Source: MSNBC
The following people have testified on behalf of the plaintiffs' case in the O.J. Simpson civil trial:
FRIDAY, Oct. 25
Karen Crawford, Mezzaluna bartender
Crawford described Nicole Brown Simpson's last dinner and
said she found Juditha Brown's eyeglasses. Crawford took the call
from Nicole Simpson's mother about lost glasses and then a call
from Nicole, who asked to speak to Ron Goldman. During the criminal
trial, Crawford wept when a prosecutor showed her a white shirt
and black pants Goldman wore the night he died.
Stewart Tanner, employee at Mezzaluna bar
Tanner had made plans to go out with Ron Goldman after he
was to return from dropping off the glasses at Nicole's condominium.
He described Goldman's last hours and said Goldman was not dating
Nicole Simpson, as the defense contended in opening statements.
Robert Heidstra, walking dogs at time of murders
Heidstra lives on Dorothy Street near Bundy Drive. He walked
his two dogs at 10:15 p.m. the evening of the murders and says
he heard Nicole's dog barking around 10:35 p.m. At around 10:40
p.m., he said he heard a young male adult voice say "hey,
hey, hey" and then heard another voice talking fast. He said
his dogs were barking too loud for him to hear what the other
voice was saying. He said it "sounded like an argument between
two male voices." He says the 11 p.m. news was just starting
as he returned home. Heidstra says he saw a white sports utility
vehicle speed away from Bundy Drive.
Louis Karpf, boyfriend of neighbor
Karpf, the boyfriend of Nicole Simpson's next-door neighbor,
told of returning from a trip and seeing her agitated dog running
loose about 10:50 p.m. He went inside without further investigation.
Steven Schwab, Bundy neighbor
The dog walker who approached Nicole Simpson's wandering Akita,
Schwab says he saw blood on his paws and took him home. He said
it was 10:55 p.m., establishing the time by his favorite TV shows.
Schwab was not cross-examined. He reiterated his testimony from
the criminal trial, in which he said he found Nicole Simpson's
dog at 10:55 p.m. with blood on one of its hind legs. Schwab turned
over the dog to his neighbor, Sukru Boztepe, at about 11:50 p.m.,
June 12, 1994. At 5 a.m. the next morning, detectives asked him
several questions about the night before.
Sukru Boztepe, discovered the bodies
Schwab's neighbor took the Akita for a walk and was led to
Nicole Simpson's condo where, he said, "I saw a lady laying
down full of blood." He had a neighbor call police. On cross-examination,
he was asked how many police officers he saw enter the crime scene.
He said two officers initially entered the scene. More officers
arrived later, he said, but the dim lights didn't let him see
how far down the path toward the crime scene they actually got.
Boztepe said he saw Nicole lying on the floor, but saw no one
else. He determined she was dead because the dog, which had led
him to the sidewalk in front of the condo, had blood on its paws
and had been found hours earlier.
MONDAY, Oct. 28
Robert Riske, first officer to visit crime scene
Riske is the Los Angeles Police Department officer who was first
on the scene at Bundy Drive and found the bodies. He says he saw
only one blood drop on the front door and no other drops anywhere
between the bodies and door. On cross-examination at the civil
trial, Riske told the court he advised his watch commander June
13, 1994, that he believed O.J. Simpson was somehow involved.
Michael Terrazas, Robert Riske's partner
Terrazas testified that he never saw a second glove at the
crime scene and that he spotted one drop of blood (which he described
as bright red and moist) and some change near a black Jeep while
standing guard at the back of the condo. His shoe print was photographed
to compare with the bloody prints at the crime scene. Terrazas
did not testify in the criminal trial.
David Rossi, watch commander, West L.A. division
Rossi is a veteran Los Angeles Police Department sergeant
who supervised Officer Robert Riske on the night of the slayings.
He contradicted Robert Riske's testimony earlier Monday by saying
that Riske never told him that he thought O.J. Simpson may have
been involved in the crime. Rossi also testified Detectives Phillips
and Fuhrman, he understood, had authority over the crime scene.
TUESDAY, Oct. 29
Donald Thompson, officer in charge of protecting O.J. Simpson's
estate
Thompson testified he saw blood droplets inside the white
Bronco and on the street and driveway at Rockingham. There is
no doubt in his mind, he said, that it was blood he saw. Detective
Mark Fuhrman pointed out one of those droplets to him. Thompson
also said he did not see anyone open the door to the white Bronco,
enter the Bronco or spill blood inside the Bronco. "I'm absolutely
sure it was secure," he said.
Ronald Phillips, Mark Fuhrman's partner
Phillips, a West Los Angeles division detective, said under
cross-examination in the criminal trial that police went to Simpson's
estate after the murders to offer him a ride to pick up his children
at the police station - not, as defense claimed, because he was
a big-name suspect. He called Simpson in Chicago, telling him
his ex-wife had been killed. He acknowledged under cross-examination
that Simpson asked "What do you mean she's been killed?"
when told of his ex-wife's death.
