📄 Sidebar: test impressions admissibility — Monday, September 18, 1995
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\SEP\18\SIDEBAR-TEST-IMPRESSIONS-ADMIS.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 156 of 167

Sidebar: test impressions admissibility

Date: Monday, September 18, 1995 • Utterances: 17
During a bench conference, the defense (Scheck) attempted to question FBI shoeprint expert Bodziak about how test impressions of OJ's jeans were made, arguing that the rolling method used would stretch fabric and affect ridge measurements relevant to comparing impressions. Clark objected that Bodziak lacked personal knowledge of the impression-making process and that Deedrick — who actually made the impressions — was the proper witness. The judge cut through the debate and directed Scheck to simply ask whether Bodziak compared the impressions.
1 (The following proceedings were held at the bench:)
2 MS. CLARK:

The problem I have, your Honor, no. 1, this all calls for speculation from the witness because these photographs, there's only one way these were done, but they did them multiple ways, and so the test impressions that are being shown to Mr. Bodziak are the result of different methods of doing the test impression. This only shows one. He can't possibly know that. So you're asking a witness who has no personal knowledge of how it was done or whether there were a variety of methods used and you're asking him about one method that led to one set of impressions. The problem is that this whole area is speculation on his part. Agent Deedrick did his own impressions and testified to that, indicating that they were the same. He was the appropriate witness to question about the methods of doing the imprints and Mr. Scheck elected not to do that. This is not the witness.

3 MR. SCHECK:

I think I did both. Miss Clark has not looked at her own reports that were turned over to us because the report from LAPD personnel indicate that on August 21st, they placed a yellow pad on top of the jeans, they rolled it, then they placed the paper on it. The pictures that I have at sidebar that were turned over by the Prosecution reflect that process. And then on August 31st, the memo indicates they did the same thing. Agent Deedrick's testimony is that he went back to the lab after he prepared the boards and--

4 THE COURT:

But here's the problem though. Is that if Deedrick was the one who was involved in getting these impressions--excuse me, Mr. Shapiro. If Deedrick is the one who was involved in making these impressions, why are we talking to Bodziak about this?

5 MR. SCHECK:

We talked to Deedrick about it too. But the point is that I want to go into how they were laid flat and what the significance of that is. He testified in this area.

6 THE COURT:

What's the point though--

7 MR. SCHECK:

A few pages.

8 THE COURT:

Such as? What's the point about how those impressions were made?

9 MR. SCHECK:

Well, when you roll them out, you are going to be expounding--

KEY QUOTE
10 THE COURT:

Stretching it out.

11 MR. SCHECK:

Stretching it out and you are going to maximize the distance between the ridges, and that will become important in terms of comparison of the test imprints to the actual imprints on the envelope and the piece of paper.

12 MS. CLARK:

Your Honor, what's unfair about it--this is beyond the scope. This witness was not questioned about the jeans matching the impression. This witness was asked specifically whether or not it was a shoeprint. Agent Deedrick was asked and he didn't rely on the test impressions of the jeans in forming his opinion. He was the one who initially said this is not a shoeprint and passed it on to Agent Deedrick. If Mr. Scheck wanted to question the manner in which the impressions were made to attack the foundation for Agent Deedrick's opinion that it was the jeans, that was the person to confront with discrepancies in the manner in which the impressions were made. He would know. He also by the way made his own impressions and failed to bring that up. And by the way, Agent Deedrick's impressions were done in a variety of ways too, and now the jury is not going to be given a correct picture. They're going to be--

13 THE COURT:

All right. Ask if this witness compared any of these impressions.

14 MR. SCHECK:

I think--I just want to make the record clear. Miss Clark is misstating the testimony a number of ways. Agent Bodziak--

15 THE COURT:

Counsel, I'm sorry. Did you hear my question?

16 MR. SCHECK:

Yes. I'll go into it.

17 THE COURT:

All right. Thank you.

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (4)

Marcia Clark
He can't possibly know that. So you're asking a witness who has no personal knowledge of how it was done or whether there were a variety of methods used and you're asking him about one method that led to one set of impressions.
Core objection: Bodziak lacks personal knowledge of the impression-making process, making his testimony speculation.
Barry Scheck
When you roll them out, you are going to be expounding-- stretching it out and you are going to maximize the distance between the ridges, and that will become important in terms of comparison of the test imprints to the actual imprints on the envelope and the piece of paper.
Reveals the defense theory: the rolling technique artificially stretched the fabric, distorting ridge measurements and undermining the match.
Lance A. Ito
If Deedrick is the one who was involved in making these impressions, why are we talking to Bodziak about this?
Judge cuts to the heart of the procedural problem — the wrong witness is being questioned about these methods.
Marcia Clark
Mr. Scheck elected not to do that. This is not the witness.
Clark arguing Scheck had his opportunity with Deedrick and is now trying to relitigate through an improper witness.

Evidence (4)

Informal
Photographs of test impressions made from OJ Simpson's jeans, turned over by prosecution
discussed at sidebar
Informal
LAPD memo dated August 21st describing impression method: yellow pad placed on top of jeans, rolled, then paper placed on it
referenced by Scheck to establish methodology
Informal
August 31st memo describing same rolling impression process
referenced
Informal
Impressions on envelope and piece of paper (crime scene evidence)
referenced as comparison target for test imprints

Notable Exchanges (2)

Barry ScheckLance A. Ito
Scheck tries to explain the defense theory about rolling stretching fabric ridges; Ito keeps redirecting with 'What's the point though?' and finishes Scheck's sentence ('Stretching it out') before cutting off the debate entirely.
strategic
Marcia ClarkBarry Scheck
Clark accuses Scheck of misstating Deedrick's testimony and of strategically avoiding Deedrick during cross to save this line of attack for an improper witness. Scheck responds that Clark 'has not looked at her own reports.'
heated

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Agent Deedrick (indirectly)
methodology challenge
Scheck arguing that the rolling technique used to make test impressions artificially stretched the jeans fabric, maximizing ridge distances and potentially creating a false match — an attempt to undermine Deedrick's conclusion that the jeans matched impressions at the crime scene.

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 0 overruled)
Proceeding 7705 • 17 utterances
Criminal Trial
Department 103
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📂 SEP 18, 1995 📄 Sidebar: test impressions admi
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