Direct examination of Willie Ford

📄 Direct examination of Willie Ford — Friday, March 31, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAR\31\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-WILLIE-F.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 49 of 167

◀ Witness transition and scheduling Direct examination of Detective Adalberto Luper ▶

Witness: Willie Ford
Examiner: Johnnie Cochran
Called by: Defense • Date: Friday, March 31, 1995 • Utterances: 410

Willie Ford Jr., an LAPD photographer with 13 years on the job, testified about the video he shot at the Rockingham residence on June 13, 1994. Cochran used the video to establish the presence of a glove inside the house at 2:50 PM and to show that Ford was instructed to photograph 'any and everything' — framing the video as a comprehensive and unmanipulated record. Lewis countered by undermining Ford's memory of specific times and establishing that the tape's original purpose was simply to protect LAPD from theft accusations, not to document evidence.

# 1 WILLIE FORD:

YES, SIR.

# 2 THE COURT:

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

# 3 WILLIE FORD:

GOOD MORNING.

WILLIE FORD, JR. (402), CALLED AS A WITNESS BY THE DEFENDANT, PURSUANT TO EVIDENCE CODE SECTION 402, WAS SWORN AND TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS:

# 4 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT. WOULD YOU PLEASE FACE THE CLERK.

# 5 THE CLERK:

RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLEASE. 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?

# 6 WILLIE FORD:

YES, MA'AM.

# 7 THE CLERK:

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

# 8 WILLIE FORD:

MY NAME IS WILLIE FORD, JR. DIRECT EXAMINATION

# 9

BY MR. COCHRAN:

# 10 Q:

MR. FORD, WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION, SIR?

# 11 A:

PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

# 12 Q:

AND FOR HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAVE BEEN SO EMPLOYED?

# 13 A:

13 YEARS.

# 14 Q:

I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION BACK TO THE DATE OF JUNE 13TH, 1994. YOU WERE EMPLOYED BY THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THAT TIME AS A PHOTOGRAPHER?

# 15 A:

YES, SIR.

# 16 Q:

DID YOU RECEIVE A CALL TO GO TO SOME LOCATION ON THAT DATE, IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS OF THAT DATE?

# 17 A:

YES, SIR.

# 18 Q:

WHAT TIME DID YOU RECEIVE A CALL, SIR, ON THAT PARTICULAR DATE?

# 19 A:

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT CALL, BUT IT WAS AFTERNOON, SOMETIME IN THE AFTERNOON.

# 20 Q:

YOU HAD OCCASION -- WE HAD OCCASION TO SPEAK TO YOUR EARLIER THIS MORNING; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 21 A:

YES, SIR.

# 22 Q:

AND AT THAT TIME, DID YOU INDICATE TO US THAT YOU BELIEVED YOU RECEIVED A CALL SOMEWHERE AROUND 1:30?

# 23 A:

YES, I DID.

# 24 Q:

AND AFTER YOU RECEIVED THIS CALL, WERE YOU ASKED TO GO TO SOME LOCATION?

# 25 A:

YES, SIR.

# 26 Q:

AND WHERE WAS THAT?

# 27 A:

ON ROCKINGHAM.

# 28 Q:

OKAY. AND THAT'S IN THE BRENTWOOD AREA?

# 29 A:

YES, SIR.

# 30 Q:

AND DID YOU GO TO THE BRENTWOOD AREA ACCOMPANIED BY SOME INDIVIDUAL?

# 31 A:

YES, SIR.

# 32 Q:

AND WHO WAS THAT?

# 33 A:

THAT WAS MY BOSS, DAVID ADKINS.

# 34 Q:

THAT'S THE MAN WHO JUST PRECEDED YOU ON THE STAND?

# 35 A:

YES, SIR.

# 36 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND DID YOU HAVE SOME INSTRUCTIONS WHEN GOING TO THE BRENTWOOD RESIDENCE ON ROCKINGHAM?

# 37 A:

YES, SIR.

# 38 Q:

WHAT WERE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS, SIR?

# 39 A:

TO PHOTOGRAPH MR. SIMPSON'S PROPERTY, ANY AND EVERYTHING FROM HIS CARS, LAWN FURNITURE TO PICTURES ON THE WALL.

# 40 Q:

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WOULD HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED EVERYTHING YOU SAW; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 41 A:

EVERYTHING.

# 42 Q:

AND BY THE WAY, WHO GAVE YOU THOSE INSTRUCTIONS?

# 43 A:

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NAMES. THE DETECTIVES IN CHARGE AT THE SCENE.

# 44 Q:

OKAY. THE DETECTIVES IN CHARGE OF THE SCENE?

# 45 A:

YES.

# 46 Q:

WOULD THE NAME DETECTIVE HARPER --

# 47 A:

YES.

# 48 Q:

-- BE ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS?

# 49 A:

YES, SIR.

# 50 Q:

IS THAT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN OFFICER?

# 51 A:

I -- I DON'T KNOW.

# 52 Q:

ALL RIGHT. WHAT ABOUT DETECTIVE HARO, H-A-R-O? WAS HE ONE OF THE ONES --

# 53 A:

YES, SIR.

# 54 Q:

-- WHO TALKED TO YOU? ALL RIGHT. AND YOUR INSTRUCTIONS WERE THAT YOU WERE TO SHOOT ANY AND EVERYTHING ON THE SIMPSON RESIDENCE; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 55 A:

YES.

# 56 Q:

IS THAT RIGHT?

# 57 A:

YES, SIR.

