Direct examination of Bill Renken (part 1)

📄 Direct examination of Bill Renken (part 1) — Monday, September 11, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\SEP\11\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-BILL-REN.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 151 of 167

◀ Exhibit passed to jury Sidebar: videotape evidence foundation ▶

Witness: Bill Renken
Examiner: Marcia Clark
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Monday, September 11, 1995 • Utterances: 158

Marcia Clark called Bill Renken, a professional photographer, as a People's rebuttal witness. Renken testified that he photographed OJ Simpson on the sidelines during and after a January 6, 1991 Cincinnati Bengals playoff game, roughly 10-15 feet away. The photographs — introduced as People's 606-A through J — show Simpson wearing brown gloves in rainy conditions, directly relevant to the glove evidence at the heart of the case.

# 1 MR. FAIRTLOUGH:

Yes, your Honor.

# 2 THE COURT:

All right. Let the record reflect each of the jurors has had the opportunity to review and evaluate People's exhibit 605. Miss Clark, People may call their next witness.

# 3 MS. CLARK:

Thank you. People call Mr. Bill Renken.

# 4 THE COURT:

All right. Mr. Renken, would you face Mrs. Robertson, the clerk.

Bill Renken, called as a witness by the People on rebuttal, was sworn and testified as follows:

# 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 MR. RENKEN:

I do.

# 7 THE CLERK:

Please have a seat on the witness stand and state and spell your first and last names for the record.

# 8 MR. RENKEN:

Name is Bill Renken, B-I-L-L R-E-N-K-E-N.

# 9 THE COURT:

Miss Clark.

# 10 MS. CLARK:

Thank you.

DIRECT EXAMINATION BY Ms. CLARK

# 11 MS. CLARK:

Good afternoon, Mr. Renken.

# 12 MR. RENKEN:

Good afternoon, Miss Clark.

# 13 MS. CLARK:

Are you a professional photographer, sir?

# 14 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, I am.

# 15 MS. CLARK:

And do you have a photo lab of your own?

# 16 MR. RENKEN:

I work with a custom photo lab, Western Hills Photo, in Cincinnati.

# 17 MS. CLARK:

Now, directing your attention to the date of January 6th, 1991, can you tell us where you were on that date, sir?

# 18 MR. RENKEN:

I was at River Front Stadium covering a playoff game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Oilers.

# 19 MS. CLARK:

And when you say you were covering the game, where was that?

# 20 MR. RENKEN:

That was at river front stadium.

# 21 MS. CLARK:

In Cincinnati?

# 22 MR. RENKEN:

Cincinnati, yes. Uh-huh.

# 23 MS. CLARK:

And were you covering it for the purpose of taking photographs in your professional capacity?

# 24 MR. RENKEN:

That's correct.

# 25 MS. CLARK:

Can you tell us where you were when you took those photographs?

# 26 MR. RENKEN:

Uh, I was on the sidelines.

# 27 MS. CLARK:

What sidelines were you on, sir?

# 28 MR. RENKEN:

Uh, I was on the Bengals' side.

# 29 MS. CLARK:

Did you take photographs of the Defendant during that game, sir?

# 30 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, I did.

# 31 MS. CLARK:

And how far away from him were you when you took those photographs?

# 32 MR. RENKEN:

I'd say approximately roughly 10 to maybe 15 feet away.

# 33 MS. CLARK:

And did you cause one of those photographs to be enlarged?

# 34 MR. RENKEN:

Yes.

# 35 MS. CLARK:

People's next in order, your Honor.

# 36 THE COURT:

606.

# 37 MS. CLARK:

Thank you.

# 38 THE COURT:

Is that correct, Mrs. Robertson?

# 39 THE CLERK:

Yes.

# 40 THE COURT:

606.

# 41 (Peo's 606 for id = photograph)

# 42 MS. CLARK:

Showing you People's 606, sir, can I ask you to tell us, sir, if this is the photograph you took on January 6, 1991 in Cincinnati?

# 43 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, it is.

# 44 MS. CLARK:

And does this photograph accurately depict the shot that you took?

# 45 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, it does.

# 46 THE COURT:

1386, can you see that? 165, can you see that, sir?

# 47 JUROR NO. 165:

Yes, sir.

# 48 THE COURT:

Thank you.

# 49 MS. CLARK:

Now, with respect to that particular--did you take photographs throughout the day during that game?

# 50 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, I did.

# 51 MS. CLARK:

And did you take some at half time, sir?

# 52 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, I did.

# 53 MS. CLARK:

Did you also take some at the end of the game?

# 54 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, I did.

# 55 MS. CLARK:

Can you tell us what time this one was taken?

# 56 MR. RENKEN:

Uh, I'd say it was--obviously, that one is post game after interview. It could be 5:30, 6:00 o'clock Cincinnati time.

