TESTIMONY OF LAPD OFFICER ROBERT RISKE

DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. CLARK

MS. CLARK: GOOD MORNING, OFFICER.

MR. RISKE:  GOOD MORNING.

MS. CLARK:  CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

MR. RISKE:  I'M A POLICE OFFICER FOR THE RECORD THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

MS. CLARK: WHERE ARE YOU ASSIGNED, SIR?

MR. RISKE:  WEST L.A.

MS. CLARK: AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SO ASSIGNED?

MR. RISKE:  I HAVE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR FOUR YEARS AND TEN MONTHS. I HAVE BEEN AT WEST L.A. THREE YEARS AND SIX MONTHS.

MS. CLARK: AND IN YOUR CAPACITY AS A POLICE OFFICER AT THE WEST L.A. DIVISION WHAT ARE YOUR DUTIES?

MR. RISKE:  I'M ASSIGNED TO PATROL. WE RESPOND TO RADIO CALLS, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION, BASICALLY.

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MS. CLARK: PRIOR TO BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER WHAT DID YOU DO?

MR. RISKE:  I WAS IN THE NAVY FOR SIX AND A HALF YEARS.

MS. CLARK:  AND THEN DID YOU TRAIN TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER?

MR. RISKE:  YES.

MS. CLARK: AND WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF YOUR TRAINING?

MR. RISKE:  SIX MONTHS IN THE LOS ANGELES POLICE ACADEMY, DID A YEAR OF PROBATION.

MS. CLARK: IN THE COURSE OF YOUR TRAINING, SIR, AT THE ACADEMY, WERE YOU TRAINED IN CRIME SCENE PRESERVATION?

MR. RISKE:  THEY KIND OF GLOSS OVER IT; THEY DON'T REALLY TRAIN YOU.

MS. CLARK: DID YOU LEARN IT AT SOME POINT IN YOUR DUTIES?

MR. RISKE:  ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.

MS. CLARK: ON-THE-JOB TRAINING?

MR. RISKE:  YES, MA'AM.

MS. CLARK: MEANING WHAT?

MR. RISKE:  MEANING WHEN YOU ARE ON PROBATION YOU ARE ASSIGNED TO A TRAINING OFFICER. WHEN YOU GO TO A CRIME SCENE THEY TELL YOU WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AND YOU DO IT; IDENTIFICATION, PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE, SETTING UP THE CRIME SCENE.

MS. CLARK: IN THE COURSE OF YOUR DUTIES IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND TEN MONTHS, HOW MANY CRIME SCENES HAVE YOU HAD TO PROTECT OR PRESERVE?

MR. RISKE:  I WOULD ONLY BE ESTIMATING; TWENTY.

MS. CLARK: AND HOW MANY OF THOSE INVOLVED HOMICIDES?

MR. RISKE:  PROBABLY MORE THAN HALF; FIFTEEN
.
MS. CLARK: NOW, AS OF JUNE THE 12TH OF 1994, YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO PATROL FOR THE WEST L.A. DIVISION?

MR. RISKE:  YES, MA'AM.

MS. CLARK: AT APPROXIMATELY 12:09 A.M. DID YOU RECEIVE A CALL DIRECTING YOU TO THAT GENERAL LOCATION?

MR. RISKE:  TO 874 SOUTH BUNDY, YES.

MS. CLARK: WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE CALL THAT SENT YOU TO 874 SOUTH BUNDY?

MR. RISKE:  IT CAME OUT AS A BURGLARY SUSPECT AND THE STATEMENTS OF THE CALL SAID IT WAS UNKNOWN PERSON KNOCKING ON THE VICTIM'S DOOR.

MS. CLARK: AND RINGING THE DOORBELL?

MR. RISKE:  YES, MA'AM.

MS. CLARK: AND IN RESPONSE TO THAT PARTICULAR CALL DID YOU GO TO THE LOCATION?

MR. RISKE:  YES.

MS. CLARK: TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

MR. RISKE:  AS WE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE WE WERE FLAGGED DOWN BY TWO WITNESSES AND A DOG. THEY DIRECTED US TO 875 AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A DEAD LADY ON THE WALKWAY.

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MS. CLARK: AND AFTER THEY TOLD YOU THAT, WHAT DID YOU DO?

