📄 Cross-examination of Jose Camacho — Thursday, June 30, 1994
Address:
C:\DEPT103\PRELIMINARY\1994\JUN\30\CROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-JOSE-CAMA.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 1 of 6

Cross-examination of Jose Camacho

Witness: Jose Camacho
Examiner: Robert Shapiro
Called by: Prosecution • Date: Thursday, June 30, 1994 • Lines: 101
Robert Shapiro portrayed Simpson's knife purchase as an ordinary store transaction and exposed uncertainty over whether Camacho showed him two or three knives. He then attacked Camacho's credibility by establishing that Camacho sold his story to Hard Copy and questioning why he spoke to the press after receiving a grand jury secrecy warning; Camacho said a District Attorney employee named Patty told him he could talk.
1 THE COURT:

Thank you. Mr. SHAPIRO.

2 MR. SHAPIRO:

Thank you very much, your Honor.

3

CROSS-EXAMINATION

4

BY MR. SHAPIRO:

5 Q:

Good afternoon, Mr. Camacho.

6 A:

Good afternoon, sir.

7 Q:

What attracted your attention to Mr. Simpson? Was there was some film crew right outside your store?

8 A:

Can you repeat that again?

9 Q:

you testified that there was some excitement going on, and that there was some movie, or some type of film being made?

10 A:

Yeah.

11 Q:

Was that an exciting event for you, and the people in the store?

12 A:

Not really.

13 Q:

Did you pay attention to that?

14 A:

No, sir. Because there's a lot of -- they're always shooting there at the store.

15 Q:

They're always shooting at the store?

16 A:

Yes. You know, they're filming.

17 Q:

So, there was nothing unusual about shooting movies there?

18 A:

No, sir. Like I say, they always filming there.

19 Q:

And on this occasion, do you recall whether there were personnel that were in police uniforms, trying to keep people away from the film crew, and to keep the street closed at certain times?

20 A:

Not really. Just the security guard, that was it.

21 Q:

There were security guards there?

22 A:

Yeah.

23 Q:

Do you know whether those security guards were Los Angeles Police Department personnel?

24 A:

Yeah. They're usually retired officers, I would say.

25 Q:

And during the course of this day, a lot of people from this film came into the store?

26 A:

Yes, sir.

27 Q:

Lot of actors?

28 A:

Yes.

29 Q:

Maybe directors, some other people; is that correct?

30 A:

Yes, sir.

31 Q:

In fact, at the same time, there were some police people in uniforms in the store, were there not?

32 A:

That, I do not recall.

33 Q:

You don't recall?

34 A:

Not -- I mean the officers, just plainclothes?

35 Q:

No, in uniforms. Policemen in uniforms, that were working on the set, that also came into the store.

36 A:

Oh, yeah, yeah. That's -- yeah, that's true.

37 Q:

And at the time that Mr. Simpson came in, you told the police he was looking at various items, including watches and knives; is that correct?

38 A:

yeah.

39 Q:

Is that yes?

40 A:

Yes. Because they're all together there.

41 Q:

And he looked at several different types of knives?

42 A:

I would say he only looked -- he asked for other prices, but I only showed him two knives.

43 Q:

Are you sure?

44 A:

Or say three knives.

45 Q:

Do you know whether it was two or three?

46 A:

Three.

47 Q:

The one he purchased, he said, "I like this one"?

48 A:

Yes.

49 Q:

Didn't say anything else?

50 A:

No, sir.

51 Q:

He didn't say why he wanted to buy a knife?

52 A:

No, sir, he did not say that. I just sell it.

53 Q:

There's nothing unusual about somebody buying that type of knife, is there?

KEY QUOTE
54 A:

No, sir, that's correct. That's what we sell there.

55 Q:

That happens every day in your business, is that correct?

56 A:

Every day.

57 Q:

Now, you testified that the money you got for selling your story, was not a lot of money, but it was something.

58 MR. HODGMAN:

Your Honor, I'll object. That misstates the evidence.

59 THE COURT:

Excuse me. It is a question. The objection is overruled. You can answer that, if you're able to.

60 JOSE CAMACHO:

Yeah, it's true. It's not a lot of money.

61

BY MR. SHAPIRO:

62 Q:

And when channel 4 came to talk to you, did they offer you any money?

63 A:

No, sir.

64 Q:

What about channel 5?

65 A:

No, sir.

66 Q:

What about the other television stations? Did they offer you any money?

67 A:

Except hard copy.

68 Q:

How much did they offer you?

69 A:

Some peanuts.

70 Q:

So, you really were like a businessman, and you wanted to sell your story to the highest bidder; right?

KEY QUOTE
71 A:

Sure.

72 Q:

Now, you remember testifying before the grand jury just that day, don't you?

73 A:

Yes.

