.

# 61 A:

NO.

# 62 Q:

JUST THE TWO OF YOU WENT TO ROCKINGHAM?

# 63 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 64 Q:

OKAY. SO WHAT TIME DID YOU ARRIVE AT ROCKINGHAM IF YOU RECALL?

# 65 A:

I DON'T RECALL, BUT I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY SOMEWHERE AROUND 3:00, 3:30.

# 66 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE ANY NOTES OR ANY REPORTS THAT WERE WRITTEN CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH YOUR OBSERVATIONS BACK ON JUNE 13TH, 1994?

# 67 A:

NO, I DON'T.

# 68 Q:

SO EVERYTHING YOU'RE TESTIFYING ABOUT IS FROM YOUR INDEPENDENT -- YOUR RECOLLECTION, YOUR INDEPENDENT RECOLLECTION?

# 69 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 70 Q:

YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION ON ANY KIND OF DOCUMENTS, RIGHT?

# 71 A:

TO -- RELATING TO WHAT MATTER?

# 72 Q:

AS TO THE TIME YOU GOT THE CALL TO THE TIME YOU ARRIVED AT ROCKINGHAM.

# 73 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 74 Q:

YOU'RE TESTIFYING TO YOUR MEMORY; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 75 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 76 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO YOUR BEST RECOLLECTION IS THAT YOU AND MR. FORD WENT OUT TO ROCKINGHAM TOGETHER AND ARRIVED THERE AT ABOUT WHAT TIME?

# 77 A:

BETWEEN 3:00 AND 3:30.

# 78 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND WHEN YOU ARRIVED THERE, DID YOU HAVE OCCASION TO MEET WITH ANY DETECTIVES?

# 79 A:

YES.

# 80 Q:

AND WERE YOU PRESENT WHEN ANY INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN AS TO WHAT YOU WERE TO SHOOT AT ROCKINGHAM?

# 81 A:

YES.

# 82 Q:

OKAY. TELL US ABOUT THAT. WHO DID YOU TALK TO FIRST OF ALL?

# 83 A:

WHEN MR. FORD AND I FIRST ARRIVED, WE WERE MET BY DETECTIVE HARPER, AND HE EXPLAINED THAT THEY WANTED AN OVERALL OF THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SHOTS, AND THEN HE HANDED US OFF TO DETECTIVE HARO.

# 84 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO YOUR FIRST CONVERSATION WAS WITH DETECTIVE HARPER. AND WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT THE EXTERIOR SHOTS HE WANTED YOU TO GET?

# 85 A:

NOTHING SPECIFIC. HE JUST REQUESTED THEY WANTED GENERAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOME.

# 86 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND WHEN YOU SAY "PHOTOGRAPHS," DID HE WANT A VIDEO OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOME?

# 87 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 88 Q:

AND WAS MR. FORD IN YOUR PRESENCE WHEN THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN?

# 89 A:

I'M NOT SURE.

# 90 Q:

YOU RECALL THAT YOU WERE THERE?

# 91 A:

YES.

# 92 Q:

AND WOULD YOU ASSUME THAT SINCE MR. FORD WAS GOING TO DO THE SHOOTING, HE WAS ALSO THERE TO HEAR THIS?

# 93 A:

PROBABLY. YES, I WOULD ASSUME HE WOULD BE THERE SOMEWHERE.

# 94 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND AFTER YOUR INITIAL CONVERSATION WITH DETECTIVE HARPER, YOU THEN WERE TURNED OVER TO DETECTIVE HARO, H-A-R-O, RIGHT?

# 95 A:

CORRECT.

# 96 Q:

AND WHERE WAS HARO WHEN YOU FIRST TALKED TO HIM ON THAT DATE?

# 97 A:

I DON'T SPECIFICALLY RECALL, BUT I THINK IT WAS OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR OF MR. SIMPSON'S HOME.

# 98 Q:

DID YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH DETECTIVE HARO?

# 99 A:

YES.

# 100 Q:

AND WHO WAS PRESENT DURING THAT CONVERSATION?

# 101 A:

TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, IT WAS JUST MR. FORD AND MYSELF.

# 102 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND AGAIN, TELL US ABOUT THE CONVERSATION WITH MR. HARO.

# 103 A:

IT WAS A REITERATION OF THE FIRST INSTRUCTIONS, THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET VIDEOTAPE OF THE EXTERIOR AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR OF THE HOME.

# 104 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS AT THAT TIME?

# 105 A:

NO.