MR. RISKE:  MY PARTNER AND I CROSSED THE STREET AND WENT TO THE WALKWAY AND WHAT I OBSERVED A FEMALE WHITE IN A BLACK DRESS LAYING IN A PUDDLE OF BLOOD ON THE WALKWAY.

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MS. CLARK:  WHEN YOU APPROACHED THIS AREA, CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE LIGHTING FOR US, SIR?

MR. RISKE:  THERE IS -- THERE IS REALLY NO STREET LIGHTING. THERE IS OVERHANGING TREES OVER THE WALKWAY. THERE WAS LIGHTS ON IN THE RESIDENCE, BUT THERE IS A FENCE THAT GOES IN FRONT OF THE WINDOWS, SO THE LIGHTING WAS POOR.

MS. CLARK: SO -- I'M SORRY?
 
MR. RISKE:  THE LIGHTING WAS VERY POOR.

MS. CLARK: AND WAS THERE A LOT OF FOLIAGE, A LOT OF BUSHES AND TREES IN THAT AREA?

MR. RISKE:  YES.

MS. CLARK: SO WHEN YOU FIRST APPROACHED THE WALKWAY OF 875 SOUTH BUNDY, AS YOU APPROACHED IT, WERE YOU ABLE TO SEE ANY BLOOD ON THE WALKWAY BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY GOT THERE AND ACTUALLY LOOKED UP THE WALKWAY?

MR. RISKE:  IT ACTUALLY TOOK US A COUPLE SECONDS TO FIND THE BODY, IT WAS SO DARK.
 

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MS. CLARK: AND WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU STOOD THERE WITH YOUR FLASHLIGHT?

MR. RISKE:  JUST TURNED THE FLASHLIGHT ON AND SAW THE BODY AND WENT BACK AND WALKED TO THE -- REQUESTED A SUPERVISOR, ADDITIONAL UNITS AND AN AMBULANCE AND THEN WE WENT BACK AND TALKED TO THE WITNESSES.

MS. CLARK: OKAY. SO AFTER YOU SAW THE BODY, YOU LEFT THE SCENE FOR A MOMENT?

MR. RISKE:  RIGHT.

MS. CLARK: AND DID WHAT?

MR. RISKE:  WENT BACK AND TALKED TO THE WITNESSES TO FIND OUT HOW THEY FOUND THE BODY AND BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED.

MS. CLARK: AND BY "THE WITNESSES" YOU MEAN THOSE TWO PEOPLE WITH THE DOG?

MR. RISKE:  RIGHT.

MS. CLARK: AND DID THEY TELL YOU HOW THEY FOUND THE DOG?

MR. RISKE:  THEY TOLD ME THAT –

MR. COCHRAN: ANSWER THAT YES OR NO.

THE COURT: CORRECT. DID THEY TELL YOU? YES OR NO?

MR. RISKE:  YES.

THE COURT: ALL RIGHT. NEXT QUESTION.

MS. CLARK: AND DID THEY TELL YOU HOW THEY HAPPENED TO GET TO 875 SOUTH BUNDY?

MR. RISKE:  YES.

MS. CLARK: DID YOU LOOK AT THE DOG?

MR. RISKE:  YES.

MS. CLARK: DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT IT?

MR. RISKE:  THERE WAS BLOOD ON HIS LEGS AND ON HIS PAWS.

******

MS. CLARK: ALL RIGHT. WHAT DID YOU DO NEXT?

MR. RISKE:  WE WENT BACK TO THE SCENE, WE APPROACHED THE BODY OF THE FEMALE, AND AS WE GOT PROBABLY TWO FEET FROM HER BODY, WE DISCOVERED THE BODY OF A MALE WHITE LAYING AGAINST THE NORTH FENCE.

MS. CLARK: OKAY. HOW DID YOU -- HOW DID YOU GET UP TO THE WOMAN'S BODY? WHAT DID YOU DO?

MR. RISKE:  MY PARTNER APPROACHED ON THE GRASS AND I APPROACHED WALKING THROUGH THE PLANTS RIGHT THERE, STAYING TO –

MS. CLARK: THESE BUSHES HERE ON THE LEFT, (INDICATING)?

MR. RISKE:  RIGHT. STAYING TO THE LEFT OF THE WALKWAY.

MS. CLARK: AND YOUR PARTNER, WHERE WAS HE?

MR. RISKE:  HE WAS ON THE GRASS TO THE LEFT OF THE FOLIAGE. YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE IN THIS PICTURE.

