Johnnie Cochran conducted a direct examination of William Blasini Jr., a vehicle purchasing agent who entered OJ Simpson's Bronco on June 21st, 1994. Blasini testified that he saw no blood anywhere in the vehicle — not on the steering wheel, console, dashboard, or door panels — despite actively looking for it, and that he touched the steering wheel and left fingerprints on the windows. The defense also established that the Bronco was essentially unguarded, with only chain-link stanchions and no security log, allowing Blasini and his colleague to walk in freely while their escort walked away.
# 2 MR. COCHRAN: Your Honor, I think this is plaintiff's exhibit 172, your Honor.
# 3 MR. COCHRAN: You saw this during the lunch break today, did you, this 172?
# 5 MR. COCHRAN: All right. With the court's permission, can you step down for a minute?
# 7 MR. COCHRAN: I'll ask you some questions. Let me give you one of these pointers. Why don't you stand over there so you won't block any of the jurors. Let me give you a pointer. I'll just ask a--
# 8 THE COURT: Actually, I think he ought to be on this side here. Thank you.
# 9 MR. COCHRAN: Thank you, your Honor.
# 11 MR. COCHRAN: Thank you.
# 12 MR. COCHRAN: Now, this is a mock-up of this particular vehicle with some photographs around it. I want to ask you--specifically, let's start with this area over here, which purports to be the middle photograph.
# 13 MR. COCHRAN: Your Honor, on the left-hand side of this particular exhibit, it has photo card 22 and 23 thereon.
# 15 MR. COCHRAN: Do you recall looking at that area of the driver's side door of the Bronco?
# 16 MR. BLASINI: Yes, I do.
# 17 MR. COCHRAN: Do you recall at the locations of 22 or 23 seeing any blood at all at those locations when you looked at the Bronco on that date of June 21st, 1994?
# 18 MR. BLASINI: No, I didn't.
# 19 MR. COCHRAN: I want you to look down at no. 34.
# 20 MR. COCHRAN: Your Honor, which is the third photograph on the left-hand side of this exhibit, appears to a smear mark there.
# 21 MR. COCHRAN: Do you recall looking in that general area also?
# 22 MR. BLASINI: I remember looking in the area, but I don't remember seeing that mark. I mean, I don't remember looking at--that's past the door. So I really don't think I looked that far into it.
# 23 MR. COCHRAN: All right. 22, 23, you sure you looked at that?
# 24 MR. BLASINI: I looked at this because I walked around the vehicle when I came to the driver's side and the door was open.
# 25 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Now, you described for the jury I believe that part of the carpet was cut out at the time you saw it; is that correct?
# 27 MR. COCHRAN: Where was that? Would that be in the area of the driver's area?
# 28 MR. BLASINI: It was in this section right here (Indicating).
# 29 MR. COCHRAN: He's indicating in the center--your Honor, the area of the carpet in the--near where would be no. 33 there, area 33 there.
# 30 MR. BLASINI: Correct. Right there (Indicating).
# 31 MR. COCHRAN: Now, at some point, you described for us that you looked at item--you looked at the steering column; is that correct?
# 32 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 33 MR. COCHRAN: All right. You see the photograph on the top there, left, did you at some point look at that area of the steering column?
# 34 MR. BLASINI: Yes, I did.
# 35 MR. COCHRAN: At any time on that date of June 21st, did you see any what appeared to be blood on the steering column?
# 36 MR. BLASINI: No, I didn't.
# 37 MR. COCHRAN: Now, did you in any way touch the steering column that day?
# 38 MR. BLASINI: Yes, I did.
# 39 MR. COCHRAN: And describe that for the jury. At what point did you touch the steering column?
# 40 MR. BLASINI: If I remember correctly--it's been a year and three months--when I walked into the vehicle, I grabbed the steering wheel to pull myself inside, and I sat down in the vehicle and I held the steering wheel for a short period of time.
# 41 MR. COCHRAN: All right. And so we have this sequentially correct, let me back up for a moment if I might. You had been in the driver's compartment; is that correct?
# 43 MR. COCHRAN: And you told us you stayed in there for what appeared to be five minutes, it may have been less; is that right?
# 44 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 45 MR. COCHRAN: And you told us about your observations from that location, right?
# 46 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 47 MR. COCHRAN: At some point, did you have occasion to get out of the driver's compartment of the vehicle?