# 58 Q:

AND WHAT TIME DID YOU ARRIVE AT THE SIMPSON RESIDENCE AGAIN, YOUR BEST RECOLLECTION?

# 59 A:

APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 2:00 O'CLOCK I THINK, 2:00 OR 3:00 O'CLOCK.

# 60 Q:

OKAY. SOMEWHERE ABOUT 2:00 O'CLOCK OR THERE AFTERWARDS? AND WHEN YOU ARRIVED THERE, DID YOU FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND START TO SHOOT THE VIDEO?

# 61 A:

YES, SIR.

# 62 Q:

AND HOW LONG WERE YOU THERE? IF YOU GOT THERE AROUND 2:00 O'CLOCK, HOW LONG WERE YOU THERE AT THE RESIDENCE?

# 63 A:

I WOULD SAY APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND A HALF.

# 64 Q:

SO IF YOU GOT THERE AT 2:00, YOU WOULD BE FINISHED SOMEWHERE AROUND 3:30, THEREABOUTS?

# 65 A:

YES, SIR.

# 66 Q:

AND WERE YOU USING AN RCA CAMCORDER OF SOME KIND?

# 67 A:

YES, SIR.

# 68 Q:

AND THE -- THE TAPE THAT YOU WERE SHOOTING, HOW LONG COULD YOU SHOOT WITHOUT CHANGING THE TAPE?

# 69 A:

I DIDN'T CHANGE TAPES AT ALL.

# 70 Q:

SO THE VIDEO THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE WAS SHOT ALL IN ONE TAPE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 71 A:

YES.

# 72 Q:

AND YOU HAD OCCASION NOW TO SEE THAT TAPE SINCE YOU SHOT IT. HOW MUCH TAPE IS THERE?

# 73 A:

APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MINUTES TAPE.

# 74 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO YOU GOT THIS 20 OR 30 MINUTES OF TAPE OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 75 A:

YES, SIR.

# 76 Q:

NOW, DID YOU START OFF BY SHOOTING OUTSIDE?

# 77 A:

YES, SIR.

# 78 Q:

AND WHAT DID YOU SHOOT OUTSIDE?

# 79 A:

STARTED WITH THE BRONCO, PANNED OVER TO THE DRIVEWAY THAT'S ON THE ROCKINGHAM SIDE AND PROCEEDED TO PHOTOGRAPH THE CARS AND THE YARD, FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

# 80 Q:

WHAT ABOUT THE HOUSE?

# 81 A:

FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

# 82 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU GO ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE?

# 83 A:

YES, SIR. NO. NOT THE SOUTH SIDE. IT WOULD BE THE NORTH SIDE.

KEY QUOTE

# 84 Q:

THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE?

# 85 A:

FACING THE HOUSE WOULD BE THE NORTH SIDE.

# 86 Q:

DID DETECTIVE HARPER TELL YOU TO SHOOT BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH, AT EACH SIDE OF THE HOUSE?

# 87 A:

NO, SIR.

# 88 Q:

SO YOU SHOT THE NORTH SIDE?

# 89 A:

YES, SIR.

# 90 Q:

DID YOU SHOOT ANY OTHER SIDE?

# 91 A:

NO, BECAUSE FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, WAS JUST THE -- THE HOUSE BUTTED UP AGAINST THE FENCE.

# 92 Q:

ALL RIGHT. YOU DIDN'T GO DOWN THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RESIDENCE?

# 93 A:

NO, SIR.

# 94 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOBODY -- NO ONE ASKED YOU TO DO THAT?

# 95 A:

NO.

# 96 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND HOW LONG OF THIS 20 MINUTES DID YOU SPEND SHOOTING OUTSIDE?

# 97 A:

I WOULD ESTIMATE ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

# 98 Q:

NO. HOW LONG -- I THOUGHT THAT THE ENTIRE THING WAS 20 TO 30 MINUTES. SO 20 MINUTES OF THAT WAS OUTSIDE?

# 99 A:

YES, SIR.

# 100 Q:

OKAY.

# 101 A:

THIS IS NOT CONTINUOUS RUNNING.

# 102 Q:

OKAY. YOU WOULD SHOOT, CUT OFF, GO TO SOME LOCATION; IS THAT WHAT --

# 103 A:

ROGER.

# 104 Q:

OKAY, SIR. NOW, WHILE YOU WERE SHOOTING OUTSIDE, WERE YOU BEING DIRECTED WHAT TO SHOOT BY ONE OF THESE DETECTIVES WHO WERE THERE?

# 105 A:

IN THE BEGINNING, I WAS DIRECTED TO SHOOT, AND THEN I WAS BASICALLY LEFT ON MY OWN UNTIL I FINISHED COMPLETING ALL OF THE OUTSIDE, AND THEN I WOULD COME INSIDE AND GET FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

# 106 Q:

CAN YOU GIVE US THE NAME OF THE OFFICER WHO WAS DIRECTING YOU AT THE BEGINNING?

# 107 A:

IT WAS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN OFFICER. I DON'T KNOW WHICH NAME HE IS.

# 108 Q:

LET'S CALL HIM HARPER.

# 109 A:

HARPER? OKAY.

# 110 Q:

YES. ALL RIGHT. AND SO HE TOLD YOU WHAT TO SHOOT AND THEN HE LET YOU ON YOUR OWN; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 111 A:

RIGHT.

# 112 Q:

WAS MR. ADKINS ANYWHERE NEAR THERE AT THAT POINT?