MS. CLARK:  SO YOU WERE IN THE BUSHES AND HE WAS TO THE LEFT OF YOU AS WE FACE THE PHOTOGRAPH?

MR. RISKE:  RIGHT.

MS. CLARK: DID YOU STEPPED ON THE WALKWAY?

MR. RISKE:  NO.
 

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MS. CLARK: NOW, THAT WALKWAY THAT YOU SEE IN BOTH 42 ON THE SCREEN -- OR IS THAT 38?
EXCUSE ME. 38 ON THE SCREEN AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN PEOPLE'S 43, DID YOU ILLUMINATE THAT WITH YOUR FLASHLIGHT?

MR. RISKE:  YES.

MS. CLARK: WHAT DID YOU SEE IN THAT WALKWAY?

MR. RISKE:  THERE IS A POOL OF BLOOD UNDER THE VICTIM, THE FEMALE WHITE, AND IT FLOWS DOWN TOWARDS THE SIDEWALK.

MS. CLARK: AND IN THE BLOOD DID YOU SEE ANY KIND OF PATTERNS?

MR. RISKE:  UMM, THERE WAS PAW PRINTS TOWARDS THE SIDEWALK AND THERE WAS A HEEL MARK BY THE FENCE CLOSE TO WHERE THE ENVELOPE IS.

MS. CLARK: OKAY. IF YOU COULD LOOK AT THE MONITOR, SIR, IT MIGHT BE EASIER FOR YOU ON YOUR MONITOR.

MR. RISKE:  OKAY.

MS. CLARK: DO YOU SEE -- CAN YOU TELL US -- DO YOU SEE THE PAW PRINTS YOU JUST DESCRIBED?

MR. RISKE:  YES.

MS. CLARK: AND AS YOU LOOKED UP THE WALKWAY WALKING THROUGH THE BUSHES, WERE YOU ABLE TO SEE ANY BLOODY SHOEPRINTS ON THAT WALKWAY?

MR. RISKE:  NOT UNTIL WE GOT RIGHT BY THE BODY. THERE WAS A HEEL PRINT.

MS. CLARK:  BUT DOWN HERE ON THE WALKWAY THAT IS ACTUALLY OUTSIDE THE GATE, DID YOU SEE ANY SHOEPRINTS?

MR. RISKE:  NO.
 

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MS. CLARK: AND THIS IS THE CONDITION IN WHICH YOU FOUND THE PLACEMENT OF EVERYTHING WHEN YOU FOUND IT WHEN YOU FIRST APPROACHED?

MR. RISKE:  YES.

MS. CLARK: ALL RIGHT, SIR.  NOW, AS YOU MADE THAT APPROACH YOU WERE MAKING THESE OBSERVATIONS, YOU WERE STANDING IN THE BUSHES THAT WAS NEAR THE CALL BOX YOU SHOWED US?

MR. RISKE:  THAT'S CORRECT.

MS. CLARK: NOW, YOU SAID THAT YOU SAW A BLOODY SHOEPRINT UP NEAR THE BODY OF THE VICTIMS. CAN YOU SEE THAT IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH?

MR. RISKE:  NOT REALLY. IT IS KIND OF A BAD PICTURE.

MS. CLARK: UH-HUH. I THINK WE DO HAVE A BETTER ONE.
THE SHOEPRINT THAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING, WAS IT NEAR THE ENVELOPE?

MR. RISKE:  RIGHT, JUST -- JUST -- IT WOULD BE WEST OF THE ENVELOPE.

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MS. CLARK: ALL RIGHT. NOW, AFTER YOU MADE THESE OBSERVATIONS, SIR, AND YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE -- AT THAT TIME TELL US WHAT YOU SAW.

MR. RISKE:  I SAW THE ENVELOPE THERE, THE HEEL PRINT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE CLOSELY, THERE IS A GLOVE AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A KNIT CAP UNDER THE PLANT ON THE RIGHT.

 ******

MS. CLARK:  AFTER YOU MADE THESE OBSERVATIONS, SIR, WHAT DID YOU DO NEXT?

