📄 In chambers: knife evidence — Tuesday, May 2, 1995
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAY\2\IN-CHAMBERS-KNIFE-EVIDENCE.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 65 of 167

In chambers: knife evidence

Date: Tuesday, May 2, 1995 • Utterances: 36
Prosecutor Goldberg raised a pre-testimony motion to exclude Item 118 — a knife found near Simpson's Rockingham estate in July 1994 — from an analyzed evidence report about to be shown to the witness. Defense attorney Blasier argued the knife was relevant because it tested EAP type B (same as the victims' nail scrapings), challenging the prosecution's EAP testing methodology. Judge Ito, hearing of the item for the first time, ordered both sides to produce the knife and full documentation the next morning and barred any mention of it until he could evaluate it.
1 (The following proceedings were held in open Court, out of the presence of the jury:)
2 THE COURT:

All right. Back on the record in the Simpson matter. All parties including the clerk are again present before the Court. Let's have the jurors, please.

3 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, I had one issue I wanted to bring up if I may.

4 THE COURT:

What is that?

5 MR. GOLDBERG:

As to--there's an item 118 in this case that was tested by Mr. Matheson and there has not been any testimony about it in this case heretofore. It was a knife that was found in the area of the Defendant's house, but not on his property, which was tested and has an EAP type B similar to the nails. I think it may have been mentioned by Mr. Cochran in his opening statement. We would ask to exclude evidence of that knife under 402 and the testing results.

6 THE COURT:

You don't need to do that now.

7 MR. GOLDBERG:

Well, it's part of an analyzed evidence report that I would like to show the witness and there is reference to it there and I would like to be able to sanitize that out.

8 THE COURT:

Mr. Blasier.

9 MR. BLASIER:

Yeah. We--this is the same report that has all the results that they're testifying to. We intend to ask this witness about the other EAP B that came up on this knife with blood on it, and I don't see how he can limit the testimony to just a couple of things that he tested and not include other things he tested at the same time. The credibility of this whole argument depends on how you read EAP testing and how you read the bands, and that's relevant to 118 as well and I think it's clearly fair game.

10 THE COURT:

Which evidence report are we talking about?

11 MR. GOLDBERG:

Which analyzed evidence report, your Honor?

12 THE COURT:

Yes.

13 MR. GOLDBERG:

It's the analyzed evidence report that's dated 10-18-94.

14 MR. BLASIER:

It's the one I submitted yesterday I believe as well.

15 THE COURT:

All right. I don't know anything about the facts and circumstances regarding the recovery of this alleged knife.

16 MR. BLASIER:

It was found in--outside of Mr. Simpson's estate on July 2nd, apparently had been put there at some point after the 13th. It had a lot of blood on it, is consistent with the wounds on the victims, turned over to the police and they ran the test and came up with an EAP B. I also would like to request that the Court order that that be produced tomorrow for cross-examination.

17 MS. CLARK:

Your Honor, may I correct counsel's representation to the Court? There was a single thread of tiny speck of blood on the knife, on the very tip of the knife.

18 MR. BLASIER:

It doesn't matter, but I'll make an offer of proof that the person who found it will testify that there was a lot of blood on it.

19 THE COURT:

Where was this found?

20 MR. BLASIER:

It was found near a brick wall I think toward the back of the Rockingham estate kind of down the way from the * I believe the Rockingham side. It clearly hadn't been there the 13th. I mean, it was in relatively plain view and someone had put it there. It was wrapped in a polka dotted outfit or blouse I believe that I believe also had blood on it, although I don't think that was tested.

21 MS. CLARK:

Your Honor, the point of this is that it's entirely irrelevant. That's the problem. If what we have on the knife--excuse me, Mr. Blasier. If what we have on the knife is type EAP B, then obviously it's not of either of our victims. The victims in this case are BA and I think BA.

22 THE COURT:

Is there a reason you are arguing this rather than Mr. Goldberg?