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 and FRIDAY, Nov. 1
Tom Lange, one of two lead detectives
Lange, who retired after the Simpson murder trial, spoke in
a slow monotone and used cold, technical description for the repulsive
scenes, when jurors were shown close-ups of the victims' bodies.
He methodically detailed the location of blood drops and shoe
prints. Lange also was used to introduce two key pieces of crime-scene
evidence, a left-hand leather glove and a dark-blue knit cap.
Lange identified the items, which were sealed in plastic bags.
During a blistering cross-examination, Simpson's attorney cited
what he said were conflicts in accounts Lange gave at the criminal
trial, in his written reports and his testimony, implying that
both the glove and the cap found at the crime scene could have
been planted.
FRIDAY, Nov. 1
Detective Phillip Vannatter, lead investigator
Under direct examination, Vannatter gave a step-by-step detail
of the location of the blood vile containing O.J. Simpson's blood.
According to Vannatter, he "kept control of the envelope"
which was sealed and remained on Vannatter's desk until he took
it to Rockingham to give to Dennis Fung.
MONDAY, Nov. 4
Dennis Fung, criminalist
Fung testified he never collected blood stains from a back
gate of Ms. Simpson's condominium because he didn't see any. In
a relentless cross-examination of criminalist Dennis Fung, attorney
Robert Blasier also added a new photograph to bolster complaints
about the handling of evidence aired at Simpson's criminal trial.
Gregory Matheson, forensic chemist
Matheson testified the socks found in Simpson's bedroom were
so dark he wouldn't have seen blood stains because blood is also
very dark when it dries. In the first trial, the defense suggested
the socks were pristine when taken to the laboratory, then contaminated
with blood from Simpson and his slain ex-wife while they were
in the laboratory.
Bernie Douroux, impounded Bronco
Bernie Douroux, who impounded O.J. Simpson's white Ford Bronco
on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department, did not actually
testify in court in the civil trial. Instead, the plaintiffs played
a videotape of his testimony from the criminal trial.
TUESDAY, Nov. 5
Dennis Fung, criminalist
Fung spent much of Tuesday being cross- examined. He said
the bodies of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson were in the
process of being moved when he arrived at the crime scene. Fung
told jurors how he collected blood from the back gate, but conceded
there were other blood drops which he did not collect. He said
it was difficult to collect bloodstains from the Bronco. Fung
said he found no shoeprints or blood on the stairway, hallway
or doorknobs at Simpson's home. He did find blood in the foyer
area, on a pair of socks in the master bedroom and on the bathroom
floor.
Susan Brockbank, police criminalist
Brockbank, a criminalist in the trace analysis laboratory,
told jurors that she collected hair from the blue knit cap found
at the crime scene, as well as from the bloody glove and the victims'
clothing. She also removed trace evidence from items found in
Simpson's Bronco.
Brenda Vemich, Bloomingdales
A videotape of Vemich's deposition was played for the jury.
In the tape, she testified about selling two pairs of gloves,
size extra large, to Nicole Brown Simpson in 1990 at a Bloomingdales
department store in New York City.
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 6
Michael Romano, professional freelance photographer
Romano testified he took a picture of Simpson wearing black
gloves in a media room in Buffalo on Jan. 15, 1994. Romano sold
the picture to the National Inquirer. He was the only photography
witness to appear in person at the civil trial.
Mark Krueger, amateur photographer
The court re-enacted testimony using first-trial transcript.
Krueger took a photo of Simpson, wearing gloves, December 1990
at Soldier Field in Chicago where he was taking pictures for his
stepfather's newspaper.
Bill Renken, professional photographer
The court re-enacted testimony using first-trial transcript.
Renken owns a custom photo lab in Cincinnati. He took pictures
of Simpson, wearing gloves, while working as an NBC commentator
at a Jan. 6, 1991, football game at Riverfront Stadium. Renken
said he couldn't tell if Simpson had a heat pack in his palm.
Kevin J. Schott, photography teacher
The court re-enacted testimony using first-trial transcript.
Schott is from Orchard Park, N.Y. He took pictures of Simpson,
wearing gloves, Nov. 21, 1993, in Buffalo. Schott said he did
not try to sell his picture to the television show "Inside
Edition." He testified he didn't know if his attorney tried
to sell the picture.
Richard Rubin, former vice president general manager of the glovemaker
Aris Isotoner
Rubin appeared in person at the civil trial. He worked at
Aris Isotoner from 1976 to 1990. He testified he was certain the
uniquely styled gloves Simpson wore during a 1991 football broadcast
were the same type as those linked to the killings, but he couldn't
be sure if they were the same shade of brown. Rubin said the gloves
Simpson tried on during the infamous demonstration in the first
trial did fit, although they fit poorly. He also said the gloves
were definitely from the same pair. Rubin said the first signs
of wear in Aris Lights are usually seen in the lining, and the
evidence gloves showed little wear. So the person who used them
fit them well or only used them for a short time.