MR. RISKE:  MY PARTNER AND I, SEEING THAT THE FRONT DOOR WAS OPENED AND THERE WAS A FOOTPRINT -- WHAT APPEARED TO BE BLOODY FOOTPRINTS GOING TOWARD THE FRONT DOOR, WE STEPPED OVER THE FEMALE VICTIM AND WENT TO THE FOOT DOOR AND SAW THE SHOEPRINTS CONTINUE ON DOWN THE WALKWAY.
WE LOOKED IN THE HOUSE AND THERE WAS -- APPEARED TO BE NO EVIDENCE OF RANSACKING OR FORCED ENTRY AND I SAW A PHONE PROBABLY FIFTEEN FEET, TWENTY FEET FROM THE FRONT DOOR, AND I ENTERED AND I CALLED THE STATION AND TOLD MY WATCH COMMANDER WHAT WE HAD.

MS. CLARK: SO WHEN YOU WERE STANDING AT THE -- AT THE CALL BOX IN THE BUSHES, YOU SAW THE SHOEPRINTS LEADING UP TO THE FRONT DOOR. COULD YOU SEE WHETHER THOSE SHOEPRINTS FROM THAT POSITION CONTINUED ON PAST THE FRONT DOOR OR NOT?

MR. RISKE:  NO.

MS. CLARK: AND WHY WAS IT THAT YOU DECIDED TO STEP OVER THE BODY OF THE WOMAN AND GO INSIDE THE CONDO?

MR. RISKE:  TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER VICTIMS IN THE HOUSE OR ANY EVIDENCE IN THE HOUSE.

MS. CLARK:  WHAT ABOUT A POSSIBLE SUSPECT?

MR. RISKE:  A POSSIBLE SUSPECT.

MS. CLARK: AT THAT POINT YOU DIDN'T KNOW?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MS. CLARK: NOW, HOW WAS IT THAT -- WHEN YOU STIPULATED OVER THE BODY OF THE WOMAN, DID YOU STEP IN BLOOD?

MR. RISKE:  NO.

MS. CLARK: HOW DID YOU MANAGE NOT TO DO THAT?

MR. RISKE:  BY STAYING TO THE FAR LEFT AGAINST THE FENCE AND UP THE STEPS.

MS. CLARK: YEAH. IT IS HARD TO SHOW IN THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, BUT YOU –

MR. RISKE:  IT SHOWS ON THIS ONE, (INDICATING).

MS. CLARK: ON THIS ONE?  IF YOU WOULD, SIR, PLEASE SHOW US WHERE THERE IS A CLEAR AREA THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO STEP OVER SO THAT YOU AVOIDED STEPPING IN THE BLOOD.

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MR. RISKE: I STAYED IN THE PLANT RIGHT HERE, GOT NEXT TO THE FENCE, STEPPED OVER HER BODY, STAYED AGAINST THE WALL, UP TO THE STEPS TO THE FRONT DOOR.

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MS. CLARK: NOW, AFTER YOU WENT INTO THE LOCATION -- FIRST OF ALL, DID YOU LOOK AT THE DOOR?

MR. RISKE:  YES.

MS. CLARK: DID YOU NOTICE WHETHER THERE WAS ANY EVIDENCE OF FORCED ENTRY?

MR. RISKE:  I DID NOTICE AND THERE WASN'T.
 

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MS. CLARK: DID YOU SEE ANY BLOODY SHOEPRINTS ON THE CARPETING?

MR. RISKE:  NO.

MS. CLARK: DID YOU SEE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THERE HAD BEEN PROPERTY STREWN AROUND OR ANY EVIDENCE OF A STRUGGLE?

MR. RISKE:  NO.

MS. CLARK: DID ANYTHING APPEAR TO BE OUT OF PLACE?

MR. RISKE:  NO.

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MS. CLARK: DID YOU SEE ANY BLOOD DROPS INSIDE THE HOUSE ON THE FLOOR ANYWHERE?

MR. RISKE:  NO, I DIDN'T.

MS. CLARK:  AND YOU SAW A TELEPHONE THERE?

MR. RISKE: YES, MA'AM.

MS. CLARK: AND WHAT DID DO YOU WITH THAT PHONE?

MR. RISKE:  I CALLED MY WATCH COMMANDER AT THE STATION AND TOLD HIM WE HAD A DOUBLE HOMICIDE ON BUNDY AND I TOLD HIM THAT O.J. SIMPSON WAS SOMEHOW INVOLVED.

MS. CLARK: AND WHY DID YOU THINK THAT?

