DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. DARDEN:
 

MR. DARDEN:  HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A POLICE OFFICER EMPLOYED BY THE LAPD?

MR. VANNATTER: 26 YEARS PLUS. I AM ASSIGNED TO ROBBERY/HOMICIDE DIVISION.

MR. DARDEN:  NOW, WHEN LIEUTENANT ROGERS TELEPHONED YOU DID HE ADVISE YOU OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCES AT BUNDY?

MR. VANNATTER: LIEUTENANT ROGERS TOLD ME THAT WE WERE ASSUMING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A DOUBLE HOMICIDE AT 875 SOUTH BUNDY AND THAT ONE OF THE VICTIMS WAS BELIEVED TO BE NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON.

MR. DARDEN: AND HE TOLD YOU THAT NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON WAS O.J. SIMPSON'S EX-WIFE, DID
HE?

MR. VANNATTER: YES.

MR. DARDEN: SO WHAT TIME DID YOU ARRIVE AT 875 SOUTH BUNDY, SIR?

MR. VANNATTER: 4:05 IN THE MORNING.

MR. DARDEN: AND DID DETECTIVE PHILLIPS BRIEF YOU ON THE SITUATION AT THAT TIME?

MR. VANNATTER: HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A DOUBLE HOMICIDE AT THE LOCATION, THAT ONE
OF THE VICTIMS HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON, THAT TWO MINOR CHILDREN
HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE RESIDENCE AND HAD BEEN TAKEN TO WEST L.A. DIVISION FOR
SAFEKEEPING. I ASKED HIM TO GIVE ME A BRIEF WALK-THROUGH SO I COULD ACCLIMATE MYSELF
TO THE CRIME SCENE.

*****

MR. DARDEN: SO I TAKE IT THAT YOU WALKED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE GATE AREA?

MR. VANNATTER: YEAH. I WAS A LITTLE EAST OF THE GATE BACK IN THE FOLIAGE.

MR. DARDEN: AND DID YOU VIEW THE BODIES AT THAT POINT?

MR. VANNATTER: YES.

MR. DARDEN: COULD YOU SEE NICOLE BROWN?

MR. VANNATTER: YES.

MR. DARDEN: COULD YOU SEE RON GOLDMAN FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE?

MR. VANNATTER: I COULD SEE HIM BUT NOT WELL.

MR. DARDEN: DID DETECTIVE PHILLIPS POINT ANYTHING OUT TO YOU AT THAT TIME?

MR. VANNATTER: HE ILLUMINATED A PLANT AREA AT THE FEET OF THE MALE VICTIM, RON
GOLDMAN, AND A WHITE ENVELOPE THAT WAS LYING THERE AS WELL AS WHAT APPEARED TO BE A
BLUE KNIT CAP, A MAN'S LEATHER GLOVE. DETECTIVE PHILLIPS SHOWED ME THE FRONT AREA. HE
POINTED OUT SEVERAL CANINE PRINTS THAT APPEARED TO BE PRINTS IN BLOOD THAT HEADED
SOUTH ON THE SIDEWALK.

MR. DARDEN: WAS THERE A VEHICLE PARKED ON THAT APRON?

MR. VANNATTER: IT WAS A JEEP CHEROKEE, BLACK IN COLOR. FIRST WHEN I WAS TAKEN BACK
THERE, I WAS DIRECTED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND DETECTIVE PHILLIPS POINTED OUT WHAT
APPEARED TO BE A BLOOD DROP ON THE PAVEMENT. FROM THERE WE WALKED BACK AROUND THE
JEEP AND ENTERED THE REAR OF THE LOCATION INTO THE RESIDENCE.

*****

MR. DARDEN: NOW, PRIOR TO WALKING OUT THE FRONT DOOR, DID DETECTIVE PHILLIPS CAUTION
YOU IN ANY WAY?