Harry Scull, photographer
The court provided videotaped and re-enacted testimony. Scull
testified on videotape that he took a head-to-toe picture of Simpson
in September 1993. The plaintiffs contend that the picture shows
Simpson wearing the same kind of rare Bruno Magli shoes as those
that left bloody prints near the bodies. The cross-examination
of Scull, conducted in a New York session last July, was re-enacted,
with the defense attorney's son playing Scull.
THURSDAY, Nov. 7
Park Dietz, forensic psychiatrist
Dietz testified to his expertise in the area of forensic psychiatry
citing his association with the FBI Profiling unit and his extensive
training and teaching experience at Harvard and Johns Hopkins.
In regard to Simpson, Dietz said he could safely conclude that
Simpson would have continued to abuse Nicole Simpson, but that
he would not necessarily have killed her.
Dr. Robert Huizenga, physician
Huizenga described the cuts and lacerations he observed on
Simpson's hands, referring to diagrams he had made after the examinations.
He said that the first examination took place in his office and
the second took place at the home of Robert Kardashian where Dr.
Henry Lee, Michael Baden and "lots of lawyers" were
present.
Kenneth Berris, Chicago police officer
Testimony was read from the transcript of a taped deposition.
The excerpts read pertained to Berris' examination of room 915
at the O'Hare Plaza Hotel where Simpson stayed June 12 to 13,
1994. Berris testified that he observed what he believed to be
"suspect blood" on the bedding. He also observed a ball-point
pen in the bed.
FRIDAY, Nov. 8
Werner Spitz, scene reproduction specialist and pathologist
Dr. Spitz testified that Nicole Brown Simpson died as a result
of loss of blood coming form a large wound to the neck. He said
that the wound to the neck was the terminal event of the entire
scenario and that the altercation would have lasted less than
15 seconds from first to last wound. Spitz, a nationally renowned
pathologist, has reviewed the assassination of President Kennedy
for the House Assassinations Committee, several serial murder
cases in Los Angeles and New York and the death of Mary Jo Kopechne,
who drowned in 1969 after a car driven by Sen. Edward Kennedy
plunged off the Chappaquiddick Bridge. Legal analysts said the
addition of Spitz at $300 an hour for some 100 hours of work means
the plaintiffs have deep pockets and are confident they are going
to be successful.
TUESDAY, Nov. 12 and WEDNESDAY, Nov. 13
Doug Deedrick, special agent for FBI
Deedrick testified that hair analysis can never absolutely
identify an individual, but that under microscopic analysis, hairs
can be said to be consistent with coming from the same individual.
Deedrick said hair from Nicole Brown Simpson's head appeared to
have been forcibly removed, "cut, broken and torn out."
He identified hair of her type and of Ron Goldman's type on the
glove found at O.J. Simpson's estate.
Deedrick testified that when compared to a sample of O.J. Simpson's
hair, the hair found on Ron Goldman's shirt had the same microscopic
characteristics. He also testified that 12 head hairs found inside
the knit cap discovered at the crime scene were consistent with
the characteristics of Simpson's hair. When asked if the 12 matches
from the hat were more significant than a single match, Deedrick
said yes, that in effect they provide 12 individual associations.
Deedrick testified that the blue/black cotton fibers found on
Ron Goldman's shirt matched fibers found on O.J. Simpsong's socks.
He said the fibers were unusual because of their "banded"
coloration. The criminalist said cashmere fibers which were removed
from the knit hat found at the crime scene matched with fibers
from the gloves and could have originated from the lining of the
gloves. Deedrick said he examined fibers from the Ford Bronco
carpet and found they matched fibers found on the glove discovered
at Simpson's house and on the hat found at the crime scene.
On cross examination, the defense pointed out that Deedrick had
said the hair and fiber found on various pieces of evidence "could"
have come from the same source, emphasizing that he was not making
a positive identification. The defense also noted that Simpson
had visited his former wife Nicole's residence on numerous occasions
and that the fibers on the glove and hat could have been there
before the crime took place.
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 13 and THURSDAY, Nov. 14
Dr. Robin Cotton, Cellmark Diagnostics
In her direct examination, Dr. Cotton said the bloodstains on O.J. Simpson's socks were consistent with the blood of Nicole Brown Simpson. She also told jurors that Simpson's blood contained the same genetic markers as those found in droplets of blood leading from the bodies. On cross examination, she conceded that test methods which amplify sample material can also magnify contaminants. She also said she had no idea how the blood got on Simpson9's socks. Cotton admitted that her conclusion that Simpson's DNA markers occur in only 1-in-170-million people was based on tests of only 200 individuals, and that there were only two blacks in her sample.