MR. RISKE:  BECAUSE WHEN WE APPROACHED RIGHT BY THE FRONT DOOR YOU COULD SEE A LITHOGRAPH ON THE NORTH WALL OF THE APARTMENT OR THE CONDOMINIUM, AND AS I GOT TO THE PHONE THERE WAS A LETTER, HAD O.J. SIMPSON AS A RETURN ADDRESS, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS HIS WIFE OR HIS GIRLFRIEND.

MS. CLARK: OKAY. NOW, BY "INVOLVED" DID YOU MEAN AS A SUSPECT?

MR. RISKE:  NO, JUST POTENTIAL VICTIM, MAYBE IT IS HIS WIFE, I DIDN'T KNOW.

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 MS. CLARK: WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

MR. RISKE:  WELL, MY PARTNER AND I EXITED THE APARTMENT, TOOK THE SAME PATH DOWN THROUGH THE PLANTS. I WENT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NORTH FENCE BY MR. GOLDMAN.

MS. CLARK:  HOW DID YOU DO THAT? DID YOU STEP THROUGH THE BLOOD SOMEHOW WHEN YOU DID THAT?

MR. RISKE:  NO, I WENT AROUND TO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD.

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MS. CLARK: WHAT DID YOU DO IN THAT LOCATION WHILE YOU WERE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THAT GATE?

MR. RISKE:  I APPROACHED MR. GOLDMAN. WHEN I WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE, I NOTICED THAT ONE OF HIS EYES WAS OPENED, SO I APPROACHED HIM, I SHINED MY LIGHT TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY MOVEMENT IN HIS PUPIL, AND THERE WAS NONE AND IT REMAINED FIXED AND DILATED AND I TOUCHED HIS EYEBALL WITH MY FINGER TO GET ANY INVOLUNTARY REACTION SUCH AS TWITCHING THE EYELID, MOVEMENT OF THE HEAD, JUST BASICALLY TO VERIFY THAT HE WAS DEAD.

MS. CLARK: AND YOU FOUND WHAT?

MR. RISKE:  THAT HE WAS DEAD.
 

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MS. CLARK:  NOW, DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME, SIR, DID YOU STEP IN ANY BLOOD IN THE WALKWAY OR AROUND THE VICTIMS?

MR. RISKE:  NO, I DIDN'T.

MS. CLARK: OR UP ON THE STAIRS OR THE PATHWAY LEADING TO THE FRONT DOOR?

MR. RISKE:  NO, I DIDN'T.

MS. CLARK: DID YOU TOUCH ANY OF THE EVIDENCE?

MR. RISKE:  NO.

MS. CLARK: AND WHY IS THAT?

MR. RISKE:  BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE CRIME SCENE.

MS. CLARK: IS THAT DOING WHAT YOU ARE TRAINED TO DO, SIR?

MR. RISKE:  YES, MA'AM.

MS. CLARK: STANDARD TRAINING?

MR. RISKE:  YES.
 

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MS. CLARK: AND WHERE DID YOU GO AT THAT POINT?

MR. RISKE: I WENT OUT TO THE PATROL CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN THE ALLEY AND JUST SAT WITH MY PARTNER.

MS. CLARK: WHAT WERE YOU DOING?

MR. RISKE: JUST MAINTAINING SECURITY. WE HAD BEEN RELIEVED BY THE DETECTIVES. THEY ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY.

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MS. CLARK: AND THAT WAS -- YOU STOOD IN OR OUTSIDE THE CRIME SCENE TAPE?

MR. RISKE: OUTSIDE.

MS. CLARK: DID ANYONE ENTER THROUGH THE CRIME SCENE TAPE THAT WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO SO WHILE YOU WERE THERE?

MR. RISKE: NO.

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MS. CLARK: WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE FRONT OF THE LOCATION?

MR. RISKE: WE OPENED BUNDY UP TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. SO WE JUST -- ALL WE HAD WAS A CRIME SCENE FROM THE HOUSE NORTH, NICOLE'S HOUSE, AND THE HOUSE SOUTH, AND WE JUST MAINTAINED -- WE SAT IN FRONT OF THAT CRIME SCENE.

MS. CLARK: OKAY.  SO WAS ANYONE ALLOWED TO WALK ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF 875 SOUTH BUNDY?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MS. CLARK: WAS ANYONE ALLOWED TO WALK ON THE WALKWAY AT 875 SOUTH BUNDY?

MR. RISKE: NO.

