📂 Monday, March 6, 1995 — Day 31
◀ Criminal Trial
📅 Monday, March 6, 1995 36 proceedings 2529 lines
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAR\6
TRIAL
▲ Day 31 of 167

Day 31 — Monday, March 6, 1995

Cochran Attacks LAPD Investigation, Evidence Handling, and Witness Coaching
Judge Lance A. Ito • Criminal Trial • 36 proceedings • 2529 lines
tense

Mark Storfer testified as a neighbor witness about hearing the dog barking around 10:20 PM and observing police at 12:15 AM, while Cochran highlighted differences between his trial testimony and earlier statement. Much of the day concerned Cochran's cross-examination of Detective Tom Lange about investigative gaps, evidence handling, and Cochran's coaching allegation, which Lange denied. Cochran identified a discrepancy between Lange's notes and booked coin evidence, questioned the handling of an envelope sent to SID and a fruit label, and elicited that Lange had not previously seen a grocery list discovered in People's 30. A bomb scare delayed the afternoon session. In a later evidence-access hearing, Ito largely favored local examination of the socks, shoes, and trace evidence while allowing defense experts to submit affidavits describing specific equipment needs.

  • Mark Storfer testified hearing dog barking at 10:20 PM, saw police at 12:15 AM; Cochran exposed inconsistencies with his January 1995 statement.
  • Cochran accused Detective Lange of being coached by prosecutors to be more aggressive; Lange denied the allegation.
  • At sidebar, counsel discussed an LA Times article quoting Darden criticizing LAPD witnesses' cross-examination performance and an Albany newspaper report that a coroner official criticized LAPD crime-scene notification and handling; Ito allowed limited awareness questions but barred article specifics as hearsay.
  • Cochran questioned Lange about an already-open envelope containing what appeared to be eyeglasses; Lange could not determine the number of lenses and had not followed up with the owner. The envelope had been sent to LAPD SID for testing.
  • Cochran caught Lange in discrepancy: notes showed two dimes and two pennies, but only one dime and one penny were booked into evidence.
  • Mysterious Bonita Ecuador fruit label found near gate was booked but never investigated.
  • Handwritten grocery list discovered in Ron Goldman's clothing bag that Detective Lange had never seen or examined.
  • Building bomb scare forced evacuation of two floors during lunch recess, delaying afternoon session.
  • Cochran attacked investigation failures: Goldman's movements, last meal, and background never adequately investigated.
  • Ito largely favored keeping examination of the socks, shoes, and trace hair and fiber evidence local under the prior order, while agreeing to consider defense-expert affidavits describing specific equipment needs.
Day 31 • 36 proceedings • 2529 lines
Criminal Trial
Department 103
📂 Day 31 — MAR 6, 1995
MAR 6, 1995