Recross-examination of Dr. Robin Cotton (part 2)

📄 Recross-examination of Dr. Robin Cotton (part 2) — Monday, May 15, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAY\15\RECROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-DR-ROBI.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 74 of 167

◀ Redirect examination of Dr. Robin Cotton (part 2) Session adjournment ▶

Witness: Dr. Robin Cotton
Examiner: Peter Neufeld
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Monday, May 15, 1995 • Utterances: 5

Neufeld concluded his recross-examination with a single, pointed question establishing that only two people in Cellmark's database matched OJ Simpson's genetic profile across all five DNA loci. The brevity was deliberate — the exchange was designed to leave the jury with a stark, memorable number.

# 1 MR. NEUFELD:

Dr. Cotton, recognizing but in this case, when you calculated the frequency of the rarity of Mr. Simpson's genetic profile, you did rely on all five loci; is that correct?

# 2 DR. COTTON:

Yes, we did.

# 3 MR. NEUFELD:

Okay. And so as to the all--as to the entire--whoops. Excuse me. And so in your database, the number of people that you have typed like Mr. Simpson across all five loci were just two people; isn't that right?

# 4 DR. COTTON:

Across all five, yes.

KEY QUOTE

# 5 MR. NEUFELD:

Yes. No further questions.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (2)

Peter Neufeld

in your database, the number of people that you have typed like Mr. Simpson across all five loci were just two people; isn't that right?

Neufeld reframes the DNA statistic from an astronomical rarity (used by prosecution) to a concrete, humanizing number — only two people in the database matched, subtly undermining the 'one in billions' framing.

Dr. Robin Cotton

Across all five, yes.

A clean concession that anchors Neufeld's point without elaboration or pushback.

Notable Exchanges (1)

Peter Neufeld•Dr. Robin Cotton

Neufeld extracted a confirmation that the actual database count of Simpson-profile matches was two people, then immediately rested — a classic 'quit while you're ahead' closing move.

strategic

Light Moments (1)

Peter Neufeld

Neufeld stumbles mid-question ('whoops. Excuse me.') while reorganizing his phrasing

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Dr. Robin Cotton

reframing statistical testimony

Neufeld did not attack Cotton's credibility directly, but reframed her testimony to highlight the small raw database count (2 matches) rather than the probabilistic rarity figure the prosecution had emphasized.

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 6050 • 5 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103