# 113 A:

AT SOME POINTS.

# 114 Q:

NOW, WITH REGARD TO PRIOR SHOOTS, HAD YOU HAD OCCASION TO EVER SHOOT ANY OTHER CRIME SCENE BEFORE THIS DATE OF JUNE 13TH?

# 115 A:

YES, SIR.

# 116 Q:

WHEN WAS THAT IN RELATION TO JUNE 13TH?

# 117 A:

I WOULD SAY APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS EARLIER.

# 118 Q:

AND WAS THAT A TRAINING SESSION FOR YOU?

# 119 A:

YES, SIR.

# 120 Q:

AND YOU'VE BEEN TRAINED AT THE EARLIER SITUATION; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 121 A:

YES, SIR.

# 122 Q:

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU DID IT ON YOUR OWN?

# 123 A:

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT IT WAS DONE BY THE REQUEST OF THE DETECTIVE.

# 124 Q:

OKAY. ON YOUR OWN.

# 125 A:

YES.

# 126 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, AFTER YOU CONCLUDED SHOOTING THE EXTERIOR, YOU HAD OCCASION TO GO INSIDE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 127 A:

YES, SIR.

# 128 Q:

AND ONCE INSIDE, WERE YOU DIRECTED WHAT TO SHOOT BY A PARTICULAR DETECTIVE?

# 129 A:

YES, SIR.

# 130 Q:

AND WAS THAT HARPER OR WAS THAT ANOTHER DETECTIVE?

# 131 A:

ANOTHER DETECTIVE.

# 132 Q:

WAS THE NAME HARO, H-A-R-O?

# 133 A:

I THINK SO.

# 134 Q:

AND WHAT DID MR. HARO, DETECTIVE HARO TELL YOU WITH REGARD TO WHAT YOU SHOULD SHOOT?

# 135 A:

TO PHOTOGRAPH EVERYTHING INSIDE OF THE HOUSE INCLUDING PICTURES ON THE WALL.

# 136 Q:

AND DID YOU TRY TO DO THAT?

# 137 A:

YES, SIR.

# 138 Q:

AND THAT TOOK UP THE BALANCE OF WHAT WE NOW SEE ON THE TAPE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 139 A:

YES, SIR.

# 140 Q:

AND YOU WOULD SHOOT AND THEN CUT OFF AND MOVE TO OTHER LOCATIONS; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 141 A:

YES, SIR.

# 142 Q:

BUT DID YOU TRY TO RECOVER -- DID YOU TRY TO SHOOT EVERYTHING THAT APPEARED OUT IN THE OPEN?

# 143 A:

YES.

# 144 Q:

SO YOU WOULD HAVE A COMPLETE RECORD?

# 145 A:

YES.

# 146 Q:

OKAY. AND WHAT WAS YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHY YOU WERE DOING THIS?

# 147 A:

JUST IN CASE THERE WAS SOME ITEMS OF MR. SIMPSON'S THAT WAS VERY VALUABLE MISSING, LAPD WOULDN'T BE ACCUSED OF TAKING ANYTHING.

KEY QUOTE

# 148 Q:

YOU WANTED TO MAKE A COMPLETE RECORD; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 149 A:

YES, SIR.

# 150 Q:

DO YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE OFFICERS THERE, THE DETECTIVES THERE WERE STILL SEARCHING AT THE TIME YOU WERE DOING THE SHOOTING?

# 151 A:

I'M AWARE THAT THEY WERE DOING SOME TYPE OF ONGOING INVESTIGATION. I WASN'T REALLY PAYING ATTENTION.

# 152 Q:

ALL RIGHT. YOU DON'T KNOW -- YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY SEARCHING THROUGH DOORS WHILE YOU WERE THERE, DID YOU?

# 153 A:

NO.

# 154 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO YOU DID YOUR SHOOT --

# 155 MR. COCHRAN:

AND BY THE WAY, I WANT TO VERY BRIEFLY, YOUR HONOR, IF I CAN, ASK TO SHOW MR. FORD A PORTION OF THE VIDEO AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

# 156 THE COURT:

YES.

# 157 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU.

# 158 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: MR. FORD, LET ME SKIP AHEAD FOR A MOMENT. AFTER YOU FINISHED, CONCLUDED THIS VIDEO, WHAT DID YOU DO WITH IT NEXT?

# 159 A:

WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE PHOTO LAB AT PARKER CENTER.

# 160 Q:

AND WHEN YOU SAY "WE," YOU MEAN YOU AND MR. ADKINS?

# 161 A:

YES, SIR.

# 162 Q:

AND WHAT DID YOU DO WITH IT ON THAT DAY, JUNE 13?

# 163 A:

MR. ADKINS TOLD ME -- LOCKED IT UP IN THE CONFIDENTIAL FILE IN HIS OFFICE.

# 164 Q:

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU HAVE OCCASION TO GIVE THAT VIDEOTAPE TO SOMEONE ON JUNE 14TH, 1994?

# 165 A:

YES.

# 166 Q:

AND WHO WAS THAT?

# 167 A:

I THINK IT WAS DETECTIVE HARO.

# 168 Q:

WAS IT HARO OR LUPER?

# 169 A:

I THINK IT WAS HARO.

# 170 Q:

THINK IT WAS HARO? THE MAN WHO GAVE YOU THE INSTRUCTIONS THE DAY BEFORE?

# 171 A:

YES.

# 172 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND WHERE DID YOU GIVE IT TO HIM? WHERE DID YOU GIVE HIM THE TAPE?