MR. VANNATTER: HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE BLOOD SHOEPRINTS
LEADING WEST FROM THE CRIME SCENE TOWARD THE ALLEY. I STAYED NEAR THE WALL OF THE
RESIDENCE ON THE OUTSIDE. THE PORCH LIGHT WAS ON GIVING A LITTLE ILLUMINATION. AND I
WALKED UP TO WHERE THE VICTIMS WERE, USED MY FLASHLIGHT AND I OBSERVED THE SCENE.

*****

MR. DARDEN: AS YOU APPROACHED THE BODIES, AND THIS IS AFTER YOU EXITED THE FRONT DOOR,
DID YOU SEE ANY BLOODY FOOTPRINTS ON THE LANDING?

MR. VANNATTER: ACTUALLY I SAW THE FIRST PRINTS, THEY WERE POINTED OUT TO ME ON THE
LANDING, AND THEN I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE MOLDED PRINTS ON THE STEPS COMING
UP, AS WELL AS BETWEEN THE TWO VICTIMS.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY "MOLDED PRINTS"?

MR. VANNATTER: THIS WOULD BE WHERE THERE WAS BLOOD THERE AND A PERSON STEPPED IN THE
BLOOD AND IT LEAVES A MOLDED IMPRESSION OF THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOE IN THE BLOOD ITSELF.

MR. DARDEN: OKAY. YOU SAW THIS MOLDED FOOTPRINT ON THE STEPS?

MR. VANNATTER: I SAW IT ON THE STEPS AS WELL AS BETWEEN THE TWO VICTIMS.

MR. DARDEN: AFTER YOU EXITED THE FRONT DOOR AT BUNDY AND AFTER YOU VIEWED THE BODIES
FROM THE LANDING, DID YOU FOLLOW THE BLOODY FOOTPRINTS THAT YOU DESCRIBED TO US
EARLIER?

MR. VANNATTER: I WAS LED ALONG THE FOOTPRINTS, YES.

MR. DARDEN: DID YOU SEE ANYTHING ELSE NEAR THOSE BLOODY SHOEPRINTS?

MR. VANNATTER: I SAW FIVE BLOOD DROPS THAT LED FROM THE AREA OF THE BODIES ALONG THE
LEFT SIDE OF THE SHOEPRINTS TO THE OUT TO THE END OF THE WALKWAY.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE THAT YOU ATTACHED TO THESE BLOOD DROPS?

MR. VANNATTER: WELL, THEY APPEARED TO BE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRIME SCENE ITSELF. IT
APPEARED TO ME THAT THE BLOODY SHOEPRINTS WERE BEING LEFT BY THE SUSPECT AS HE WAS
EXITING AND THAT HE WAS EITHER BLEEDING HIMSELF OR WAS CARRYING AN OBJECT TO HIS LEFT
THAT WAS DRIPPING BLOOD. SO HE EITHER HAD AN INJURY OR I HAD HIM DROPPING BLOOD FROM
SOME OBJECT.

*****

MR. DARDEN: AND DID YOU SEE ANY BLOOD DROPS OUTSIDE THE REAR GATE?

MR. VANNATTER: YES. THERE WAS ONE ON THE APRON OF THE DRIVEWAY NORTHWEST OF THE REAR
END OF THE VEHICLE.

*****

MR. DARDEN: AS YOU WALKED DOWN THE WALKWAY AT BUNDY AND EXITED THE REAR GATE, DID
YOU NOTICE ANYTHING ON THE REAR GATE AT ALL?

MR. VANNATTER: I NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO BE BLOOD WIPINGS ALONG THE UPPER RAIL OF THE
GATE AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE BLOOD DROPS ON THE BOTTOM RAIL OF THE GATE.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, DETECTIVE?

