📂 Wednesday, September 20, 1995 — Day 158
◀ Criminal Trial
📅 Wednesday, September 20, 1995 28 proceedings 1249 lines
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C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\SEP\20
TRIAL
▲ Day 158 of 167

Day 158 — Wednesday, September 20, 1995

Bushey testimony under siege; police notification procedures questioned
Judge Lance A. Ito • Criminal Trial • 28 proceedings • 1249 lines
tense

Commander Keith Bushey testified in prosecution rebuttal about his order to notify O.J. Simpson of Nicole Brown's death in the early morning hours, while Johnnie Cochran's cross-examination pressed him on Nicole's parents being next of kin, the roughly two-and-a-half-hour interval before Simpson was contacted, the detectives' departure from Bundy, and whether the Rockingham visit was necessary. Bushey said he lacked personal knowledge of what Phillips and Fuhrman were doing at the scene. The court also resolved several pre-closing matters, including restricted permission for video snippets in closing and approval to reopen DNA expert Gary Sims's testimony after reinterviewing him about sock B evidence.

  • Commander Bushey testified that at about 2:30 a.m. he ordered Detective Phillips to find O.J. Simpson and notify him of Nicole Brown's death; on cross, Bushey acknowledged that Nicole's parents were next of kin and said contacting Simpson was driven by practicality.
  • Cochran pressed Bushey about the roughly two-and-a-half-hour interval before Simpson was contacted and about four lead detectives leaving the crime scene to make the notification; Bushey said he lacked personal knowledge of their activities there.
  • Judge Ito repeatedly sustained objections and limited questioning, restricting the Belushi matter to the timing of family notification and barring expansion into crime-scene procedures and related topics.
  • Defense conditionally allowed to recall DNA expert Gary Sims to testify about wet transfer evidence on sock B.
  • Jury was presented syringe stipulation (Defense 1382) and permitted to physically examine it.
  • Court granted defense motion to use approximately 10 video snippets of witness testimony during closing arguments.
  • Defense motion to reopen PC 1538.5 suppression motion on Rockingham evidence was denied; Vannatter's credibility issues deemed insufficient.
  • Court set agenda for remaining pre-closing matters including jury instructions and exhibit disputes.
Day 158 • 28 proceedings • 1249 lines
Criminal Trial
Department 103
📂 Day 158 — SEP 20, 1995
SEP 20, 1995