# 173 A:

DOWN ON THE THIRD FLOOR PARKER CENTER, ROBBERY-HOMICIDE.

# 174 Q:

ALL RIGHT. IS THAT THE LAST TIME YOU SAW THAT TAPE?

# 175 A:

YES, SIR.

# 176 Q:

AND BETWEEN JUNE 14TH, 1994 AND TODAY, HAD YOU EVER HAD PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF THAT TAPE FROM THAT TIME?

# 177 A:

NO, SIR.

# 178 Q:

YOU GAVE HIM ONE TAPE, ONE COPY?

# 179 A:

ONE COPY.

# 180 Q:

ALL RIGHT. NOW, WITH REGARD TO THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE TO SHOOT INSIDE THE RESIDENCE --

# 181 MR. COCHRAN:

I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SHOW HIM TWO BRIEF THINGS AND ASK HIM A QUESTION, YOUR HONOR, IF I MIGHT.

# 182 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 183 (AT 12:05 P.M., A VIDEOTAPE, WAS PLAYED.)

# 184 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: NOW, CAN YOU SEE THE VIDEO THERE?

# 185 A:

YES, SIR.

# 186 Q:

AND THIS IS BEING SHOT BY YOU; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 187 A:

YES, SIR.

# 188 Q:

BY THE WAY, THERE WAS -- WELL, I'LL GET TO A PARTICULAR POINT AND ASK YOU A QUESTION. NOW, RIGHT THERE, YOU SEE THAT? DID YOU SHOOT THAT GLOVE THERE BY A PICTURE OF A YOUNG LADY THERE?

# 189 A:

YES, SIR.

# 190 Q:

WAS THAT GLOVE PLACED THERE BEFORE YOU GOT THERE?

# 191 A:

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS PLACED. IT WAS THERE.

# 192 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU BACK IT UP?

# 193 MS. LEWIS:

YOUR HONOR, FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES, CAN WE NOTE THAT THE TIME DISPLAYED ON THE VIDEO IS 2:50 WHERE THE GLOVE IS SEEN?

# 194 THE COURT:

YES.

# 195 MR. COCHRAN:

IT SAYS 2:50 P.M. 6-13-94. CAN WE STOP IT THERE?

# 196 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: THAT IS THE WAY A GLOVE APPEARED THERE BY THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YOUNG LADY AT THE TIME YOU SHOT; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 197 A:

YES, SIR.

# 198 Q:

DID ANYBODY TELL YOU TO SHOOT THAT?

# 199 A:

NO, SIR.

# 200 Q:

ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS JUST OUT THERE IN THAT CONDITION?

# 201 A:

YES, SIR.

# 202 Q:

NOW, WITH REGARD TO THIS RCA CAMERA THAT YOU HAD, IT HAD A VIEW FINDER WHICH YOU COULD LOOK AND SEE THE TIME THAT YOU WERE ACTUALLY SHOOTING; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 203 A:

YES, SIR.

# 204 Q:

AND THE DATE?

# 205 A:

EXACTLY.

# 206 Q:

SO YOU COULD LOOK AND YOU COULD SEE THAT IT WAS 2:50 P.M. AT -- ON JUNE 13TH; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 207 A:

YES.

# 208 Q:

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO FAST FORWARD.

# 209 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 210 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: WHEN YOU WERE SHOOTING THE GLOVE, WAS THE DETECTIVE WITH YOU AT THAT POINT?

# 211 A:

HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN. I DON'T KNOW.

# 212 Q:

DO YOU RECALL HIM SAYING ANYTHING TO YOU AS YOU WERE SHOOTING THAT GLOVE?

# 213 A:

NO.

# 214 Q:

YOU DON'T RECALL HIM SAYING KEY IN ON THE GLOVE AT ALL? YOU DON'T RECALL?

# 215 A:

NO.

# 216 Q:

ALL RIGHT. FIND THAT OTHER PORTION IN JUST A SECOND.

# 217 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 218 MR. COCHRAN:

I'LL KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS WHILE HE'S DOING THAT TO SAVE TIME, YOUR HONOR, IF I MIGHT.

# 219 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: NOW, THIS -- YOU'VE DESCRIBED FOR US THAT THIS TAPE THAT YOU SHOT WAS GIVEN TO SOMEBODY AT ROBBERY-HOMICIDE ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE LAPD ON JUNE 14TH; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 220 A:

YES.

# 221 Q:

AND THEN YOU -- YOU -- WHEN IS THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW THIS VIDEOTAPE?

# 222 A:

THIS MORNING.

# 223 Q:

AND WHERE DID YOU SEE IT?

# 224 A:

AT ROBBERY-HOMICIDE.

# 225 Q:

BEFORE YOU CAME OVER TO COURT TODAY?

# 226 A:

YES.

# 227 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND WHO ELSE WAS PRESENT WHILE YOU WERE LOOKING AT THE VIDEOTAPE?

# 228 A:

I THINK DETECTIVE HARO AND MY OIC, DAVID ADKINS, AND I DON'T REALLY RECALL ANYBODY ELSE. I WAS --

# 229 Q:

AND THAT WAS ALL THIS MORNING AT WHAT TIME?

# 230 A:

APPROXIMATELY 7:30, 8:00 O'CLOCK.

# 231 Q:

ALL RIGHT. YOU ALSO SHOT -- YOU WENT UPSTAIRS IN THE INTERIOR OF THE RESIDENCE AND YOU SHOT PHOTOGRAPHS, A VIDEO OF THE BEDROOM OF MR. SIMPSON; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 232 A:

YES.