MR. VANNATTER: DETECTIVE PHILLIPS HAD NOTIFIED ME THAT HE HAD BEEN ORDERED BY
COMMANDER BUSHEY TO MAKE A NOTIFICATION, A IN-PERSON NOTIFICATION. MY CONCERN AT
THAT TIME WAS, I REALIZED THAT THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY BE A VERY HEAVY MEDIA EVENT
BECAUSE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. I HAD BEEN EARLIER TOLD THAT THERE
WERE TWO MINOR CHILDREN IN CUSTODY, AND MY CONCERN WAS TO MAKE A NOTIFICATION,
MAKE A DISPOSITION FOR THE CHILDREN TO GET THEM OUT OF THE POLICE STATION, TO MEET MR.
SIMPSON, REALIZING THAT AT SOME POINT, I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO INTERVIEW HIM. SO WE MADE
A DECISION TO MAKE A NOTIFICATION.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER YOU MADE THE DECISION TO NOTIFY MR. SIMPSON OF
NICOLE BROWN'S DEATH?

MR. VANNATTER: DETECTIVE PHILLIPS HAD INFORMED US THAT DETECTIVE FUHRMAN HAD BEEN TO
THE LOCATION ON A PRIOR INCIDENT BACK A NUMBER OF YEARS AND WE ASKED DETECTIVE
FUHRMAN IF HE COULD LEAD US UP TO THAT LOCATION.
IT WAS OUR INTENTION, TO GO UP THERE, MEET MR. SIMPSON SO WE COULD KNOW HIM AND
ULTIMATELY INTERVIEW HIM REGARDING THIS MURDER.

*****

MR. DARDEN: DID YOU CONSIDER HIM A SUSPECT AT THAT TIME?

MR. VANNATTER: NO.

MR. DARDEN: HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO DRIVE FROM BUNDY TO MR. SIMPSON'S HOME ON
ROCKINGHAM?

MR. VANNATTER: APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES.

MR. DARDEN: AS YOU DROVE PAST THAT GATE, WHAT IF ANYTHING DID YOU NOTICE?

MR. VANNATTER: I OBSERVED A WHITE BRONCO PARKED AND IT APPEARED TO ME TO HAVE BEEN
HASTILY PARKED ON THE STREET WITH THE -- WITH THE BACK END A LITTLE FARTHER OUT THAN THE
FRONT END AS IF SOMEONE HAD QUICKLY PULLED IN AND JUST STOPPED AND GOT OUT AT THAT
POINT. IT APPEARED TO ME THAT THE HOUSE COULD HAVE BEEN OCCUPIED. THERE WAS A LIGHT ON
IN THE BOTTOM TOWARD THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THERE ALSO APPEARED TO BE A LIGHT
ON UP IN THE SECOND STORY OF THE HOME. IT APPEARED THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE THERE.

*****

MR. DARDEN: WHEN YOU RANG THE BUZZER, COULD YOU HEAR ANY NOISE EMANATING FROM
INSIDE THE HOUSE?

MR. VANNATTER: I COULD HEAR RINGING COMING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE HOME.

MR. DARDEN: HOW LONG DID YOU AND THE OTHER DETECTIVES REMAIN AT THAT GATE PUSHING THE
BUZZER?

MR. VANNATTER: PROBABLY 10 TO 15 MINUTES.

MR. DARDEN: DID YOU EVER RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM ANYONE INSIDE THE HOUSE?

MR. VANNATTER: NO. PROBABLY WITHIN 10 TO 15 MINUTES. I WALKED AROUND AND LOOKED AT
THE BRONCO PARKED THERE. TO PUT IT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, WHILE WE'RE RINGING THE
BUZZER, I OBSERVED A WESTEC SIGN ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ASHFORD GATE. I WAS AWARE THAT
DETECTIVE PHILLIPS HAD A CELLULAR PHONE, AND I ASKED HIM TO MAKE A PHONE CALL TO WEST --
TO THE SECURITY COMPANY TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A PHONE NUMBER TO THE RESIDENCE.
DETECTIVE FUHRMAN POINTED OUT A STICK ON THE PARKWAY AND SOME ARTICLES THAT WERE IN
THE CARGO AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

MR. DARDEN: AND WHAT DID YOU SEE INSIDE?