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CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. COCHRAN

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MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT.  AND SO THAT WE GET THE CHRONOLOGY OF HIERARCHY THERE, YOU WERE A PATROL PERSON; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. RISKE: THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. COCHRAN: WHO WAS YOUR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR?

MR. RISKE: THAT NIGHT?

MR. COCHRAN: ON THAT NIGHT.

MR. RISKE: SERGEANT COON WAS THE FIELD SUPERVISOR.

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MR. COCHRAN: AND HE'S NO RELATION TO THE OTHER SERGEANT COON.

MR. RISKE: NOT AS FAR AS I KNOW.

MR. COCHRAN: ALL RIGHT. AS FAR AS YOU KNOW; IS THAT RIGHT?

MR. RISKE: THAT'S CORRECT.

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MR. COCHRAN: NOW, YOU DESCRIBED FOR MISS CLARK THAT WHEN YOU WERE AT THE LOS ANGELES POLICE ACADEMY, THAT THEY KIND OF GLOSSED OVER THIS CRIME SCENE MAINTENANCE AND TRAINING; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. RISKE: RIGHT.

MR. COCHRAN: AND MUCH OF WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED, YOU LEARNED ACTUALLY ON THE JOB ONCE YOU ACTUALLY GOT IN THE FIELD; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. RISKE: YES, SIR.

MR. COCHRAN:  HAVE YOU HAD ANY TRAINING IN THE SENSITIVITY OF DNA?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MR. COCHRAN: HAD ANY TRAINING WITH REGARD TO POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION OR SO CALLED PCR?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MR. COCHRAN: HAD NONE OF THAT AT ALL?

MR. RISKE: NO.

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MR. COCHRAN: AND AT SOME POINT YOU DESCRIBED FOR US THAT YOU WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. RISKE: RIGHT.

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MR. COCHRAN: PRIOR TO PICKING UP THAT PHONE DID ANYBODY DUST IT FOR PRINTS AT ALL?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MR. COCHRAN: DID YOU HAVE ANY GLOVES ON WHEN YOU PICKED UP THE PHONE?

MR. RISKE: NO.

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MR. COCHRAN: AND YOU DESCRIBED FOR US ON MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY OCCASIONS DURING MISS CLARK'S DIRECT EXAMINATION THE GREAT PAINS YOU TOOK NOT TO WALK THROUGH THIS BLOOD OR ANY SO-CALLED FOOTPRINTS, RIGHT?

MR. RISKE: THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. COCHRAN: AND BECAUSE YOU KNEW IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO TRY AND PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE EVIDENCE; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. RISKE: THAT'S CORRECT.
 

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MR. COCHRAN: NOW, WHEN YOU WROTE -- YOU WROTE OUT A REPORT REGARDING YOUR OBSERVATIONS THAT PARTICULAR MORNING; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

MR. RISKE: I WOULDN'T CALL IT A REPORT; I MADE A STATEMENT.

MR. COCHRAN: OKAY. WELL, YOU WROTE OUT A STATEMENT ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT ON THAT PARTICULAR MORNING?

MR. RISKE: YES.

MR. COCHRAN: AND IN WRITING THAT STATEMENT OUT YOU TRIED TO BE, OF COURSE, AS ACCURATE AS YOU COULD?

MR. RISKE:  I WROTE WHAT ACTIONS WE TOOK. I DIDN'T WRITE OUT EVERYTHING, NO.

MR. COCHRAN: THE QUESTION IS DID YOU TRY TO BE ACCURATE IN WHAT YOU WROTE?

MR. RISKE: YES.
 

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MR. COCHRAN: NOW, IN THIS REPORT -- YOU DON'T AT ANY PLACE IN THIS REPORT INDICATE THAT YOU WENT INSIDE THE RESIDENCE, USED THE PHONE, CALLED SERGEANT ROSSI, SAW AN ENVELOPE WITH O.J. SIMPSON'S NAME -- RETURN ADDRESS THEREON AND FELT HE WAS IN ANY WAY INVOLVED?
YOU DON'T MENTION THAT, DO YOU?

MR. RISKE: I DON'T BELIEVE SO, NO.
 

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MR. COCHRAN: AND YOU DON'T SEE ANYWHERE IN THAT REPORT WHERE YOU MENTIONED GOING IN AND USING MISS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON'S PHONE, DO YOU?

MR. RISKE: NO.