# 48 MR. BLASINI: Out of the driver's--
# 49 MR. COCHRAN: Strike that. Out of the passenger's compartment of the vehicle.
# 50 MR. BLASINI: Yes, I did.
# 51 MR. COCHRAN: All right. When you did that, where did you go, if anyplace?
# 52 MR. BLASINI: I walked around the vehicle, but I stopped at the window on the side, which you don't have on here; and, again, I looked for fingerprint dust and I put my fingers again on the glass.
# 53 MR. COCHRAN: Now, so that we're clear and the jury has a picture of where you put your fingers, this was on the right side of the vehicle or the rear of the vehicle?
# 54 MR. BLASINI: The right side of the vehicle, the glass in the back, which is the biggest glass that shows.
# 55 MR. COCHRAN: Okay. And then at that point--
# 56 THE COURT: Excuse me. Mr. Cochran, why don't we refer to it as either the passenger side or the driver's side.
# 58 THE COURT: Depends which side we're looking at.
# 59 MR. COCHRAN: Okay. We're talking about the passenger side still, right?
# 60 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 61 MR. COCHRAN: You put your fingers in the passenger side rear portion of the window, is that correct, outside?
# 62 MR. BLASINI: On the side, yes.
# 63 MR. COCHRAN: Again, will you demonstrate for the jury what you did at that point?
# 64 MR. BLASINI: I put my fingers up on the glass, pulled them off and I looked at my fingers (Indicating).
# 65 MR. COCHRAN: And what did you see, if anything, at that point?
# 66 MR. BLASINI: Just dirt.
# 67 MR. COCHRAN: All right. So did you leave your fingerprints there as far as you know?
# 68 MR. BLASINI: I would assume so.
# 69 MS. CLARK: Objection. Speculation.
# 70 THE COURT: Overruled.
# 71 MR. BLASINI: I would assume so.
# 72 MR. COCHRAN: All right. So after you--
# 73 MS. CLARK: Objection. Speculation.
# 74 THE COURT: Overruled.
# 75 MR. COCHRAN: After you made this movement, where did you next go, if anyplace, sir?
# 76 MR. BLASINI: I went around the vehicle and I went to the driver's side. The door was open, and I looked on the ground, I looked at the rug; and at that point, Andrew and I decided that that's probably where all the blood was, was on the rug because it was cut out and it wasn't there.
# 77 MR. COCHRAN: You didn't see any rug at that point, right?
# 78 MR. BLASINI: Excuse me?
# 79 MR. COCHRAN: You didn't see any carpet or rug there at that point; is that right?
# 80 MR. BLASINI: No, sir.
# 81 MR. COCHRAN: All right. So did you then have occasion to get inside the vehicle or what did you do?
# 82 MR. BLASINI: I got inside the vehicle again, I looked over at the console to my right and I looked back, and then at that point, I got out of the vehicle and we left.
# 83 MR. COCHRAN: All right. How long did you--did you actually get in and sit down inside the driver's compartment on the left side?
# 84 MR. BLASINI: Yes, I did. Uh-huh.
# 85 MR. COCHRAN: Is that a yes?
# 86 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir. I'm sorry.
# 87 MR. COCHRAN: Okay. How long did you remain in the driver's compartment on the left side, sir?
# 88 MR. BLASINI: About half the time that I was in the front and on the driver's side--on the passenger side. So about two minutes.
# 90 MR. BLASINI: Minute and a half.
# 91 MR. COCHRAN: While in there, did you do something and touch the steering wheel?
# 92 MR. BLASINI: Yes, I did.
# 93 MR. COCHRAN: Did you have occasion to examine the steering wheel to see if you saw any red spots on it?
# 94 MR. BLASINI: Well, I looked at the steering wheel. But as you can see, the steering wheel is black. So I couldn't tell you if there was anything on there. But I did look at it and I didn't see any blood.
# 95 MR. COCHRAN: You didn't see any blood?
# 96 MR. BLASINI: No, sir.
# 97 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Now, I want to specifically direct your attention to the console on the--
# 98 MR. COCHRAN: Your Honor, on the upper photographs on the far right, there is a photographic card no. 30 and 31, and to the left of those are 30 and appear to be some kind of red smudges.