THURSDAY, Nov. 14
Renee Montgomery, criminalist
Montgomery testified that the blood trail at the crime scene and the blood on the rear gate were consistent with O.J. Simpson's blood type. Tests on areas of the glove where blood was collected showed that two bloodstains could not have been Simpson's blood, but could be that of Goldman or Nicole Brown Simpson. A third stain could have been from any of the three. On cross examination, the defense implied that the test interpretation was subjective and relied on terms such as hint and trace which had no objective standard based in science or numbers. The defense also noted that the testing method could create "artifacts" which could affect the test results.
THURSDAY, Nov. 14 and FRIDAY, Nov. 15
Gary Sims, criminalist
His testimony on bloodstains was similar to that of Renee
Montgomery, but focused on the DQ Alpha DNA test. He testified
that the socks found at Simpson's residence contained many small
blood drops not visible to the eye. He conducted a DQ alpha test
which resulted in what he said was a match to the blood of Nicole
Brown Simpson. Sims called such a match "very significant"
and said there was only a one-in-7.7-billion to one-in-41-billion
chance it was anyone else's blood. Sims said there was a one-in-57-billion
to one-in-150-billion chance that someone's blood other than Simpson's
was on the back gate of Nicole Brown Simpson's condominium.
On cross examination, defense attorney Robert Blasier turned Sims into a defense expert and sought to use him to undermine some of the most compelling testimony from an earlier DNA witness, Robin Cotton. Sims cast some doubt on Cotton's conclusion that DNA tests likely ruled out the possibility that Nicole Brown Simpson's blood was planted on socks found in Simpson's bedroom. Cotton had said the different quality of DNA in the sock blood and the reference sample taken from Ms. Simpson's body suggested the reference sample could not be the source of the sock blood. But Sims testified that blood from the same test tube could show different qualities of DNA at different times, depending on how the blood was stored, processed and tested.
MONDAY, Nov. 18
Collin Yamauchi, criminalist
Yamauchi is best remembered from the criminal trial for his
extensive cross examination by Barry Scheck in which Scheck tried
to show that Yamauchi had mishandled evidence. Scheck alleged
that the criminalist did not change gloves before handling different
pieces of evidence, failed to accurately document blood tests
and did not follow proper procedures in general. At one point,
Yamauchi conceded that he did not notice four bloodstains on a
pair of socks found in Simpson's home. The defense team argued
that Yamauchi didn't see the blood because it was later planted
by police.
John Edwards, police detective
Edwards answered the 1989 call to the Simpson residence where
Nicole Brown Simpson alleged that her husband had struck her.
He told jurors that when he arrived at the scene, Nicole Brown
Simpson ran from some bushes, yelling, "He's going to kill
me, he's going to kill me."
Sharyn Gilbert, 911 dispatcher
Her testimony described how she handled a 911 call from the
Rockingham residence Jan. 1, 1989. She did not actually speak
to anyone on the phone, but heard the sound of a flesh to flesh
slap and then the sound of a woman screaming. She then updated
her original incident code from 900 (unknown trouble) to 930w
(woman screaming). She noted in her report that it sounded like
a woman being beaten at the location. Cross examination was very
brief. The defense only asked for a clarification of the audio
of the 911 call which was replayed in court.
Mark Day, security guard
Day testified to his response to a disturbance at the Rockingham
estate in 1984 or 1985. He noted that Nicole Brown came running
out of the house to meet him. He said he saw a Mercedes automobile
with a dented hood and a baseball bat. He described O.J. Simpson's
demeanor as "quiet and demure." He said that he was
just keeping the peace until police officers could arrive.
MONDAY, Nov. 18 and TUESDAY, Nov. 19
Robert Lerner, police officer
Lerner testified he responded to a 911 call to 325 South Gretna
Green on Oct. 25, 1993. When he arrived at Gretna Green, he observed
a Ford Bronco parked in front of the residence about four to six
feet from the curb with the headlights still on. He said Nicole
Brown Simpson led him in and directed him to the rear of the house
where O.J. Simpson and Kato Kaelin were. He said that Simpson
was yelling and pacing - gesturing with his hands. Lerner said
he tried to calm Simpson down.
Lerner said his partner, Sgt. Craig Lalley, arrived on the scene
and they had a conversation with Simpson, but were not aware that
Lalley had secretly recorded the conversation. Lerner said he
was not aware of the tape until two days before the criminal trial.
TUESDAY, Nov. 19
Kato Kaelin, O.J. Simpson's house guest
Kaelin testified that the thumps he heard the night of the
murders sounded like "someone falling back behind my bedroom
wall." Kaelin also testified that the day after the murders,
Simpson said to him, "you saw me go into the house"
after the two had returned to the Simpson estate from a visit
to a McDonald's the previous night. The suggestion left with the
jurors was that Simpson was seeking to establish an alibi for
the time of the murders.