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MR. COCHRAN: NOW, YOU WERE ASKED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW YOU PUT UP THESE -- THIS YELLOW TAPE TO SECURE THE SCENE.  DO YOU RECALL THAT?

MR. RISKE: THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. COCHRAN: AND AGAIN THAT WAS AN EFFORT TO TRY AND KEEP INTRUDERS OUT; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. RISKE: RIGHT.

MR. COCHRAN: POLICE OFFICERS, HOWEVER, WERE FREE TO COME AND GO INSIDE THAT SCENE; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MR. COCHRAN: THEY WEREN'T FREE TO COME AND GO?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MR. COCHRAN: THERE WEREN'T A NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO WALKED INSIDE THAT SCENE?

MR. RISKE: NO, THERE WEREN'T.
 
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MR. COCHRAN: IN FACT, ON ONE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT YOU WERE ASKED TO LOOK AT THIS MORNING, WE HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OF DETECTIVE FUHRMAN, AND DID YOU SEE HIM AND HOW HE WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THE AREA WHERE HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE KNIT CAP, WHERE HE WAS POINTING DOWN TOWARDS IT? DID YOU SEE HIM ACCESS THAT AREA?

MR. RISKE: YES, I DID.

MR. COCHRAN: DID HE HAVE ANY BOOTIES OR ANYTHING ON HIS SHOES AT THE TIME HE WAS WALKING IN THAT AREA?

MR. RISKE: NO, HE DIDN'T.

MR. COCHRAN: WERE ANY OF THE OFFICERS WEARING ANY BOOTIES ON THEIR SHOES AT ALL THAT MORNING?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MR. COCHRAN: WERE ANY OF THE OFFICERS AT ALL USING GLOVES THAT MORNING WHEN THEY WERE OUT THERE?

MR. RISKE: NOT THAT I RECALL, NO.

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MR. COCHRAN: NOW, WITH REGARD TO THIS PARTICULAR EXHIBIT HERE, WAS ANY OF THIS EVIDENCE MOVED WHILE YOU WERE THERE?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MR. COCHRAN: THIS ENVELOPE OR ANY OF THESE ITEMS MOVED?

MR. RISKE: NO.
 

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 MR. COCHRAN: I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK, IF YOU WILL, AT THE ENVELOPE IN THESE TWO DIFFERENT PHOTOGRAPHS, PEOPLE'S 54 AND PEOPLE'S 56. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN MARKED 104 IN PEOPLE'S 556. DO YOU SEE THE ENVELOPE HERE?

MR. RISKE:  YES, SIR.

MR. COCHRAN: DO YOU SEE WHERE THE GROUTING ON THE ENVELOPE -- THE ENVELOPE IS ACROSS THE GROUTING? DO YOU SEE THAT?

MR. RISKE: YES, I DO.

MR. COCHRAN: LOOK AT PEOPLE'S 54, I BELIEVE. DO YOU SEE THE GROUTING HERE?

MR. RISKE: YES, SIR.

MR. COCHRAN: THE ENVELOPE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GROUTING?

MR. RISKE: YES.

MR. COCHRAN: CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT ENVELOPE GOT MOVED?
 

MR. RISKE: NO.
 

MR. COCHRAN: I WANT YOU TO STEP DOWN IF YOU CAN AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE GLOVE UNDER THIS FOLIAGE HERE, THIS PLANT.
CAN YOU SEE IT FROM THERE?

MR. RISKE: YES, SIR.

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MR. COCHRAN: AND DO YOU NOTICE THAT THE "V" PART OF THE GLOVE IS ALMOST UP AGAINST THE WALKWAY THERE? DO YOU SEE THAT?

MR. RISKE: YES, SIR.

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MR. COCHRAN: OKAY. NOW, I WANT YOU NOW TO SHIFT YOUR ATTENTION OVER TO THIS NEXT EXHIBIT WHERE THERE'S A 102 MARKED HEREIN. CAN YOU SEE WHERE THE "V" PART OF THE GLOVE IS NOW POINTING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION?

MR. RISKE: YES, SIR.
 
MR. COCHRAN: AND THAT THE FINGERS OF THE GLOVE ARE NOW POINTED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ALSO?

MR. RISKE: YES, SIR.

MR. COCHRAN: THE GLOVE HAS BEEN MOVED?  DO YOU SEE THAT?

MR. RISKE:  YES, SIR.

MR. COCHRAN: WERE YOU THERE WHEN THIS HAPPENED?