# 233 Q:

AND IN DOING THAT, DID YOU MAKE AN EFFORT TO SHOOT EVERYTHING THAT WAS OUT THERE IN AND AROUND THAT BEDROOM AREA?

# 234 A:

YES, SIR.

# 235 Q:

YOU SHOT WHAT WAS ON THE BED, RIGHT?

# 236 A:

YES.

# 237 Q:

SHOT WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR, IF ANYTHING?

# 238 A:

YES.

# 239 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND SO YOU TRIED TO GIVE A COMPLETE RECORD AGAIN OF SHOOTING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 240 A:

YES, SIR.

# 241 Q:

ALL RIGHT. SO I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME VIDEO IF I CAN. (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 242 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT. THIS IS -- THIS IS -- THIS IS THE BEDROOM AREA; IS THAT CORRECT? DO YOU RECALL THAT?

# 243 A:

YES.

# 244 Q:

AS BEST YOU CAN RECALL, YOU WERE SHOOTING AT 3:13 P.M. ON JUNE 13TH IN THE BEDROOM, RIGHT?

# 245 A:

OH, I UNDERSTAND THE TIME IS OFF ABOUT AN HOUR.

# 246 Q:

I'M ASKING YOU WHAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING WAS AT THAT TIME. 3:13 P.M.?

# 247 A:

I PAID NO ATTENTION TO THE TIME. I WAS TOO BUSY CONCENTRATING ON GETTING THE IMAGES.

# 248 Q:

BUT YOU SEE THE TIME, 3:13 P.M.?

# 249 A:

OH, YES, SIR.

# 250 Q:

YOU SEE THAT TIME? NOW, YOU SHOT WHAT WAS ON THE BED THERE; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 251 A:

YES.

# 252 Q:

THESE WERE -- THESE THINGS WERE OUT IN FASHION WE SEE THEM THERE IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH THERE, 3:14 P.M.?

# 253 A:

YES.

# 254 Q:

YOU WENT INSIDE HIS CLOSET AND SHOT THERE ALSO, RIGHT?

# 255 A:

YES, SIR.

# 256 Q:

SHOOT ANY LUGGAGE IN THAT PARTICULAR CLOSET THAT YOU RECALL?

# 257 A:

IN VIEWING THE TAPE THIS MORNING, I THINK I DID SEE SOME LUGGAGE.

# 258 Q:

THOSE WEAPONS THERE, WERE THEY TAKEN OUT -- WERE THEY IN THAT CONDITION OUT THERE LIKE THAT WHEN YOU GOT THERE?

# 259 A:

EVERYTHING I VIDEOTAPED WAS OUT ALREADY.

# 260 Q:

DO YOU KNOW WHO MOVED IT OUT THERE?

# 261 A:

NO, SIR.

# 262 Q:

WAS HARO STILL WITH YOU AT THIS POINT OR ONE OF THE DETECTIVES WITH YOU AT THIS POINT?

# 263 A:

NO. I'M BY MYSELF AT THIS POINT.

# 264 Q:

YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN?

# 265 A:

YES, SIR.

# 266 Q:

SHOOTING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING?

# 267 A:

YES.

# 268 Q:

I THINK I SAW YOU IN THE MIRROR THERE. DID YOU SEE YOURSELF?

# 269 MS. LEWIS:

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR.

# 270 WILLIE FORD:

I MISSED THAT ONE.

# 271 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT. LET ME BACK UP JUST A MOMENT. WITH REGARD TO THE -- IN THE BEDROOM AREA, DID YOU SEE A RUG OF SOME KIND IN THE BEDROOM AREA BEFORE THE FIREPLACE THERE THAT DAY?

# 272 A:

OKAY. YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT FIREPLACE TO THE RIGHT THERE?

# 273 Q:

NO. NO. I'M GOING TO -- I'LL POINT IT OUT TO YOU, SIR.

# 274 MS. LEWIS:

YOUR HONOR, EXCUSE ME. I OBJECT TO ANY FURTHER QUESTIONING ALONG THESE LINES. THE COURT -- MR. COCHRAN ASKED LEAVE OF THE COURT TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIDEOTAPE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FISHING EXPEDITION BY MR. COCHRAN WITH THIS WITNESS ON THE STAND. THERE'S NO NEED TO TAKE UP THIS COURT'S VALUABLE TIME WITH THIS TYPE OF QUESTIONING.

# 275 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 276 MR. COCHRAN:

KEEP GOING. I WANT TO STOP THERE.

# 277 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: DID YOU SEE --

# 278 MR. COCHRAN:

OH, BOY. BACK UP A FRAME OR TWO.

# 279 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: 3:13. DO YOU SEE THAT CAR -- BACK IT UP. SEE THAT CARPET THERE AT 3:13 P.M. AT THE FOOT OF THE BED? CAN YOU SEE THAT?

# 280 A:

YES.

# 281 Q:

DID YOU TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THAT CARPET THAT DAY?

# 282 A:

JUST -- JUST WHAT YOU SEE THERE.

# 283 Q:

AND -- SO JUST WHAT WE SEE THERE IS WHAT YOU SAW; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 284 A:

YES.

# 285 Q:

DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL AT THAT POINT, DID YOU?

# 286 A:

NO, SIR.

# 287 Q:

AND YOU TRIED TO CAPTURE EVERYTHING THAT WAS OUT THERE THAT WAS ANYTHING, RIGHT?