# 57 MS. CLARK:

Can you tell us, sir, whether there was any artificial lighting when you took this photograph?

# 58 MR. RENKEN:

No, there wasn't.

# 59 MS. CLARK:

Did you use a flash?

# 60 MR. RENKEN:

Not on this picture.

# 61 MS. CLARK:

I show you another photograph--

# 62 MS. CLARK:

Ask this to be marked People's 606-A.

# 63 THE COURT:

All right. People's 606-A. Have you shown that to Mr. Blasier?

# 64 (Peo's 606-A for id = photograph)

# 65 (Discussion held off the record between the Deputy District Attorney and Defense counsel.)

# 66 THE COURT:

All right. 606-A appears to be an 8 by 11.

# 67 MS. CLARK:

Yes. Thank you, your Honor. I'm sorry. 606-A is an 8 by 11, showing the Defendant holding a microphone turned toward his left. It's in a slightly different posture than the one that is 606.

# 68 MS. CLARK:

And showing you this photograph, sir, can you tell us if this is another photograph that you took of the Defendant at the Bengals game on January 6, 1991?

# 69 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, it is.

# 70 MS. CLARK:

And is this a half-time or post-game photograph if you can tell us?

# 71 MR. RENKEN:

This is a post game.

# 72 MS. CLARK:

Your Honor, with leave of the court, I'm going to ask to tape this one to the board as well. When I say this one, 606-A.

# 73 THE COURT:

606-A. Mr. Fairtlough.

# 74 (Brief pause.)

# 75 MS. CLARK:

All right. Now, you say you took a photograph of the Defendant during half time as well?

# 76 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, I did.

# 77 MS. CLARK:

I'm going to show you photograph that is approximately 8-1/2 by 11 of a--appears to be the Defendant holding an umbrella. This one is a vertical photograph, People's 606-B?

# 78 THE COURT:

606-B.

# 79 (Peo's 606-B for id = photograph)

# 80 MS. CLARK:

And a horizontal photograph of the Defendant holding an umbrella, People's 606-C.

# 81 THE COURT:

And C.

# 82 (Peo's 606-C for id = photograph)

# 83 MS. CLARK:

Showing you People's 606-B and C, sir, can you tell us whether these are photographs that you took?

# 84 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, they are.

# 85 MS. CLARK:

And are those accurate depictions of the photographs that you took on that date, January 6th, 1991?

# 86 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, they are.

# 87 MS. CLARK:

What color are these gloves, sir?

# 88 MR. RENKEN:

These have a--brown.

KEY QUOTE

# 89 MS. CLARK:

May I ask that one of them be put on the elmo for further questioning, your Honor?

# 90 THE COURT:

Which one?

# 91 MS. CLARK:

606-C.

# 92 THE COURT:

606-C.

# 93 MS. CLARK:

Can you tell us first of all, with respect to this photograph, when it was taken during the game?

# 94 MR. RENKEN:

This was taken at half time.

# 95 MS. CLARK:

And how far away from him were you when you took this photograph?

# 96 MR. RENKEN:

Roughly 10, 15 feet.

# 97 MS. CLARK:

Can you describe the weather?

# 98 MR. RENKEN:

Very--rain, kind of rainy obviously, damp.

KEY QUOTE

# 99 MS. CLARK:

Throughout the game?

# 100 MR. RENKEN:

Yes.

# 101 MS. CLARK:

Now, for this photograph, sir, did you use a flash?

# 102 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, I did.

# 103 MS. CLARK:

And was there any artificial lighting?

# 104 MR. RENKEN:

The artificial lighting was from the TV. cameras. I mean TV. lights.

# 105 MS. CLARK:

You mean the lights that are on the video cameras?

# 106 MR. RENKEN:

On the video cameras or I'm pretty sure they might have had some lights that were on the field.

# 107 MS. CLARK:

Can you tell us what kind of camera you used?

# 108 MR. RENKEN:

I use a Nikon. I have two Nikons, 8000A and FA.

# 109 MS. CLARK:

And was there any special processing that you gave to this photograph?

# 110 MR. RENKEN:

Nope.

# 111 MS. CLARK:

Or any of these photographs, sir?

# 112 MR. RENKEN:

Nope.

# 113 MS. CLARK:

I'd like to mark one further photograph.

# 114 THE COURT:

D as in David?

# 115 MS. CLARK:

Yes.

# 116 THE COURT:

606-D.

# 117 MS. CLARK:

606-D as in David.

# 118 (Peo's 606-D for id = photograph)

# 119 MS. CLARK:

Do you see what appear to be raindrops or any moisture on those gloves, sir, on this photograph 606-C?

# 120 MR. RENKEN:

Yes.

# 121 MS. CLARK:

I'm going to show you 606-D. Can you identify this photograph, sir?

# 122 MR. RENKEN:

Yes. It was a picture also taken after the game that was used without a flash.