74 Q:

Right before you left the grand jury, did the person who is in charge of the grand jury, tell you the following: "Mr. Camacho, you are admonished not to reveal to any other person, except as ordered by the court, what questions were asked of you and what responses were given. In addition, you are not to reveal any other matters concerning the nature or subject of the investigation, which you learned during your appearance here. And last, and until such time as a transcript of these proceedings is made public, I wish to advise you also, that a violation of this order can be the basis of a contempt charge against you." Were you read that, sir?

75 A:

Yes, he told us that also. But he said that was -- that was up to us, if we wanted to talk, you know, we could, if we wanted to.

76 Q:

Who said that to you? Did Mr. Conn or miss Clark say that to you?

77 A:

No.

78 Q:

Did one of the lawyers in this case say that to you?

79 A:

No, sir.

80 Q:

Did one of the police officers in this case say that to you?

81 A:

No. I don't see anybody.

82 Q:

Do you recall whether it was a man or woman who said that to you?

83 A:

It was a lady.

84 Q:

What did she look like?

85 A:

You got me all confused. Well, she's not here.

86 Q:

What did she look like?

87 A:

It's -- I don't want to put her in trouble. It's a Patty, I would say. She told us that we could talk to the press, you know, if we wanted to. That was it.

KEY QUOTE
88 Q:

I'm sorry. I did not understand your response.

89 THE COURT:

Did you say Patty?

90 JOSE CAMACHO:

Yes.

91 THE COURT:

And who do you mean by Patty?

92 JOSE CAMACHO:

That's the name.

93 THE COURT:

Who does she work for, do you know?

94 JOSE CAMACHO:

She works here in the building.

95

BY MR. SHAPIRO:

96 Q:

Does she work for the District Attorney?

97 A:

Yes.

98 Q:

Yes?

99 A:

Yes, she does.

100 Q:

Thank you.

101 MR. SHAPIRO:

Nothing further.

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (5)

Robert Shapiro
There's nothing unusual about somebody buying that type of knife, is there?
The defense emphasized that Simpson's purchase was an ordinary retail transaction rather than inherently suspicious conduct.
Jose Camacho
Every day.
Camacho confirmed that sales of this kind of knife were routine at the store.
Robert Shapiro
So, you really were like a businessman, and you wanted to sell your story to the highest bidder; right?
Shapiro directly attacked Camacho's credibility by highlighting his financial motive for speaking to the media.
Jose Camacho
Sure.
Camacho accepted Shapiro's characterization that he wanted to sell his story to the highest bidder.
Jose Camacho
It's -- I don't want to put her in trouble. It's a Patty, I would say. She told us that we could talk to the press, you know, if we wanted to.
Camacho attributed his decision to speak with the press despite the grand jury admonition to a District Attorney employee named Patty.

Evidence (3)

Informal
The knife Simpson purchased after Camacho showed him several knives; Camacho testified that selling such a knife was an everyday occurrence at the store.
discussed
Informal
Other knives Camacho showed Simpson or quoted prices for; Camacho vacillated between saying he showed two and three knives.
discussed
Informal
The grand jury secrecy admonition warning Camacho not to disclose questions, answers, or matters learned during his appearance and mentioning possible contempt.
quoted and challenged

Notable Exchanges (4)

Robert ShapiroJose Camacho
Shapiro established that actors, film personnel, security guards, and some uniformed officers were around the store, suggesting a busy setting with many distractions.
strategic
Robert ShapiroJose Camacho
Camacho initially said he showed Simpson two knives, revised that to "Or say three knives," and then answered definitively that it was three.
revealing
Robert ShapiroJose Camacho
Shapiro confronted Camacho about being paid for his story and elicited agreement that he sought the highest bidder.
confrontational
Robert ShapiroJose CamachoKathleen Kennedy-Powell
After Shapiro quoted the grand jury secrecy warning, Camacho said a woman named Patty who worked for the District Attorney told him he could speak to the press; Judge Kennedy-Powell intervened to clarify her identity.
tense

Light Moments (1)

Jose Camacho
When asked how much Hard Copy offered him, Camacho answered, "Some peanuts," minimizing the payment in colloquial terms.

Credibility Attacks (3)

⚔ Jose Camacho
bias and financial motive
Shapiro established that Camacho accepted money from Hard Copy and characterized him as a businessman seeking the highest bidder for his story; Camacho agreed: "Sure."
⚔ Jose Camacho
inconsistent testimony and memory challenge
Shapiro pressed Camacho after he first said he showed Simpson two knives, then "Or say three knives," before settling on three, exposing uncertainty in his recollection.
⚔ Jose Camacho
impeachment concerning compliance with grand jury admonition
Shapiro read the grand jury secrecy admonition and questioned Camacho about speaking to the press afterward. Camacho claimed a District Attorney employee named Patty told him he could do so.

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 1 overruled)
Proceeding 9065 • 101 lines • Prosecution witness
Preliminary Trial
Department 103
📂 JUN 30, 1994 📄 Cross-examination of Jose Cama
JUN 30, 1994