Michael Stevens
Stevens' entire testimony lasted about seven minutes. He stated
that he opened the safety deposit box in the presence of bank
representatives and removed two photographs, newspaper clippings
about Simpson, including the January 1989 article about spousal
abuse, and a sealed envelope which contained Nicole Brown Simpson's
will.
THURSDAY, Nov. 21 and WEDNESDAY, Nov. 20
Bill Bodziak, FBI agent
Bodziak testified that a photo taken of O.J. Simpson in 1993
shows Simpson wearing the exact same kind of rare Italian shoes
as those that left bloody imprints near the two slashed bodies.
Bodziak pointed to 18 areas on what he identified as the Bruno
Magli Lorenzo shoes, from the stitching to the soles, to make
the comparison. During Simpson's civil trial deposition, he denied
ever wearing this model of shoe.
Allan Park, limousine driver
The plaintiffs used Park's testimony to establish a timeline.
He testified using cellular phone records to describe his time
with O.J. Simpson late June 12, 1994. He said he arrived at the
estate at 10:22 p.m. and left with Simpson at 11:15 p.m. Simpson
didn't appear to be home until he came out of the house at 11:05
p.m., Park said. The limousine driver described a shadowy black
man going from the driveway to the house and an aborted trip to
the back of the estate to look for a possible prowler.
FRIDAY, Nov. 22
O.J. Simpson, defendant
In the most defining moment of the trial, Simpson took the
stand Friday and said he didn't commit the double murder. He also
denied hitting his ex-wife but when shown photos of her bruised
face, he said he was responsible for her injuries. He said he
"imposed his physical will" on her by shoving her around
and wrestling with her. After an intense, electrifying day, both
sides claimed victory.
MONDAY, Nov. 25
O.J. Simpson, defendant
Simpson said he couldn't explain how he got cuts on his hand
and he didn't know how his blood, and that of victims Ron Goldman
and Nicole Brown Simpson, came to be in his Bronco or how his
blood, and that of ex-wife, got on a pair of his socks. He denied
owning shoes matching those linked to the killings and said a
picture of him wearing what appear to be such shoes "is a
fraud."
Later, Simpson's testimony varied from previous statements he
had made under oath. He said he didn't have any fingernail gouges
from the victims, but he might have cut himself while "rassling"
with his small son. In response to Petrocelli's questions, Simpson
said he was hooked up to a polygraph at a private office to see
how the device worked but never took an actual lie detector test.
He said he offered to take a polygraph test for police but said
they never pursued it. Daniel Petrocelli then stated that Simpson
scored a negative 22 on the test, which the plaintiffs attorney
said indicates "extreme deception."
TUESDAY, Nov. 26
O.J. Simpson, defendant
Two lawyers for the plaintiffs subjected Simpson to a brief
round of questioning in which he again denied killing Nicole Brown
Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Defense attorney Robert Baker then
announced a surprise decision: he would not question his client,
at least for now: "I'm sorry, your honor, I've changed my
mind," Baker said. "I will put Mr. Simpson on, and put
on his side, in our case in December." With no other witnesses
ready to take the stand, court recessed until Tuesday, Dec. 3.
TUESDAY, Dec. 3
Al Cowlings, lifelong Simpson friend
Cowlings and Simpson played football together in college and
in the National Football League. He was driving Simpson's Bronco
during the 60-mile freeway chase. He testified that he drove Nicole
Brown Simpson to the hospital after the New Year's Eve incident.
He said Nicole told him that O.J. Simpson had struck her.
Jackie Cooper, Simpson friend
Cooper went to Palm Springs on Memorial Day weekend with Simpson
and his girlfriend Paula Barbieri. He testified Simpson seemed
obsessed about the end of his marriage to Nicole. He said Simpson
also told him Paula left the trip early because she was upset
about Nicole.
Charles Cale, Simpson neighbor
Cale testified he did not see Simpson's Ford Bronco parked
outside the estate between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. as he walked
his dog. He saw the Bronco the next morning parked at an angle.
India Allen, alleged abuse witness
Worked at a veterinarian's office. Says she witnessed a domestic
violence incident outside the office.
Albert Aguillera, alleged abuse witness
Aguillera said he was at Virginia Beach in 1987 and saw Simpson
knock Nicole to the ground.
Donna Estes, Simpson friend
Estes is a friend of both O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson.
After their divorce, Simpson told Estes that he was still in love
with Nicole, but that she was only interested in wearing short
skirts and going out dancing.
Craig Baumgarten, Simpson golfing buddy
Baumgarten was with Simpson the morning of the murders. They
engaged in a verbal fight on the golf course.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4
Paula Barbieri, Simpson's former girlfriend
Barbieri is a model who dated Simpson prior to the murders.