# 106 Q:

DID -- WERE YOU TOLD AT THIS POINT WHY YOU WERE DOING THIS, WHY WERE YOU SHOOTING OR ABOUT TO VIDEOTAPE THE SIMPSON HOME?

# 107 A:

I DON'T RECALL SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN TO US AS TO WHY WE WERE PHOTOGRAPHING IT. MY UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHY WE WERE PHOTOGRAPHING IT WAS JUST TO DOCUMENT THE WAY THAT THE HOME LOOKED AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF WHAT VEHICLES ARE THERE, WHAT LANDSCAPING IS THERE, AND ON THE INTERIOR, WHAT ITEMS ARE SITTING WHERE IN THE HOME.

# 108 Q:

WAS IT KIND OF A -- KIND OF A RECORD OF INVENTORY?

# 109 A:

PRETTY MUCH, YES.

# 110 Q:

AND DID YOU ALSO -- WERE YOU ALSO TOLD THAT YOU WANTED TO GET -- MAKE A RECORD OF EVERYTHING SEIZED BY THE POLICE PURSUANT TO A SEARCH WARRANT?

# 111 A:

NO.

# 112 Q:

YOU DID NOT INDICATE THAT THIS MORNING? THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU INDICATED THAT YOU -- THAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION?

# 113 A:

NO.

# 114 Q:

YOU DID NOT INDICATE THAT IN THE CONVERSATION THIS MORNING?

# 115 A:

NO.

# 116 Q:

DID YOU INDICATE THIS MORNING THAT ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF YOUR DOING THIS VIDEO WAS FOR CIVIL LIABILITY PURPOSES?

# 117 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 118 Q:

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

# 119 A:

THERE HAVE BEEN CASES IN THE PAST WHEN POLICE OFFICERS HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER A HOME OR HAD AN OCCASION TO ENTER A HOME WHEN CLAIMS HAVE BEEN MADE AGAINST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SUCH AS THINGS WERE MISSING, THERE WAS AN EXPENSIVE VASE THERE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THINGS WERE RUINED. WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS COME IN AND DOCUMENT THE CONDITION OF THE HOME AT THAT TIME SO THAT IF IT WAS EVER NEEDED AGAIN, WE COULD SHOW THAT THAT WAS THERE, WAS NOT THERE.

KEY QUOTE

# 120 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'S THE CIVIL LIABILITY ASPECT.

# 121 A:

UH-HUH.

# 122 Q:

WERE YOU ALSO -- DID YOU ALSO INDICATE THIS MORNING THAT ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF YOUR SHOOTING THE VIDEO WAS TO HELP THE DETECTIVES TO SEE WHERE ITEMS WERE RECOVERED?

# 123 A:

NO, I DID NOT.

# 124 Q:

ALL RIGHT. YOU HAD A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING WITH THE GENTLEMEN TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT HERE, MR. SCHECK AND MR. NEUFELD; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 125 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 126 Q:

AFTER YOU TALKED TO THEM, DID YOU HAVE OCCASION TO TALK WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S STAFF THIS MORNING?

# 127 A:

NO.

# 128 Q:

YOU DID NOT TALK TO ANYBODY FROM THE D.A.'S OFFICE?

# 129 A:

WHEN YOU SAW TALK TO THEM, MORE THAN SAY HELLO OR CASUAL CONVERSATION?

# 130 Q:

YES. WHEN YOU TALKED -- I AM SORRY. TALKED TO THEM ABOUT YOUR TESTIMONY AT ALL.

# 131 A:

NO, I DID NOT.

# 132 Q:

OKAY. AND SO DO YOU HAVE A RECOLLECTION THAT YOU INDICATED THIS MORNING THAT YOU -- THAT YOU SAID TO SCHECK AND NEUFELD TO -- THAT YOU -- YOUR RECORDATION, YOUR VIDEO RECORDATION WAS TO HELP THE DETECTIVES SEE IN THE FUTURE WHERE ITEMS WERE RECOVERED?

# 133 A:

NO, I DID NOT.

# 134 Q:

ALL RIGHT.

# 135 MR. COCHRAN:

HAVE A SECOND, YOUR HONOR?

# 136 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN DEFENSE COUNSEL.)

# 137 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: DID YOU EVER INDICATE TO EITHER MR. SCHECK OR NEUFELD THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE A VIDEO RECORD SO THINGS WEREN'T SEIZED AND YOU WANTED TO GO BACK AT A FUTURE TIME AND SEIZE THEM, YOU WOULD HAVE AN ACTUAL RECORD OF WHERE THESE THINGS WERE? DID YOU EVER INDICATE THAT?