# 288 A:

EXACTLY.

# 289 Q:

AND SO WHAT WE SEE HERE WITH REGARD TO THE CARPET -- I'LL BACK IT, LET YOU SEE IT -- IS WHAT YOU SAW THAT DAY; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 290 A:

YES, SIR.

# 291 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT. BACK IT UP AND MOVE FORWARD.

# 292 (BRIEF PAUSE.)

# 293 THE COURT:

MR. COCHRAN, IN PRESENTING THIS TO ME, BEAR IN MIND I'VE SEEN THIS THING COMPLETELY END TO END FIVE TIMES.

# 294 MR. COCHRAN:

FIVE TIMES NOW, YOUR HONOR? OKAY. WELL, I WILL BEAR THAT IN MIND AND MOVE RIGHT AHEAD. I JUST WANT TO CONCLUDE AT THIS POINT.

# 295 THE COURT:

ALL RIGHT.

# 296 MR. COCHRAN:

I KNOW YOU'RE A QUICK STUDY, SO NO PROBLEM. ALL RIGHT. MOVE FORWARD. MOVE FORWARD.

# 297 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: SO YOU PICK UP EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE THERE ON THE CARPET AT THAT TIME; IS THAT RIGHT, SIR?

# 298 A:

YES.

# 299 Q:

YOU TRIED TO SHOW EVERYTHING, ALL RIGHT; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 300 A:

YES, SIR.

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

# 302 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. HARRIS.

# 303 (AT 12:20 P.M., THE PLAYING OF THE VIDEOTAPE WAS CONCLUDED.)

# 304 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: NOW, YOU STARTED TO SAY SOMETHING AND -- WITH REGARD TO THE TIME. WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE TOLD YOU THAT THE TIME OF THE TAPE MIGHT BE OFF? WAS THAT TODAY?

# 305 A:

NO. THAT WAS I THINK ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO.

# 306 Q:

OKAY. WHO TOLD YOU THAT?

# 307 A:

MY OIC, DAVID ADKINS.

# 308 Q:

DAVID ADKINS? AND YOU HADN'T SEEN THE TAPE AT THAT POINT, HAD YOU?

# 309 A:

NO, SIR.

# 310 Q:

SO THAT WE'RE CLEAR, HOWEVER, YOU GOT THE CALL ABOUT 1:30 AND GOT OUT THERE SOMETIME AROUND 2:00 O'CLOCK; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 311 MS. LEWIS:

OBJECTION. MISSTATES THE TESTIMONY.

# 312 THE COURT:

SUSTAINED.

# 313 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: YOU GOT OUT THERE AT WHAT TIME?

# 314 A:

ACCORDING TO THE SIGN-IN LOG, IT WAS AROUND -- A LITTLE BIT AFTER 3:00.

# 315 Q:

WELL, DID YOU SAY EARLIER YOU GOT THERE BETWEEN 2:00 AND 3:00, SIR?

# 316 A:

YOU ASKED ME WHAT TIME DID I THOUGHT THAT I GOT THERE.

# 317 Q:

YES.

# 318 A:

THAT'S THE TIME I THOUGHT I GOT THERE.

# 319 Q:

BETWEEN 2:00 AND 3:00, RIGHT?

# 320 A:

YEAH.

# 321 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN YOU THEN PROCEEDED TO SHOOT FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AT MOST; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 322 A:

YES, SIR.

# 323 Q:

ALL RIGHT. AND SO THAT WOULD COMPORT WITH THE TIMES YOU SAW IN THAT VIDEO, IS THAT CORRECT, THAT YOU WERE SHOOTING SOMETIME AFTER 3:00 O'CLOCK? ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 324 A:

YES.

# 325 MS. LEWIS:

OBJECTION. COMPOUND AND VAGUE AS TO WHICH TIMES ARE THESE.

# 326 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 327 Q:

BY MR. COCHRAN: COMPORTS WITH THE TIMES YOU SAW, RIGHT?

# 328 A:

YES.

# 329 Q:

YOU NEVER TRIED TO CHANGE THE TIME THAT PARTICULAR DAY, DID YOU?

# 330 A:

NO, SIR.

# 331 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY KINDLY. I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER OF THIS WITNESS, YOUR HONOR.

# 332 THE COURT:

MISS LEWIS.

# 333 MS. LEWIS:

JUST BRIEFLY, YOUR HONOR. CROSS-EXAMINATION

# 334

BY MS. LEWIS:

# 335 Q:

MR. FORD, WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT ANYONE ASKED YOU ABOUT WHAT WAS RECORDED OR WHY YOU RECORDED THAT VIDEOTAPE ON THAT OCCASION?

# 336 A:

ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO.

# 337 Q:

SO IT'S BEEN SOME EIGHT MONTHS, EIGHT AND A HALF MONTHS NOW SINCE YOU'VE HAD OCCASION TO EVEN THINK ABOUT HAVING TAKEN THAT VIDEOTAPE BACK LAST JUNE?

# 338 A:

YES, MA'AM.

# 339 Q:

AND YOUR ESTIMATION OF THE TIME THAT YOU TOOK --

# 340 THE COURT:

LET'S HAVE IT QUIET IN THE COURTROOM, PLEASE.

# 341 Q:

BY MS. LEWIS: YOUR ESTIMATION OF THE TIME THAT YOU ARRIVED AND THAT YOU TOOK PARTICULAR THINGS SHOWN ON THE VIDEOTAPE IS JUST BASED ON YOUR BEST RECOLLECTION NOW EIGHT, EIGHT AND A HALF MONTHS LATER; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 342 A:

YES, MA'AM.