# 99 MR. COCHRAN: As you sat in the vehicle on the right side, the passenger side, did you have occasion to look down at that console depicted there in this photograph?
# 100 MR. BLASINI: I looked at the console twice, once I was in the vehicle and before I entered the vehicle.
# 101 MR. COCHRAN: At any time or any point when you sat in that vehicle or before you got in that vehicle, did you ever see any red or blood spots at the items 30 and 31 inside the Bronco on that date?
# 102 MR. BLASINI: No, sir.
# 103 MR. COCHRAN: You looked specifically for it; is that correct?
# 104 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 105 MR. COCHRAN: And if I were to ask you with regard to these photographs down in the bottom right, your Honor, and what appears to be the console now out of the vehicle, on the right side of it where it says 303, 306, that same area, you never saw any blood those locations either, did you?
# 106 MS. CLARK: Objection. Leading.
# 107 THE COURT: Sustained. Rephrase the question.
# 108 MR. COCHRAN: Did you see--did you see any red spots when you looked at the console in that particular area of the photograph there, 303 and 306, sir?
# 109 MR. BLASINI: I would have to look at--303 is there and 306 is this one (Indicating)?
# 110 MR. COCHRAN: Yes. The one right next to it.
# 111 MR. BLASINI: Yes, I did.
# 112 MR. COCHRAN: Did you see a blood spot there?
# 113 MR. BLASINI: No, sir.
# 114 MR. COCHRAN: You did not?
# 115 MR. BLASINI: No, sir.
# 116 MR. COCHRAN: You looked there?
# 117 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 118 MR. COCHRAN: Okay. And this is as you were actually looking for blood; is that right?
# 119 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 120 MR. COCHRAN: Now, with regard to the dash, there's a photograph here on the upper left-hand corner, no. 24. Do you remember whether or not you saw any spots at all on the dash area of that vehicle, any red spots?
# 121 MR. BLASINI: No, sir. No, I don't.
# 122 MR. COCHRAN: You may resume your seat.
# 123 (The witness complies.) # 124 MR. COCHRAN: So then, Mr. Blasini, as I understand it, during the time that--on June 12th--strike that.
# 125 THE COURT: Excuse me. Mr. Cochran, are you going to use this exhibit anymore?
# 126 MR. COCHRAN: I think I'm finished, your Honor.
# 127 THE COURT: Okay. Because it does block juror 7.
# 128 MR. COCHRAN: Allow me to take it down, your Honor. Thank you.
# 129 THE COURT: All right.
# 131 MR. COCHRAN: Now, Mr. Blasini, during the time that you were inside that vehicle either on the right side or the left side, the passenger side or the driver's side, did you ever see any red spots resembling blood inside that vehicle at all?
# 132 MR. BLASINI: No, sir, I didn't.
# 133 MR. COCHRAN: And when you left that vehicle and you had left--at least, you had on two occasions placed your fingerprints in the windows of that vehicle; is that correct?
# 134 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 135 MS. CLARK: Objection. That calls for speculation. He can't say he put his fingerprints on it. He said he touched it.
# 136 THE COURT: Overruled. Overruled. Overruled.
# 137 MR. COCHRAN: Now, Mr. Blasini, you've come here today pursuant to subpoena; is that correct?
# 138 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 139 MR. COCHRAN: And you've come here to testify because you've been subpoenaed; is that correct?
# 140 MR. BLASINI: Correct, sir.
# 141 MR. COCHRAN: You did not volunteer to come forward, did you?
# 142 MR. BLASINI: Not at all, sir.
# 143 MR. COCHRAN: And is Mr. Adlen still employed in his same work, line of work?
# 144 MR. BLASINI: Yes, he is, sir, as far as I know.
# 145 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Did--who is a Mr. McElroy? Who is Mr. Chris McElroy?
# 146 MR. BLASINI: He's vice president and chief of operations of Pick Your Part.
# 147 MR. COCHRAN: That's your company?
# 148 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 149 MR. COCHRAN: Do you know whether or not at some point after you were inside this vehicle on June 21st, 1994, whether or not Mr. McElroy was inside that vehicle?
