Marcia Clark conducts a brief redirect of Commander Bushey, focusing on why OJ Simpson was prioritized for personal notification of the murders despite not being next of kin. Bushey explains the decision was driven by Simpson's proximity, his accessibility, and above all the presence of his children at the scene. Judge Ito cuts off Clark's attempted question about activities at the West L.A. station the following morning as beyond scope.
# 1 (The following proceedings were held in open court:) # 2 THE COURT: Anything new?
# 4 MS. CLARK: In your experience, sir, notification to the family takes approximately how long?
# 5 COMMANDER BUSHEY: Well, they usually take place after the investigators are through at the initial crime scene.
# 6 MS. CLARK: Does notification usually take several hours?
# 7 MR. COCHRAN: Object, your Honor. This calls for speculation. Each case is different.
# 8 THE COURT: Overruled, overruled.
# 9 COMMANDER BUSHEY: Well, each case is a little bit different and it certainly depends on the availability of the person being contacted. There are times when it is a knock on the door and there is a clergyman there, the family is there, and there are times when it can be quite a laborious process, depending on how many people are involved and the degree of grief that is experienced.
# 10 MS. CLARK: Now, I think you indicated before that one of the reasons that you asked that the Defendant be personally notified first was your knowledge that he lived nearby?
# 11 COMMANDER BUSHEY: I seem to recall that I was aware that he lived nearby.
# 12 MS. CLARK: So he would be easiest to reach, was that your thinking?
# 13 COMMANDER BUSHEY: Yeah, that plus the fact that his children were there caused me to--to form that opinion.
KEY QUOTE # 14 MS. CLARK: So even though, legally speaking, sir, he was not next of kin, why was it--
# 15 MR. COCHRAN: This is leading and suggestive, your Honor.
# 16 THE COURT: No, it is not.
# 17 MS. CLARK: What was that?
# 18 THE COURT: No, it is not.
# 19 MS. CLARK: Thank you. I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. Thank you, your Honor.
# 20 MS. CLARK: Even though, legally speaking, he was not next of kin, sir, you indicated that you felt it was important to notify the Defendant first?
# 21 COMMANDER BUSHEY: Well, that was--seemed to be the person we could probably get ahold of first, because the children being there, the prominent person, belief that he lived in that area. He seemed to be somebody who was accessible.
# 22 MS. CLARK: And the children, did they play a large part in your concern for notification?
# 23 MR. COCHRAN: Leading and suggestive, your Honor.
# 24 THE COURT: Overruled.
# 25 COMMANDER BUSHEY: Absolutely.
# 26 MS. CLARK: Did you go to the station the following morning?
# 27 COMMANDER BUSHEY: I--
# 28 THE COURT: This is--wait, wait. This is way beyond the scope of notification at 2:30 in the morning.
# 29 MS. CLARK: It is the subject of notification.
# 30 THE COURT: Activities at West L.A. Station the next morning are not. Proceed.
KEY QUOTE # 31 (Discussion held off the record between the Deputy District Attorneys.) # 32 MS. CLARK: All right. I have nothing further.
# 33 MR. COCHRAN: Just a couple more questions, your Honor.