# 138 A:

I MAY HAVE SAID SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

# 139 Q:

WELL, WHAT WAS YOUR UNDERSTANDING BACK ON JUNE 13TH IN THAT REGARD?

# 140 A:

THE -- THE REASON THAT WE PHOTOGRAPHED THE INSIDE WAS, AS I MAINLY -- AS I STATED, MAINLY WAS FOR THE CIVIL LIABILITIES ISSUES.

# 141 Q:

YES.

# 142 A:

SOMETIMES IF THE DETECTIVE IS REVIEWING THIS VIDEOTAPE AND NOTICES SOMETHING ELSE, THEY MAY WANT TO REVISIT THAT LOCATION.

KEY QUOTE

# 143 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO TO PROVIDE SOME HELP FOR THE DETECTIVES IN LATER SEARCH WARRANTS IF THERE IS TO BE ONE OR WHERE THINGS ARE IN THE RESIDENCE, RIGHT?

# 144 A:

THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THE TAPE COULD BE USED IN THAT WAY, YES.

# 145 Q:

ALL RIGHT, SIR. NOW, YOU'VE HAD OCCASION TO SEE THAT TAPE; HAVE YOU NOT?

# 146 A:

I HAVE NOT SEEN THE TAPE IN ITS ENTIRETY, NO.

# 147 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU SEE IT BEING SHOWN AT LEAST PARTIALLY THIS MORNING?

# 148 A:

YES, I DID.

# 149 Q:

IS THAT THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE SEEN IT?

# 150 A:

YES, IT IS.

# 151 Q:

SINCE JUNE 13TH?

# 152 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 153 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND THE MAN WHO ACTUALLY SHOT THE TAPE IS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, MR. WILLIE FORD; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 154 A:

THAT CORRECT.

# 155 Q:

AND HE'S HERE THIS MORNING ALSO?

# 156 A:

HE IS.

# 157 (DISCUSSION HELD OFF THE RECORD BETWEEN DEFENSE COUNSEL.)

# 158 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: THE -- DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT KIND OF CAMERA MR. FORD WAS USING ON THAT DATE?

# 159 A:

I'M SORRY. WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION?

# 160 Q:

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT KIND OF A CAMERA MR. FORD WAS USING ON THAT DATE ON JUNE 13TH?

# 161 A:

YES. IT WAS AN RCA VHS CAMCORDER.

# 162 Q:

CAMCORDER?

# 163 A:

UH-HUH.

# 164 Q:

AND IS THERE A TIME AND DATE ON THAT PARTICULAR -- PARTICULAR CAMERA?

# 165 A:

YES, THERE IS.

# 166 Q:

AND PRIOR TO THIS DATE OF JUNE 13TH, 1994, HAD YOU HAD OCCASION TO VIDEO OTHER CRIME SCENES IN YOUR CAPACITY IN THE PHOTO LAB AT LAPD?

# 167 A:

PERSONALLY VIDEO MYSELF OR --

# 168 Q:

NO. BEEN PRESENT WHEN THEY'VE BEEN DONE AT YOUR LAB, HAD OCCASION TO DO THAT.

# 169 MS. LEWIS:

OBJECTION. VAGUE. PRESENT AT HIS LAB.

# 170 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED. REPHRASE THE QUESTION.

# 171 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER OCCASIONS WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK FOR YOU IN THE LAB OF THE LAPD BEEN ASKED TO VIDEO CRIME SCENES?

# 172 A:

YES.

# 173 Q:

AND HOW MANY OCCASIONS IN THE LAST YEAR?

# 174 A:

FEWER THAN SIX.

# 175 Q:

AND HAVE YOU HAD OCCASION TO GO ON ANY OF THOSE VIDEO SHOOTS?

# 176 A:

YES.

# 177 Q:

AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES DO -- DOES THE LAPD USE THOSE VIDEO SHOOTS AT CRIME SCENES?

# 178 A:

I WOULD REALLY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE AS TO HOW THOSE ARE USED.

# 179 Q:

ALL RIGHT. BUT FEWER THAN SIX, MEANING HOW MANY, YOUR BEST ESTIMATE?

# 180 A:

THAT'S A PRETTY CLOSE ESTIMATE, FEWER THAN SIX.

# 181 Q:

BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THOUGH? IS THAT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE?