Barbieri left telephone messages for Simpson ending their relationship
the day of the murders. Simpson claims he never collected those
messages. But in her deposition, which was read into evidence,
Barbieri claimed she had three messages from Simpson indicating
that he had listened to her message.
Ron Fischman, friend of Nicole and O.J. Simpson
Fischman is a chiropractor and ex-husband of Cora Fischman,
a friend of Nicole Brown Simpson. He videotaped Simpson and his
daughter Sydney at a dance recital just hours before the murders.
Fischman also prescribed the bottle of anti-anxiety medication
Xanax found in Simpson's bag after the Bronco chase. In his testimony,
Fischman described instances in which Simpson had called him at
his home looking for Nicole. He testified that Simpson was having
difficulty communicating with Nicole and said she was abrupt and
short with him. He said Simpson was frustrated and confused and
felt Nicole was rejecting him. Fischman was at the dance recital
the day of the murders. He said he saw O.J. Simpson sitting next
to Nicole Brown Simpson at some point, but that he did not see
them smile or look at each other.
Fischman said he later spoke with Simpson in the lobby and that
Simpson appeared tired and subdued. He said he had never seen
him that way before. On cross examination, Fischman said Simpson
may have been frustrated with his former wife because she was
acting erratically. He said Nicole Brown Simpson never mentioned
that her former husband was stalking or threatening her or that
she was afraid of him. He added that he was not in a good position
to observe Simpson and Nicole during the dance recital.
Frank Olson, chairman of Hertz
In Olson's videotaped testimony, which was played in court,
he said he had a conversation with Simpson on May 16, 1994, in
which Simpson told him the relationship with Nicole Brown Simpson
was over. He testified that Simpson did not seem terribly distressed,
but was not his usual outgoing, effusive self. Olson said Simpson
seemed to want to "get away from it all" and mentioned
possibly moving to New York.
Josephine Guarin, Simpson's former houskeeper
"Gigi" testified that at one point she saw a disguise
kit on Simpson's desk, but she did not remember when she saw it
last. On the day of the murders, she went to Knott's Berry Farm
to celebrate Philippine Independence Day. She said she later called
and asked Simpson if it would be OK to stay later and he said
she could. She also said she did not have any specific instructions
in regard to Simpson's dog, Chachi, and that the dog did not normally
leave the property. Simpson said he delayed opening a gate for
a limo driver because he feared the dog would get out.
On cross examination, Guarin testified that Simpson was always
late, always rushing and did everything at the last minute.
Dale St. John, limousine driver
St. John testified that he has picked Simpson up over 100
times in more than three years. He said Simpson had always been
at home when he arrived. He said he usually pulled up to Ashford
and backed in the gate. He said he would then buzz the intercom
and that someone would always answer. But he added that normally
the housekeeper would answer the phone. Dale testified that he
never saw Simpson's dog, Chachi, leave the property.
Leslie Gardiner, Playboy video wardrobe person
Gardner testified that she collected Simpson's wardrobe for
the video, which included a sweatsuit, sports clothing and shoes.
She said he requested a DKNY cashmere sweatsuit because he had
had one previously. Gardner told jurors the clothing was black
and gray. Plaintiffs' attorneys presented several photos showing
Simpson wearing the sweatsuit. She said after the video was completed,
Simpson kept the clothing, which she said would be common practice.
Nancy Ney, battered women's shelter therapist
Nancy Ney told jurors she worked at Sojourn House, a private
battered woman's shelter and was working the 24-hour hotline on
June 7, 1994. She said she got a call at 11 a.m. from a woman
who identified herself as "Nicole" who said she was
34, divorced, and had two children, a boy and a girl. She said
she lived in West Los Angeles and that her husband was a high-profile
figure who Ney would recognize if she heard his name. Ney testified
she had listened to the 911 call Nicole Brown Simpson made to
police and that the voice of the woman with whom she spoke was
consistent with that voice.
Ney said "Nicole" told her she was frightened and that
her former husband was stalking her, following her to restaurants
and markets, and in his car. She said "Nicole" told
her her former husband had beaten her and told her that if he
caught her with another man, he would kill her. Ney testified
she and "Nicole" discussed whether she should move back
in with her husband, since she felt that might be safer, but in
the end they decided it would be better if she did not move back
in. Ney said "Nicole" promised to call back the following
week, but never did.
Randy Petee, private investigator who timed the Bundy Dr. to
Rockingham Dr. drive
Petee drove to and from Simpson's mansion and his ex-wife's
condominium by various routes. He said the times ranged from 6
minutes and 37 seconds at the speed limit to 4 minutes and 2 seconds,
breaking the speed limit. The plaintiffs prefer a short drive-time
to show that Simpson had time to commit the murders and get home
for a waiting limousine.
THURSDAY, Dec. 5
Mark Partridge, passenger of Simpson's return flight from Chicago
Partridge is a Chicago trademark and copyright attorney who
spoke to Simpson on the return flight from Chicago to Los Angeles
the day after the murders. He testified that Simpson told him
Nicole and another person had been killed and that it was a crime.