MR. VANNATTER: I NOTICED A SHOVEL AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE A PIECE OF PLASTIC IN A
POCKET AREA ALONG THE PASSENGER'S REAR -- REAR CARGO AREA AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE A
WHITE CLOTH OR SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT SIGNIFICANCE IF ANY DID YOU ATTACH TO THE STICK LYING ON THE PARKWAY
THERE?

MR. VANNATTER: WELL, AT THAT POINT, IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO FIT THE AREA AND THE LOCATION.
IT WAS A FOREIGN OBJECT IN A MANICURED -- MANICURED NEIGHBORHOOD. AT THAT MOMENT, NO.
I -- WHILE I WAS LOOKING IN, THERE WAS A PACKAGE IN THE BACK ALSO THAT WAS ADDRESSED I
BELIEVE ORENTHAL PRODUCTIONS, AND I KNEW MR. SIMPSON'S NAME WAS ORENTHAL JAMES. I
KNEW THAT. SO I BELIEVED AT THAT POINT, THAT POSSIBLY THIS WAS HIS VEHICLE.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

MR. VANNATTER: I WALKED UP TO THAT LOCATION. DETECTIVE PHILLIPS WAS HAVING A
CONVERSATION WITH THE WESTEC OFFICER, WAS REQUESTING THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE
LOCATION.

MR. DARDEN: AT SOME POINT, DID YOU NOTICE A BLOOD SPOT -

MR. VANNATTER: YES. DETECTIVE FUHRMAN CAME TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS
REGISTERED TO HORTZ -- TO HERTZ CORPORATION. WHILE I WAS STANDING IN THE STREET, HE
WALKED BACK TO THE BRONCO, WAS THERE A VERY SHORT TIME AND WALKED A LITTLE WAY BACK
UP THE STREET AND CALLED ME TO COME BACK TO THE BRONCO.

*****

MR. DARDEN: WHY DID YOU WANT A CRIMINALIST AT THE LOCATION?

MR. VANNATTER: REALIZING THAT I HAD JUST LEFT A VERY BRUTAL MURDER SCENE, THAT IT
APPEARED THERE SHOULD BE PEOPLE AT THE HOME THERE AND WE WERE GETTING NO RESPONSE --
WE HAD ALSO LEARNED THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A LIVE-IN MAID AT THAT POINT WITHIN
THE RESIDENCE -- I BECOME CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD BE ANOTHER CRIME SCENE -- THIS
COULD BE AN EXTENSION OF THE BUNDY CRIME SCENE WHERE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN
KILLED OR INJURED OR HURT THERE. AND I KNEW THAT IF IN FACT THAT WAS THE SITUATION, THAT I
WAS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A CRIMINALIST THERE.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER YOU CALLED FOR A CRIMINALIST?

MR. VANNATTER: I TOLD DETECTIVE FUHRMAN THAT WITH THE INFORMATION I HAD, I WAS VERY
CONCERNED REGARDING THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOME, THAT SOMETHING COULD BE WRONG,
THAT I FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO GO AND CHECK. I HAD A LOCATION THAT APPEARED TO BE
OCCUPIED THAT HAD LIGHTS ON IN IT. I HAD INFORMATION THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSEDLY A LIVE-IN
MAID AT THE LOCATION AND I HAD WHAT APPEARED TO ME TO BE BLOOD ON THE OUTSIDE. AFTER
LEAVING A VERY VIOLENT BLOODY MURDER SCENE, I BELIEVED SOMETHING WAS WRONG THERE. WE
NEEDED TO GO INTO THE PROPERTY.

*****

MR. DARDEN: AND YOU HAD SOME INCLINATION THAT THE BRONCO WAS OWNED BY MR. SIMPSON?

MR. VANNATTER: YES.

MR. DARDEN: DO YOU DISLIKE MR. SIMPSON FOR ANY REASON?

MR. VANNATTER: NO. I DIDN'T KNOW HIM. I THOUGHT HE WAS A GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER.