# 123 MS. CLARK:

And this is another photograph of the Defendant wearing those gloves at that game?

# 124 MR. RENKEN:

Yes.

# 125 MS. CLARK:

Was this a post-game or half-time photograph, sir?

# 126 MR. RENKEN:

Postgame.

# 127 MS. CLARK:

So there was no artificial lighting for this photograph?

# 128 MR. RENKEN:

Right.

# 129 (Brief pause.)

# 130 MS. CLARK:

May I ask that the photographs 606-C--b, C and D be passed around to the jury, your Honor?

# 131 THE COURT:

All right. If you'll hand them to juror no. 7. Thank you.

# 132 (Brief pause.)

# 133 THE COURT:

And juror 7, could you just hand them down as soon as you're finished looking at them? Thank you.

# 134 (People's exhibit 606-B, C and D were examined by the jurors.)

# 135 THE COURT:

All right. Mr. Fairtlough, would you retrieve those photographs, please. And may I see them, please? I'm sorry. Miss Clark. Thank you.

# 136 MS. CLARK:

Your Honor, I have here photographs 606-E through j that I've marked and shown to counsel. I'm going to show them to the witness and ask if he recognizes them.

# 137 (Peo's 606-E through j for id = photographs)

# 138 MS. CLARK:

Can you tell us, sir, whether you recognize those photographs I've just marked 607-E through J?

# 139 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, I do.

# 140 MS. CLARK:

And what are those photographs of, sir?

# 141 MR. RENKEN:

Pictures of the Defendant.

KEY QUOTE

# 142 MS. CLARK:

And--

# 143 MR. RENKEN:

During an interview, post-gram interview.

# 144 MS. CLARK:

Can you tell us as you review them, sir, if these are all post-game interview photographs that you took?

# 145 MR. RENKEN:

Yes.

# 146 MS. CLARK:

Of the same game on January 6, 1991?

# 147 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, they are.

# 148 MS. CLARK:

Your Honor, I'd like to place on the board at this time the photographs that I gave to the court if I may. Thank you. And we'll label them. For the record, 606-A is on the board to the far right, your Honor. I'm going to ask to put up also 606-B.

# 149 THE COURT:

Mr. Renken, would you hand this to Miss Clark, please.

# 150 MR. RENKEN:

Sure.

# 151 MS. CLARK:

Thank you, your Honor. Mr. Fairtlough has double stick. And 606-C, your Honor.

# 152 MS. CLARK:

Now, are all these true and accurate prints of the photographs that you took on January the 6th, 1991, sir?

# 153 MR. RENKEN:

Yes, they are.

# 154 MS. CLARK:

And if we may put the label indicating the date and the witness' name below those three photographs, 606-A through C.

# 155 THE COURT:

You may.

# 156 MS. CLARK:

Thank you, your Honor.

# 157 MS. CLARK:

Your Honor, we have a--we have a video clip we would like to show.

# 158 THE COURT:

With the reporter, please.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (4)

Bill Renken

These have a--brown.

His identification of the glove color in the 1991 photographs ties Simpson to Aris gloves years before the murders.

Bill Renken

Very--rain, kind of rainy obviously, damp.

The wet weather conditions are relevant to how the gloves would look and fit — a direct counter to defense arguments about glove shrinkage or appearance.

Bill Renken

It could be 5:30, 6:00 o'clock Cincinnati time.

Provides a timeline anchor for when the post-game photos were taken.

Bill Renken

Pictures of the Defendant. During an interview, post-gram interview.

Establishes that multiple photographs across different moments of the game were captured, giving the jury varied angles of the gloves.

Evidence (6)

People's 606

Photograph of OJ Simpson taken by Renken at Bengals game, January 6, 1991

introduced and identified by witness

People's 606-A

8x11 photograph of Simpson holding microphone, turned left, post-game

introduced and taped to display board

People's 606-B

Vertical 8.5x11 photograph of Simpson holding an umbrella, half-time

introduced, passed to jury

People's 606-C

Horizontal photograph of Simpson holding an umbrella at half-time, showing brown gloves with visible moisture/raindrops

introduced, displayed on Elmo, passed to jury

People's 606-D

Post-game photograph of Simpson wearing gloves, taken without flash

introduced, passed to jury

People's 606-E through J

Additional photographs of Simpson during post-game interview

introduced and identified by witness

Notable Exchanges (2)

Marcia Clark•Bill Renken

Clark methodically established lighting conditions (flash vs. no flash, artificial TV lighting) for each photograph to preempt defense challenges about color accuracy of the gloves.

strategic

Lance A. Ito•Bill Renken

Judge Ito asked Renken to hand a photograph directly to Clark from the witness stand, briefly making the witness a courier.

procedural

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 7591 • 158 utterances • Prosecution witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103