KEY QUOTE
23 MS. CLARK:

Because I looked into this issue when Mr. Blasier informed me that he was going to be raising this issue with the Court and Mr. Goldberg was in the process of examining the witness and so wasn't--didn't have the opportunity to inform himself of the issues as I did. It's just more expeditious if I address it than if I sit and whisper in Mr. Goldberg's ear and have him address the Court. So what we have is an item of evidence that is entirely irrelevant based on the testing that was done.

24 THE COURT:

All right. Prosecution--neither side may mention 118 until I have some more information about where it came from, when and what it is. Prosecution is ordered to produce that item in Court tomorrow morning.

25 MS. CLARK:

Okay. And would the Court also like some documentation as to the time and method of recovery, et cetera.

26 THE COURT:

We're not going to use it until I know where it came from. All right. And as I indicated, this is the first mention of this item to the Court.

27 MS. CLARK:

Right.

28 THE COURT:

All right.

29 MR. GOLDBERG:

May we have permission then to use a redacted copy of the analyzed evidence report at this time pending the Court's further ruling?

30 THE COURT:

For today, yes. But I want all the reports produced tomorrow and the item. All right. Let's proceed. Let's have the jury, please.

31 MR. GOLDBERG:

Your Honor, depending on the Court's ruling, we may want--we would ask for permission to reopen if the Court were going to allow this in, because I do expect to finish my direct sometime--

32 THE COURT:

Today.

33 MR. GOLDBERG:

--in the mid afternoon.

34 THE COURT:

Okay. I'll take that--you know, once we see what it is, we'll see. But since I know nothing about it and this is the first I've been advised of the existence of this item--but I would rather use the time with the jury to finish at least the basic blood testing.

35 MS. CLARK:

And we'll complete direct subject to the Court's determination on that item?

36 THE COURT:

Yes.

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (4)

Robert Blasier
The credibility of this whole argument depends on how you read EAP testing and how you read the bands, and that's relevant to 118 as well and I think it's clearly fair game.
Defense frames the knife not as proof of guilt but as a methodological challenge — if EAP B appears on an unrelated knife, it undermines the prosecution's serological evidence.
Marcia Clark
If what we have on the knife is type EAP B, then obviously it's not of either of our victims. The victims in this case are BA and I think BA.
Prosecution's core argument for exclusion: EAP B doesn't match either victim's blood type, making the knife irrelevant rather than incriminating.
Lance A. Ito
Neither side may mention 118 until I have some more information about where it came from, when and what it is. Prosecution is ordered to produce that item in Court tomorrow morning.
Ito's ruling — a temporary hold on all mention of the knife pending full disclosure, highlighting that the court had never been informed of this item's existence.
Lance A. Ito
Is there a reason you are arguing this rather than Mr. Goldberg?
Ito notices and questions Clark's takeover of the argument mid-proceeding, a subtle rebuke of courtroom protocol.

Evidence (2)

Item 118
A knife found near Simpson's Rockingham estate on July 2nd, 1994, reportedly wrapped in a polka-dotted blouse, with blood on it; tested by Matheson and returned EAP type B
challenged for admissibility; Ito orders production of the physical item and full documentation
Informal
Analyzed evidence report dated 10-18-94 containing serological test results including Item 118
court approves use of redacted copy (with Item 118 removed) pending further ruling

Notable Exchanges (2)

Robert BlasierMarcia Clark
Blasier described the knife as having 'a lot of blood on it'; Clark immediately corrected him, saying there was only 'a single thread of tiny speck of blood on the very tip.' Blasier responded it didn't matter and offered to call the finder as a witness.
adversarial
Lance A. ItoMarcia Clark
Ito questioned why Clark was arguing instead of Goldberg, who had been examining the witness. Clark explained she had researched the issue while Goldberg was occupied and it was more expeditious for her to address the court directly.
mildly pointed

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ EAP testing methodology (Matheson's results)
counter-example / alternative interpretation
Blasier sought to use Item 118's EAP B result to argue the prosecution's EAP band-reading was unreliable or ambiguous, undermining the evidentiary value of EAP typing across the board.

Objections

None recorded
Proceeding 5877 • 36 utterances
Criminal Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 MAY 2, 1995 📄 In chambers: knife evidence
MAY 2, 1995 KRT DvH TD