# 150 MS. CLARK: Objection. Speculation.
# 151 MR. COCHRAN: I'm asking if he knows.
# 152 THE COURT: Overruled.
# 153 MS. CLARK: No foundation.
# 154 MR. COCHRAN: Do you know?
# 155 MR. BLASINI: I was told he was in the vehicle.
# 156 MS. CLARK: Objection. Hearsay.
# 157 THE COURT: All right. That answer is stricken. Jury is to disregard.
# 158 MR. COCHRAN: You have no personal knowledge about Mr. McElroy?
# 159 MR. BLASINI: As far as seen him in the vehicle?
# 161 MR. BLASINI: No, I didn't see him in the vehicle.
# 162 MR. COCHRAN: Okay. He's still employed at your company now, is he?
# 163 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 164 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Is Mr. Adlen still employed at a rival company now?
# 165 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 166 MR. COCHRAN: All right. Now, with regard to that vehicle, you have described for the jury where that vehicle was located I guess in T-2 on 1254. You described the vehicle was not locked; is that correct?
# 167 MR. BLASINI: Correct.
# 168 MR. COCHRAN: Before you got inside that vehicle on June 21st, did you have to sign any kind of log or anything of that nature?
# 169 MR. BLASINI: No, sir.
# 170 MR. COCHRAN: Was anybody guarding that vehicle at that time?
# 171 MR. BLASINI: No, sir.
# 172 MR. COCHRAN: You just walked up and got inside the vehicle?
# 173 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 174 MR. COCHRAN: Both you and Adlen?
# 175 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 176 MR. COCHRAN: And while you were inside this vehicle for however long it was, five minutes, seven minutes or whatever, was Bob Jones over there watching you while you were in the vehicle?
# 177 MR. BLASINI: Bob Jones walked over with us--
# 179 MR. BLASINI: --and then walked away to his office while we were looking at the vehicle.
# 180 MR. COCHRAN: So you were in there by yourself, right?
# 181 MR. BLASINI: Yes, sir.
# 182 MR. COCHRAN: And after you finished looking in the vehicle and making your observations, where did you go then, if you recall?
# 183 MR. BLASINI: Once we were done, I proceeded to pick up the paperwork from the vehicles that we had purchased and I left.
# 184 MR. COCHRAN: All right. And you were there in the normal course of your business to buy some actual vehicles from Viertel's; is that right?
# 185 MR. BLASINI: Correct.
# 186 MR. COCHRAN: All right. May I have just one second, your Honor?
# 188 (Discussion held off the record between Defense counsel.) # 189 MR. COCHRAN: Now, in your work in purchasing vehicles over the last 15 plus years, have you ever had occasion to see blood in a vehicle before?
# 190 MR. BLASINI: Yes, I have.
# 191 MR. COCHRAN: How often?
# 192 MR. BLASINI: Well, Pick Your Part purchases like 8,000 vehicles a month. So I come across a lot of vehicles, and a lot of these vehicles are wrecked vehicles that were in accidents, so on, and you get to see a lot of blood.
KEY QUOTE # 193 MR. COCHRAN: You've done that yourself in the past and seen that yourself?
# 194 MR. BLASINI: Oh, yes.
# 195 MR. COCHRAN: Now, with regard to the security, if any, around this particular vehicle, can you describe for us, for the ladies and gentlemen of the jury, whether or not there were any barriers or anything around this particular Bronco as you went in and got inside of it on that date. Can you describe that for us?
# 196 MR. BLASINI: Yes. They do have--it's like the chain links that you see at the banks that form the lines. That's what they use to block it off.
# 197 MR. COCHRAN: And where was that in relation to the Bronco?
# 198 MR. BLASINI: It was on the outside of the Bronco all the way around the restricted area.
# 199 MR. COCHRAN: All right. And when you went inside, how did you get past there?
# 200 MR. BLASINI: I think there's a--I can't remember correctly, but I think there's an opening on either side that you can walk right through or you can just step right over.
# 201 MR. COCHRAN: And that's how you just walked right in; is that right?
# 203 MR. COCHRAN: And there's nobody there to stop you, right?
# 204 MS. CLARK: Objection. Speculation.
# 205 THE COURT: Overruled.
# 206 MR. COCHRAN: Was anybody there to stop you when you were there on June 21st?
# 207 MR. BLASINI: No, sir.
# 208 MR. COCHRAN: In fact, Bob Jones was with you and walked away, right?
# 209 MR. BLASINI: Correct, sir.
# 210 MR. COCHRAN: Thank you very much for coming today, sir. Nothing further.