# 182 A:

ALL RIGHT. FOUR.

# 183 Q:

I WANT YOUR BEST ESTIMATE. FOUR?

# 184 A:

FOUR.

# 185 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND HOW MANY OF THOSE FOUR HAD YOU BEEN OUT ON?

# 186 A:

TWO.

# 187 Q:

AND YOU DON'T RECALL ANY PARTICULAR REASON WHY THOSE FOUR WERE CHOSEN OR THERE WERE VIDEO SHOOTS ON THOSE FOUR?

# 188 A:

WE WERE REQUESTED TO RESPOND WITH VIDEO, AND THAT'S THE REASON AS FAR AS MY LEVEL IS CONCERNED THAT WE -- THAT WE VIDEOTAPE THOSE.

# 189 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WOULD I BE CORRECT IN ASSUMING THAT BACK IN JUNE OF 1994, YOU DID NOT RESPOND TO EVERY CRIME SCENE IN LOS ANGELES TO VIDEO SHOOT, RIGHT?

# 190 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 191 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU EVER IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CASE EVER GO TO THE BUNDY SCENE AND DO ANY VIDEO SHOOTING?

# 192 A:

I WENT TO THE BUNDY LOCATION. WE DID NOT DO ANY VIDEO.

KEY QUOTE

# 193 Q:

AND WHY DIDN'T YOU DO IT THERE?

# 194 A:

WE WERE NOT REQUESTED TO DO SO.

# 195 Q:

AND SO WHOEVER -- WAS THERE A DETECTIVE IN CHARGE OF BUNDY WHEN YOU GOT THERE?

# 196 A:

WAS THERE A DETECTIVE IN CHARGE?

# 197 Q:

YEAH.

# 198 A:

YES.

# 199 Q:

WHO WAS THAT?

# 200 A:

THE PERSON THAT I SPOKE WITH WAS DE -- WAS LIEUTENANT ROGERS.

# 201 Q:

OKAY. LIEUTENANT ROGERS. AND HE NEVER ASKED YOU TO SHOOT AT BUNDY?

# 202 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 203 Q:

WHY WERE YOU OVER THERE?

# 204 A:

I WAS THERE TO RELIEVE DETER ROKAHR, TO HAVE A RELIEF FOR GARY GOODWIN OUT TO THAT SCENE.

# 205 Q:

AND DOES ROKAHR WORK IN YOUR UNIT?

# 206 A:

YES, HE DOES.

# 207 Q:

DO YOU SUPERVISE HIM?

# 208 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 209 Q:

AND DID ROKAHR HAVE A VIDEO CAMERA WITH HIM THAT MORNING WHEN HE WAS AT --

# 210 THE COURT:

AREN'T WE KIND OF FAR AFIELD ON THIS ISSUE?

# 211 MR. COCHRAN:

THIS IS IT. I'M ALMOST DONE.

# 212 THE COURT:

WELL, WE'VE GONE ABOUT EIGHT QUESTIONS ON BUNDY THAT'S IRRELEVANT TO THIS ISSUE.

# 213 MR. COCHRAN:

RIGHT. ALLOW ME JUST THIS --

# 214 THE COURT:

TWO MORE.

# 215 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

# 216 THE COURT:

THIS IS IN THE WAY OF DISCOVERY ISSUE.

# 217 MR. COCHRAN:

CERTAINLY. NO, NOT EXACTLY, YOUR HONOR. I'LL LINK IT UP.

# 218 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: WITH REGARD TO ROKAHR, DID HE HAVE A VIDEO CAMERA THAT MORNING?

# 219 A:

NO, HE DID NOT.

# 220 Q:

ALL RIGHT. BUT HE DID WORK FOR YOU AT THAT POINT?

# 221 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 222 Q:

AND THERE WAS NO SHOOTING OF BUNDY?

# 223 A:

NO VIDEO SHOOTING?

# 224 Q:

NO VIDEO SHOOTING OF BUNDY.

# 225 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 226 MR. COCHRAN:

I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER OF MR. ADKINS AT THIS POINT, YOUR HONOR.

# 227 THE COURT:

MISS LEWIS.

# 228 MS. LEWIS:

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. JUST BRIEFLY.

# 229

CROSS-EXAMINATION

# 230

BY MS. LEWIS:

# 231 Q:

MR. ADKINS, IS THERE A POLICY OF THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH WHICH ALLOWS DETECTIVES AT THEIR DIR -- AT THEIR CHOICE TO EITHER HAVE STILL PHOTOS TAKEN OR VIDEOTAPES TAKEN OF LOCATIONS WHERE SEARCH WARRANTS ARE EXECUTED?