*****

MR. DARDEN: SO ALL FOUR OF YOU APPROACHED THE FRONT DOOR AT ROCKINGHAM?

MR. VANNATTER: THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT DID YOU AND THE OTHER DETECTIVES DO WHEN YOU REACHED THE FRONT
DOOR?

MR. VANNATTER: KNOCKED ON THE DOOR ATTEMPTING TO AROUSE SOMEONE WITHIN THE
RESIDENCE.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER KNOCKING AT THE DOOR TWO OR THREE MINUTES?

MR. VANNATTER: I WALKED BACK TO A WALKWAY THAT RAN EAST AND WEST ALONG THE NORTH
SIDE OF THE RESIDENCE AND WALKED DOWN THAT WALKWAY. WE WALKED TO THE ENTRANCE OF
THE HOME.

MR. DARDEN: YOU KNOCKED AT THAT DOOR?

MR. VANNATTER: THAT'S CORRECT. NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSE -- I DIDN'T KNOW THE OUTLAY OF
THE PROPERTY -- I WANTED TO VIEW THE PROPERTY TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYBODY DOWN, HURT,
INJURED OR ANY PERSONS THERE AT ALL.
SO WE CAME BACK OUT AND WALKED TO THIS EAST-WEST WALKWAY THAT RUNS ALONG THE
NORTH SIDE OF THE RESIDENCE. I ARRIVED AT A LOCATION JUST AT THE TOP OF THESE STAIRS AND I
OBSERVED DETECTIVE PHILLIPS AND DETECTIVE LANGE AT THIS DOOR WHICH WOULD BE KAELIN'S
ROOM. NO ONE RESPONDED.

MR. DARDEN: AND WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, DETECTIVE?

MR. VANNATTER: JUST PRIOR TO KNOCKING -- THERE WAS SOME LOUVERED WINDOWS THERE, AND
HE LEANED DOWN AND HE LOOKED IN AND HE SAYS, "THERE'S -- I SEE SOMEONE INSIDE," OR
SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. HE KNOCKED AT THE DOOR, AND ACTUALLY PRETTY QUICKLY, THE
DOOR WAS OPENED.

MR. DARDEN: AND SOMEONE DID COME TO THE DOOR?

MR. VANNATTER: YES.

MR. DARDEN: AND THAT IS THE PERSON WE NOW KNOW AS KATO KAELIN?

MR. VANNATTER: THAT'S CORRECT.

*****

MR. DARDEN: YOU AND THE OTHER THREE DETECTIVES WALKED DOWN TO MISS -- MISS SIMPSON'S
ROOM?

MR. VANNATTER: YES.

MR. DARDEN: AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

MR. VANNATTER: LANGE OR PHILLIPS, KNOCKED ON THE DOOR. IT WAS PRETTY QUICKLY OPENED
AND I HAD MOVED UP BEHIND.
I HEARD PHILLIPS ASK HER IF SHE KNEW WHERE HER FATHER WAS, WE NEEDED TO GET IN TOUCH
WITH HIM, WE HAD AN EMERGENCY, AND SHE GESTURED TOWARD THE HOUSE AND SAID, "ISN'T HE
HERE," POINTING LIKE TOWARDS THE HOUSE. AND I SAID TO HER AT THAT POINT, "I DON'T KNOW. IS
HE? CAN WE GO INSIDE AND CHECK? WE NEED TO CHECK. DO YOU HAVE A KEY?" AND SHE SAYS,
"YES."SHE OBTAINED A KEY FROM INSIDE THE ROOM AND LED US DOWN THE WALKWAY TO THE
REAR DOOR HERE.

MR. DARDEN: WHERE DID YOU GO ONCE YOU ENTERED THE HOUSE?