MR. RISKE: NO, I WASN'T.

MR. COCHRAN: NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU TRIED TO DO AT THIS SCENE WAS TO PRESERVE IT SO THAT EVIDENCE WAS NOT MOVED; ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

MR. RISKE: YES.
 

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MR. COCHRAN: AND AS I UNDERSTAND YOUR TESTIMONY, THIS ICE CREAM CUP WAS ON THE BANISTER AS YOU GO DOWN THE STEPS AND GOING OUT TO THE GARAGE; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. RISKE: THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. COCHRAN: DID YOU EVER LIFT THAT ICE CREAM CUP UP?

MR. RISKE: NO, I DIDN'T.

MR. COCHRAN: COULD YOU TELL FROM THE CONDITION OF THAT MELTING ICE CREAM, AS YOU HAVE DESCRIBED IT, WHAT WAS THE FLAVOR OF THE ICE CREAM?

MR. RISKE: I HAVE NO IDEA.

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MR. COCHRAN: WHILE YOU WERE THERE DID YOU EVER SEE ANY POLICE OFFICERS DUST THIS JEEP AT ALL FOR ANY PRINTS OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MR. COCHRAN: DID YOU SEE ANY CRIMINALIST, WHILE YOU WERE THERE, LOOK IN THE ALLEYWAY FOR ANY TRACK MARKS OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE?

MR. RISKE: NO.

******

MR. COCHRAN: NOW, WITH REGARD TO THE OTHER PART OF THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE, YOU DESCRIBED FOR US LAST WEEK HOW YOU WALKED KIND OF IN THE PLANT AREA SO YOU WOULDN'T WALK THROUGH THE BLOOD.
AND DID YOU GET YOUR SHOES MUDDY, DIRTY DOING THAT?

MR. RISKE: I DON'T THINK SO, NO.

MR. COCHRAN: WHEN YOU WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE, DID YOU TRACK ANY MUD OR DIRT INSIDE?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MR. COCHRAN: ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?

MR. RISKE: POSITIVE.
 
 
 
 

REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. CLARK

******

MS. CLARK: OFFICER RISKE, YOU GOT ASKED A WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THIS INVESTIGATION JUST NOW BY COUNSEL, DIDN'T YOU?

MR. RISKE: YES, SIR.

MS. CLARK: WHAT IS YOUR JOB, SIR?

MR. RISKE: RESPOND TO THE CALL, SECURE THE SCENE, TO MAKE NOTIFICATIONS.
 

******
 

MS. CLARK: AND HAS IT EVER OCCURRED IN YOUR EXPERIENCE THAT REMOVAL OF BODIES FROM A SCENE WILL CAUSE SOME EVIDENCE CLOSE TO THE BODIES TO BE DISTURBED?

MR. RISKE: IN MY EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE ACTUALLY PICKED UP THE EVIDENCE AND TAGGED WHERE IT WAS AT, REMOVED THE BODY AND PUT THE EVIDENCE BACK AND TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS.

MS. CLARK: BUT IN YOUR EXPERIENCE HAVE THEY TAKEN PHOTOGRAPHS BEFORE THE BODIES WERE REMOVED?

MR. RISKE: YES.

MS. CLARK: AND IN ORDER TO PRESERVE IT EXACTLY AS IT WAS FOUND?

MR. RISKE: RIGHT.
 

******

MS. CLARK: NOW, YOU WERE NOT WEARING GLOVES, WERE YOU, SIR?

MR. RISKE: NO, I WASN'T.

MS. CLARK: AND DETECTIVE MARK FUHRMAN, HE WAS NOT WEARING GLOVES, WAS HE?

MR. RISKE: NOT WHILE I WAS THERE, NO.

******
 

MS. CLARK: WERE THEY HANDLING THE EVIDENCE?

MR. RISKE: NOT WHILE I WAS THERE, NO.

MS. CLARK: WERE THEY COLLECTING THE EVIDENCE?

MR. RISKE: NO.

MS. CLARK: WERE THEY DUSTING FOR PRINTS?

MR. RISKE: NO, THEY WEREN'T.

******

 
FURTHER CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. COCHRAN

MR. COCHRAN:  IN MISS CLARK'S QUESTIONING, WAS SHE SEEKING TO INFER THROUGH YOUR TESTIMONY THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN MOVED BY THE CORONER?

MR. RISKE: I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS TRYING TO INFER.

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