# 232 A:

I DON'T KNOW OF A SPECIFIC POLICY, BUT I -- THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

# 233 Q:

AND WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING WITH REGARD TO SEARCH WARRANTS BEING EXECUTED AND POSSIBLE CIVIL LIABILITY? DO YOU HAVE ONE IN THAT REGARD?

# 234 A:

IN TERMS OF SHOOTING VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHS?

# 235 Q:

YES.

# 236 A:

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE HIGHLY DESIRABLE.

# 237 Q:

WHY IS THAT?

# 238 A:

FOR PURPOSES AFTER THE FACT, AS I EXPLAINED BEFORE, TO SHOW THE CONDITION OF THE RESIDENCE AND THE CONDITION OF ART OBJECTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THERE.

# 239 Q:

AND WAS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PURPOSE FOR YOUR PRESENCE AT ROCKINGHAM ON THAT PARTICULAR OCCASION, WAS TO DOCUMENT THE LOCATION OF ITEMS AND WHAT THOSE ITEMS LOOKED LIKE IN CASE OF FUTURE CIVIL LIABILITY?

# 240 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 241 Q:

WHEN YOU WERE AT THE ROCKINGHAM RESIDENCE ACCOMPANYING MR. FORD, WHO IS THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY TOOK THE VIDEOS, WAS THERE A POLICE DETECTIVE WITH YOU?

# 242 A:

AT ROCKINGHAM?

# 243 Q:

YES.

# 244 A:

YES.

# 245 Q:

AND WHO WAS THAT?

# 246 A:

THAT WAS DETECTIVE HARO.

# 247 Q:

AND ARE YOU AWARE THAT THE LEAD INVESTIGATORS IN THIS CASE ARE DETECTIVES VANNATTER AND LANGE?

# 248 A:

YES.

# 249 Q:

WERE THEY THERE AT THE LOCATION WHEN YOU WERE THERE?

# 250 A:

AT THAT TIME, FOR THE TIME THE VIDEO WAS TAKEN?

# 251 Q:

YES.

# 252 A:

I'M NOT SURE.

# 253 Q:

DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION OF SEEING THEM OR NOT?

# 254 A:

AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME?

# 255 Q:

YES.

# 256 A:

NO.

# 257 Q:

DID THE -- DID DETECTIVE HARO WHO ACCOMPANIED YOU, WHILE THE VIDEOTAPING WAS TAKING PLACE, DIRECT YOU TO VIDEOTAPE BLOOD DROPS ON THE DRIVEWAY?

# 258 A:

NO.

# 259 Q:

DID HE DIRECT YOU TO VIDEOTAPE A PATHWAY ALONG THE SOUTH PORTION OF THE RESIDENCE?

# 260 A:

NO.

# 261 Q:

DID THE VIDEOGRAPHER BASICALLY TAKE -- APPEAR TO BE POINTING HIS CAMERA AT OBJECTS, INCLUDING OBJECTS OF VALUE WITHIN WHAT MAY BE CALLED A TROPHY ROOM AT THE LOCATION?

# 262 MR. COCHRAN:

YOUR HONOR, I OBJECT TO THE FORM OF THIS QUESTION. THE VIDEO SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

# 263 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 264 DAVID ADKINS:

COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION, PLEASE?

# 265 Q:

BY MS. LEWIS: DID THE VIDEOGRAPHER APPEAR TO BE POINTING THE VIDEOTAPE CAMERA AT OBJECTS WITHIN THE LOCATION OF -- INCLUDING THOSE OF VALUE SUCH AS THE OBJECTS IN THE TROPHY ROOM?

# 266 A:

YES.

# 267 Q:

SO IT WAS YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS VIDEO WAS TO BE TAKEN FOR PURPOSES OF POTENTIAL CIVIL LIABILITY IN THE FUTURE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 268 A:

THAT IS CORRECT.

# 269 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO THE FORM. THE VIDEO SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

# 270 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 271 DAVID ADKINS:

THAT IS CORRECT.

# 272 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING MORE, MR. COCHRAN?

# 273 MR. COCHRAN:

JUST ONE.