Lenore Walker, "battered woman syndrome" expert
Doctor who wrote book defining "battered woman's syndrome."
Walker testified she interviewed Simpson and believed he "did
not suffer from any kind of anti-social personality disorder."
Raymond Kilduff, Hertz employee in Chicago
Kilduff was responsible for the annual golf tournament in
which Simpson was planning to participate. Kilduff testified Simpson
had a black duffel bag. Kilduff said he was able to look inside
the bag when Simpson opened it. He said the bag appeared relatively
empty save for a few items on the bottom. Kilduff also testified
Simpson appeared frantic and emotional during the ride to the
airport and that Simpson brought up the issue of getting the golf
bag back. Kilduff said Simpson kept saying "this is bad."
Simpson did not tell him what had happened, but repeated that
he would hear about it on the news.
James Merrill, Hertz employee in Chicago
Merrill is a sales representative who met Simpson at the airport
a few hours after the murders and drove him to the O'Hare Plaza
Howard Johnson. During the ride from the airport to the hotel,
Merrill testified Simpson talked about his former wife Nicole.
Merrill had asked him why he took the late flight out and Simpson
said he had to go to the dance recital and that Nicole was on
him for not spending time with the kids. Merrill also testified
that Simpson called him three times the morning of their scheduled
golf tournament. Simpson also called him once when he was back
in Los Angeles on June 14. Simpson inquired about his golf clubs.
Merrill gave him the claim number. Merrill testified that Simpson
became personal with him. Simpson told Merrill that he loved Nicole,
that she was the mother of his children and that they were divorced.
Merrill said he did not know Nicole and had never heard of her
prior to meeting Simpson.
FRIDAY, Dec. 6
Sharon Rufo, mother of victim Ron Goldman
Rufo testified about the number of times she telephoned her son.
She said he called her at the end of 1992 but that her husband
answered the phone and told Ron not to call. She said she grabbed
the phone and spoke to him. Ron Goldman told her about his appearance
on the television show "Studs."
Bruce Weir, DNA statistics expert
Weir is a professor of statistics and genetics at North Carolina
State University in Raleigh. He is a population DNA expert. He
testified that the DNA found on the glove is likely to be Simpson's
but he admitted making an error in calculating the probability.
Juditha Brown, mother of victim Nicole Brown Simpson
Juditha Brown is also suing O.J. Simpson for the custody of Justin
and Sydney, the two children he had with Nicole Brown Simpson.
In the civil trial, she testified that at the wake for Nicole
Brown Simpson, O.J. Simpson kissed his former wife's corpse on
the lips and said, "I'm so sorry Nic, I'm so sorry Nic."
Juditha said that she followed him outside where she confronted
him. She asked him, "do you have anything to do with this?"
Simpson replied only "I loved your daughter."
On cross-examination Juditha denied that she and Simpson spoke
about Nicole's alleged erratic behavior in April/May '94, and
denied that she thought that Nicole had been acting erratically.
When defense attorneys asked if Juditha Brown disliked Simpson,
she answered that she disliked him now. When asked why she kissed
him at a dance recital the day of the murders, she replied that
one can kiss angry people.
Robert Kardashian, Simpson's friend
Kardashian testified that he did not recall any conversation
with Simpson on the ride to the airport to collect his golf clubs.
He said that Simpson did not talk about playing golf, or why he
needed the clubs. He said he did not talk about Nicole. "I
just don't remember," Kardashian said. Kardashian was asked
if he thought that it was an odd request that someone whose wife
had been killed only 36 hours before would ask to go to the airport
to pick up a golf bag. He responded "yes."
Leroy "Skip" Taft, Simpson's business attorney
Taft sparred with plaintiffs attorney Petrocelli over discrepancies
between his deposition, where he said he saw two cuts on Simpson's
hand, and his testimony at trial, where he said he rememberd only
one. "As I sit here today I recall one cut," he told
Petrocelli.
MONDAY, Dec. 9
Fred Goldman, father of victim Ron Goldman
Fred Goldman attended almost every day of the criminal trial.
He is one of four plaintiffs filing a civil suit against Simpson.
Testifying in the wrongful death suit against Simpson, Fred Goldman
described his son's up-and-down years with school problems and
numerous jobs, finally finding his own way in the world shortly
before his murder by drafting plans to open his own restaurant.
"Mr. Goldman, did you love your son?" asked lawyer Daniel
Petrocelli, who represents Goldman. "Oh, God, yes,"
Goldman testified through tears that he dabbed with a white tissue.
The testimony for the plaintiffs ended with a videotape taken
at a bat mitzvah for Ron Goldman's stepsister in November 1993.