# 343 Q:

AND YOU INDICATED YOU DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE TIME ON THE CAMERA ITSELF; IS THAT RIGHT?

# 344 A:

EXACTLY.

# 345 Q:

SO YOU REALLY CAN'T SAY WITH CERTAINTY ANY TIME THAT YOU TOOK ANY PARTICULAR ASPECTS SHOWN ON THAT VIDEOTAPE, CAN YOU?

KEY QUOTE

# 346 A:

NO.

# 347 MS. LEWIS:

NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.

# 348 MR. COCHRAN:

JUST ONE THING, YOUR HONOR.

# 349

REDIRECT EXAMINATION

# 350

BY MR. COCHRAN:

# 351 Q:

THIS -- WITH REGARD TO THE TIME ASPECT, SIR, YOU WERE AWARE THAT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT VIDEO TO DOCUMENT WHAT WAS GOING ON; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 352 A:

YES.

# 353 Q:

AND YOU WERE DOING THE BEST YOU COULD; IS THAT CORRECT?

# 354 A:

YES.

# 355 Q:

TO SHOOT ANY AND EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

# 356 A:

YES.

# 357 Q:

AND IF YOU HAD SEEN OR WERE AWARE THAT THE TIME WAS OFF, YOU WOULD HAVE -- YOU COULD HAVE CHANGED THAT OR CORRECTED THAT; ISN'T THAT CORRECT? ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

# 358 A:

I WOULD SAY YES IF IT WAS OF SOME CONCERN, YES.

# 359 Q:

YES.

# 360 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY KINDLY. DETECTIVE LUPER, YOUR HONOR.

# 361 THE COURT:

MISS LEWIS, ANYTHING MORE?

# 362 MS. LEWIS:

MAY I HAVE JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF CROSS, MY INITIAL CROSS JUST BRIEFLY?

# 363 THE COURT:

BRIEFLY.

# 364

RECROSS-EXAMINATION

# 365

BY MS. LEWIS:

# 366 Q:

DID ANY DETECTIVE OR ANYONE ELSE DIRECT YOU TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEOTAPES I SHOULD SAY OF BLOOD DROPS IN THE DRIVEWAY AT ROCKINGHAM?

# 367 A:

NO.

# 368 Q:

DID ANYONE ASK YOU TO TAKE -- TO VIDEO THE PATHWAY THAT THE -- THAT RUNS BETWEEN WHERE THE HOUSE BUTTS UP AGAINST THE FENCE ON THE SOUTH SIDE?

# 369 A:

NO.

# 370 Q:

DID ANYONE INDICATE TO YOU THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE USED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IN THE CASE?

# 371 A:

NO.

# 372 Q:

AND WAS YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT TAKEN -- THIS WAS TAKEN TO DOCUMENT THE VALUABLE ITEMS THAT YOU SAW THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE --

# 373 MR. COCHRAN:

OBJECT TO THAT QUESTION AS LEADING AND SUGGESTIVE.

# 374 THE COURT:

IT'S CROSS-EXAMINATION.

# 375 MR. COCHRAN:

WELL, THAT IS --

# 376 THE COURT:

I WILL ALLOW THE QUESTION.

# 377 MR. COCHRAN:

ALL RIGHT.

# 378 Q:

BY MS. LEWIS: AND WAS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR PURPOSE IN TAKING THIS VIDEOTAPE WAS TO DOCUMENT THE VALUABLE ITEMS THAT YOU SAW THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE INCLUDING THE HEISMAN TROPHY AND OTHER ITEMS OF VALUE SO THAT THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE THAT ON RECORD AS HAVING EXISTED THEN IN CASE OF A LATER LAWSUIT?

# 379 A:

YES.

# 380 Q:

WAS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING?

# 381 MR. COCHRAN:

SHE IS TESTIFYING.

# 382 THE COURT:

OVERRULED.

# 383 Q:

BY MS. LEWIS: WAS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING, SIR?

# 384 A:

YES.

# 385 MS. LEWIS:

THANK YOU.

FURTHER REDIRECT EXAMINATION

# 386

BY MR. COCHRAN:

# 387 Q:

AND WHEN YOU TOOK THAT PICTURE OF THAT GLOVE THERE, YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS A VALUABLE OBJECT DID YOU?

# 388 THE COURT:

COUNSEL, I SAW WHAT WAS ON THE TABLE THERE.

# 389 MR. COCHRAN:

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, YOU KNOW, I -- ALL RIGHT. VERY WELL.

# 390 THE COURT:

LOOKED LIKE A TIFFANY STYLE LAMP AND A --

KEY QUOTE

# 391 MR. COCHRAN:

HE ZOOMED ON THE GLOVE HOWEVER.

FURTHER RECROSS-EXAMINATION

# 392

BY MS. LEWIS:

# 393 Q:

JUST FOR THE RECORD, DID YOU NOTICE THAT THERE WERE VALUABLE ITEMS ON THAT TABLE LIKE A LAMP OR SO FORTH --

# 394 A:

YES.

# 395 Q:

-- IN ADDITION TO THE GLOVE?

# 396 THE COURT:

MISS LEWIS, YOU SHOULD ALSO BEAR IN MIND THAT I'VE SEEN THIS FIVE TIMES.

# 397 MS. LEWIS:

JUST FOR THE RECORD, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU.