# 274

REDIRECT EXAMINATION

# 275

BY MR. COCHRAN:

# 276 Q:

DID YOU INDICATE THIS MORNING TO MR. NEUFELD THAT WITH REGARD TO THE FOUR OTHER CRIME SCENES THAT YOUR UNIT HAD BEEN ASKED TO VIDEO, THAT YOU SOMETIMES DID IT WHERE THE DETECTIVES THOUGHT IT WOULD HELP THEIR CASE? DID YOU INDICATE THAT?

# 277 A:

I MAY HAVE, YES.

# 278 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND WERE YOU ASKED TO SHOOT BLOOD DROPS IN THE FOYER OF THE SIMPSON RESIDENCE THAT DAY?

# 279 A:

NOT SPECIFICALLY, NO.

# 280 Q:

DID YOU SHOOT THAT?

# 281 A:

AGAIN, I WAS NOT THE CAMERAMAN, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THOSE VIDEO -- THOSE DROPS MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE VIDEO, BUT SPECIFIC EVIDENCE WAS NOT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED.

# 282 Q:

I SEE. AND YOU WERE AWARE, WERE YOU NOT, THAT DETECTIVES VANNATTER AND LANGE WERE THE CO-LEAD INVESTIGATORS ON THE SIMPSON CASE, WEREN'T YOU?

# 283 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 284 Q:

YOU KNEW THAT THAT DAY, RIGHT?

# 285 A:

I'M NOT SURE I KNEW THAT THAT DAY.

# 286 Q:

YOU KNEW IT AT SOME TIME SHORTLY AROUND THAT TIME; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 287 A:

THAT'S CORRECT.

# 288 Q:

AND YOU KNEW THAT MR. HARO AND MR. HARPER BOTH WORKED IN ROBBERY-HOMICIDE; DID YOU NOT?

# 289 A:

YES.

# 290 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY KINDLY, YOUR HONOR. THAT'S ALL I HAVE OF THIS WITNESS.

# 291 THE COURT:

MISS LEWIS?

# 292 MS. LEWIS:

NO QUESTIONS.

# 293 THE COURT:

MR. ADKINS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

David Adkins

THERE HAVE BEEN CASES IN THE PAST WHEN POLICE OFFICERS HAVE HAD AN OCCASION TO ENTER A HOME WHEN CLAIMS HAVE BEEN MADE AGAINST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SUCH AS THINGS WERE MISSING... WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS COME IN AND DOCUMENT THE CONDITION OF THE HOME AT THAT TIME SO THAT IF IT WAS EVER NEEDED AGAIN, WE COULD SHOW THAT THAT WAS THERE, WAS NOT THERE.

Adkins frames the video as a civil liability protection measure, the prosecution's preferred explanation for why Rockingham was videotaped while Bundy was not.

David Adkins

SOMETIMES IF THE DETECTIVE IS REVIEWING THIS VIDEOTAPE AND NOTICES SOMETHING ELSE, THEY MAY WANT TO REVISIT THAT LOCATION.

Adkins concedes the video could serve investigative purposes beyond civil liability, partially undermining the prosecution's narrow framing.

David Adkins

I WENT TO THE BUNDY LOCATION. WE DID NOT DO ANY VIDEO... WE WERE NOT REQUESTED TO DO SO.

Key defense point: the actual murder scene was not videotaped, but Simpson's home was — raising questions about investigative priorities.

David Adkins

SPECIFIC EVIDENCE WAS NOT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED.

Adkins clarifies that evidence like blood drops was not intentionally targeted for video, though it may have appeared incidentally.

Evidence (1)

Informal

VHS videotape of Simpson's Rockingham residence shot by Willie Ford on June 13, 1994 using an RCA VHS camcorder

discussed; partially viewed in court that morning prior to testimony

Notable Exchanges (2)

Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

Judge Ito cut off Cochran's line of questioning about the Bundy scene, saying they had gone 'about eight questions on Bundy that's irrelevant to this issue' and limiting him to two more questions.

procedural, mildly tense

Johnnie Cochran•David Adkins

Cochran repeatedly pressed Adkins about what he told defense attorneys Scheck and Neufeld that morning in a pre-testimony conversation, with Adkins denying or qualifying several characterizations Cochran attributed to him.

strategic

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ David Adkins

prior inconsistent statement

Cochran repeatedly asked Adkins whether he had told defense attorneys Scheck and Neufeld things that morning — including that the video was to help detectives see where items were recovered — which Adkins denied or substantially qualified, suggesting his morning statements may have differed from his testimony.

Objections

4 objections (1 sustained, 2 overruled)

Proceeding 5539 • 293 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103