During cross-examination Baker asked Goldman if he has become
friends with Detectives Philip Vannatter and Tom Lange. Goldman
responded that he would not consider them friends. The judge interjected
and warned Baker that if he continued in that line of questioning
he would not be allowed to call Goldman as a direct witness in
the defense case.
TUESDAY, Jan. 14
Sandra Clairborne
Clairborne is a police forensic print specialist. She testified
that she waited in a police car with department photographer Rolf
Rokahr for nearly three-and-a-half hours, waiting for detectives
to give them directions. It wasn't until after dawn that they
entered the crime scene for the first time.
E.J. Flammer
Flammer is a freelance photographer who took 30 pictures of
Simpson on Sept. 26, 1993, at a Buffalo Bills-Miami Dolphins game
in Buffalo, N.Y. He recently found the pictures in his basement
darkroom and gave them to the plaintiffs' attorneys. He explained
that he hired a lawyer and an agent and sold copies of the pictures
to the three major TV networks but had no knowledge of how much
he was getting for the photos. He said his attorney told him it
would be better if he didn't know the amount in case he was asked
while testifying.
Leslie Gardner
Gardner was the wardrobe stylist for Simpson's 1994 Playboy
exercise video. She bought him black cotton fleece sweat clothes
and testified he never returned them. She said it might have been
a cotton and polyester blend and wasn't blue-black, like fibers
found at the crime scene.
Gerald Richards
Richards is a former top FBI photo analyst who refuted claims
of defense expert Robert Groden that a photo of Simpson in Bruno
Magli shoes was a fraud. He said the photo wasn't altered in any
way, and a first-year photography student would have known it.
He explained that the mysterious blue lines on the negative were
actually scratches from a camera mechanism and that the photo
was not larger than others on the roll.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15
Gerald Richards
Richards is a former FBI photo analyst who said a picture
of Simpson wearing Bruno Magli shoes was "100 percent not
a fake." He explained the back-lighting created a halo effect
around the shoes in the picture. He also testified that what looked
like a hole in a crime scene glove was an optical illusion created
by a piece of debris.
Gregory Matheson
Matheson is a LAPD crime lab supervisor. He supported the
plaintiff's theory that debris, not a hole, marred the crime scene
glove in a photo. Matheson said blood on a glove found at the
crime scene was consistent with that of Ronald Goldman, and not
O.J. Simpson. He said he found blood smeared on the console of
Simpson's Bronco several weeks after the murders occurred. But
he could not explain photos of the console taken earlier in which
the blood does not appear to be visible.
Dennis Fung
Fung is an LAPD criminalist who collected evidence at the
crime scene. He returned to the stand for a third time to recant
testimony he gave earlier about the bloody glove found at the
crime scene. He previously testified that a glove entered into
evidence at the civil trial was not the one found at the crime
scene. But when called as a rebuttal witness, he testified he
no longer believes that the glove in evidence is different from
the one he collected at the crime scene. "I didn't lie but
I was mistaken." Fung denied he was pressured to change his
story, saying he now supports the plaintiff's contention that
debris, not a hole, marred the glove in a picture.
Richard Fox
Fox, a private criminalist, rebutted defense experts on the
issue of microscopic balls of blood found inside the sock retrieved
from Simpson's bedroom. He explained the blood could have been
transferred during testing or when the wearer took off the socks.
Fox testified the defense theory, that blood was smeared on the
sock in the lab, was unlikely.
THURSDAY, Jan. 16
Angelica Guzman
Guzman was the Los Angeles Police Department officer assigned
to help guard Simpson's Bronco the morning after the killings.
She testified she saw no one open the vehicle or enter it. She
wrote on the impound sheet that the car had an alternator and
battery but didn't check under the hood to make sure.
Terry Lee
Lee is a research scientist at City of Hope hospital. He was
called to rebut the defense claim that blood samples preserved
in test tubes with a chemical called EDTA were planted by police
at the crime scene and at Simpson's home to frame the former football
star. Lee said he doesn't believe the small traces of EDTA found
in blood on a sock at Simpson's home and on a back gate at Nicole's
Simpson's condominium indicate that the blood was planted. He
explained that EDTA traces could possibly come from testing equipment.
Brad Popovich
Popovich is a chemical molecular geneticist who says there
is no evidence of contamination in DNA samples handled by the
LAPD crime lab. He testified the results were accurate and reliable
and he defended work by criminalist Collin Yamauchi.
Gerald Richards
Richards is a former FBI photo analyst who returned to the
stand to say that photographs of Simpson wearing Bruno Magli shoes
appeared authentic. He said he saw no signs of alteration or substitution
of the negatives. He did acknowledge that someone with the motivation,
time, equipment, money and talent could fake photographs.
William Bodziak
Bodziak is an FBI shoe analyst who said the shoes seen on
Simpson's feet in photos taken at a Buffalo Bills football game
are Lorenzo-style Bruno Maglis, the same style as those worn by
someone who left bloody footprints around the bodies of Nicole
Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.