# 398 MR. COCHRAN:

ONE LAST QUESTION, YOUR HONOR.

FURTHER REDIRECT EXAMINATION

# 399

BY MR. COCHRAN:

# 400 Q:

DID YOU SHOOT SOME REPORTED BLOOD DROPS IN THE FOYER AREA OF THE RESIDENCE?

# 401 A:

YES.

# 402 Q:

SOMEBODY TOLD YOU TO DO THAT?

# 403 A:

NO.

# 404 Q:

YOU JUST DID IT ON YOUR OWN?

# 405 A:

YES.

# 406 Q:

AGAIN, SHOOTING EVERYTHING YOU SAW, RIGHT?

# 407 A:

YES.

# 408 Q:

OKAY. AND YOU -- WITH REGARD TO THE PURPOSE -- YOUR PURPOSE FOR BEING THERE, YOU WERE TOLD YOUR PURPOSE WAS TO SHOOT ANY AND EVERYTHING AT THE DIRECTION OF THE DETECTIVES WHO TOLD YOU TO DO THIS, RIGHT?

# 409 A:

RIGHT.

# 410 MR. COCHRAN:

THANK YOU, SIR. LUPER, YOUR HONOR?

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Willie Ford Jr.

JUST IN CASE THERE WAS SOME ITEMS OF MR. SIMPSON'S THAT WAS VERY VALUABLE MISSING, LAPD WOULDN'T BE ACCUSED OF TAKING ANYTHING.

Establishes the original stated purpose of the videotape — asset protection, not evidence documentation — which Lewis then uses to limit its evidentiary weight.

Willie Ford Jr.

YES, SIR. NO. NOT THE SOUTH SIDE. IT WOULD BE THE NORTH SIDE.

Ford inadvertently confirms that no video was shot on the south side of the house — the area between the house and fence — which Lewis later explicitly confirms on recross, potentially relevant to the Bundy glove pathway.

Cheri Lewis

SO YOU REALLY CAN'T SAY WITH CERTAINTY ANY TIME THAT YOU TOOK ANY PARTICULAR ASPECTS SHOWN ON THAT VIDEOTAPE, CAN YOU?

Core of the prosecution's cross: Ford admitted he never watched the clock during shooting, undermining Cochran's use of the 2:50 PM timestamp to establish a timeline around the glove.

Lance A. Ito

LOOKED LIKE A TIFFANY STYLE LAMP AND A --

The judge, having watched the tape five times, intervenes to note other valuable items near the glove, preempting Cochran's redirect implying Ford zoomed in on the glove as something distinctively notable.

Evidence (4)

Informal

RCA camcorder videotape shot at Rockingham on June 13, 1994, approximately 20-30 minutes of footage

played in court; portions shown to witness at 12:05 PM, concluded 12:20 PM

Informal

Glove visible inside the Rockingham residence near a photograph of a young lady, timestamped 2:50 PM on the video

identified on video; discussed as to whether it was placed or already present

Informal

Sign-in log at Rockingham showing Ford's arrival time as 'a little bit after 3:00'

referenced verbally to reconcile arrival time with video timestamps

Informal

Blood drops in the foyer of the Rockingham residence

confirmed as videotaped by Ford on his own initiative, without direction

Notable Exchanges (3)

Johnnie Cochran•Lance A. Ito

Ito disclosed he had watched the videotape five times end to end, prompting Cochran to quip 'I know you're a quick study' before wrapping up. Ito later intervened mid-redirect to note that the table near the glove also held a Tiffany-style lamp, blunting Cochran's insinuation that Ford singled out the glove.

light but pointed

Cheri Lewis•Willie Ford Jr.

Lewis established in a few targeted questions that Ford had not thought about the tape in eight months, never monitored the time while shooting, and understood his job as documenting valuables — not evidence. This effectively neutralized the timestamp-based arguments Cochran built on direct.

strategic

Johnnie Cochran•Cheri Lewis

After Lewis asked a long, leading compound question on recross about the tape's purpose (referencing the Heisman Trophy by name), Cochran objected 'she is testifying.' Ito overruled but the exchange highlighted the blurry line between examination and argument late in the proceeding.

tense

Light Moments (3)

Lance A. Ito / Johnnie Cochran

Ito announced he had watched the tape 'completely end to end five times,' prompting Cochran to say 'I know you're a quick study, so no problem' before immediately speeding through the remaining footage.

Johnnie Cochran / Willie Ford Jr.

Cochran pointed out to Ford that he could briefly see himself reflected in a mirror during the bedroom footage. Ford deadpanned: 'I missed that one.' Lewis immediately objected before it went further.

Lance A. Ito

At the very end, Ito told Lewis she 'should also bear in mind that I've seen this five times' when she tried to clarify the lamp-and-glove table for the record.

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Willie Ford Jr.

memory degradation / passage of time

Lewis established that Ford had not thought about the tape for eight months, never monitored the camera's clock during shooting, and first learned the time might be off only two days before testifying — all from his supervisor Adkins, not from reviewing the tape himself. This undercut any precision in the timestamps Cochran relied on.

Witness Demeanor

Cooperative and straightforward throughout; no stage directions indicating agitation or distress.

Showed mild uncertainty about specific names (Harper vs. Haro) and times, acknowledged memory limits openly.

Comfortable deferring to Cochran's framing during direct but gave honest 'I don't know' answers when he didn't recall.

Objections

5 objections (1 sustained, 4 overruled)

Proceeding 5541 • 410 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103