MR. VANNATTER: AS WE ENTERED THE HOUSE, I ASKED ARNELLE SIMPSON WHERE THE MAID'S
QUARTERS WERE. I WANTED TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE IF THERE WAS A MAID THERE IF SHE WAS
OKAY. SHE OPENED THE DOOR TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE MAID'S QUARTERS. I LOOKED IN AND
EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE IN ORDER.

MR. DARDEN WHAT DI DYOU DO AT THAT POINT?

MR. VANNATTER: I WANTED TO INSPECT THE BOTTOM FLOOR OF THE HOME TO MAKE SURE THERE
WAS NO ONE DOWN OR INJURED IN THE HOME. I STARTED WALKING BACK TO THE BAR AREA AND AS
I WAS EXITING THE KITCHEN, I WAS STOPPED BY DETECTIVE FUHRMAN.

MR. DARDEN: DID YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH DETECTIVE FUHRMAN AT THAT TIME?

MR. VANNATTER: DETECTIVE FUHRMAN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD SEATED BRIAN KAELIN AND HE TOLD
ME THAT I SHOULD TALK TO KATO TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY, AND HE GAVE ME THE INFERENCE
THAT HE WAS GOING OUT TO CHECK THE GROUNDS.  HE SAID BRIEFLY THAT KAELIN HAD TOLD HIM
THAT HE HEARD A VERY LOUD THUMP OUTSIDE HIS ROOM THAT HE THOUGHT POSSIBLY WAS AN
EARTHQUAKE.  LATER, DETECTIVE FUHRMAN ASKED ME TO ACCOMPANY HIM TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF
THE RESIDENCE. HE WANTED TO SHOW ME SOMETHING.

MR. VANNATTER: I FOLLOWED HIM OUT OF THE RESIDENCE, WALKED TO THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT DID YOU SEE?

MR. VANNATTER: RIGHT HERE ON THE GROUND IS AN ITEM WHICH IS A RIGHT-HAND BROWN MAN'S
LEATHER GLOVE.

MR. DARDEN: SO AT SOME POINT, THE CRIMINALIST DID ARRIVE AT THE LOCATION?

MR. VANNATTER: YES, SIR, HE DID. WHEN I ILLUMINATED THE GLOVE, IT APPEARED TO HAVE BLOOD
ON THE GLOVE OR WHAT LOOKED TO ME LIKE BLOOD AND IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE DRIED BLOOD
WHERE IT WOULD BE FLAKY AND FALLING OFF. IT APPEARED THAT IT WAS MOIST.

MR. DARDEN: THE BLOOD THAT YOU SAW BACK AT BUNDY JUST PRIOR TO YOUR DEPARTURE A FEW
MINUTES BEFORE 5:00 IN THE MORNING --DID THAT BLOOD APPEAR TO BE DRY?

MR. VANNATTER: NO.

MR. DARDEN: DID THE GLOVE APPEAR SHINY AT ALL?

MR. VANNATTER: IT APPEARED TO BE WET WITH SOMETHING, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT SHINY OR
MOIST. IT APPEARED TO BE A LEATHER MAN'S GLOVE.

MR. DARDEN: WERE YOU THE FIRST DETECTIVE TO BE TAKEN TO VIEW THE GLOVE?

MR. VANNATTER: I DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT TIME, BUT I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND OUT THAT I WAS
NOT.

MR. DARDEN: NOW, AND WHAT TIME WAS IT THAT YOU SAW THE GLOVE, IF YOU RECALL?

MR. VANNATTER: IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 6:30

MR. DARDEN: HOW LONG DID YOU REMAIN ON THAT SOUTH WALKWAY?

MR. VANNATTER: NOT VERY LONG. A MINUTE OR TWO.

MR DARDEN: WHAT DID YOU ASK HIM TO DO?

MR. VANNATTER:   I ASKED HIM TO GO BACK TO THE BUNDY LOCATION TO LOOK AT THE OTHER
GLOVE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS SEEING WHAT I WAS SEEING.

MR. DARDEN: WERE YOU STILL ON MR. SIMPSON'S PROPERTY AT THAT TIME?

MR. VANNATTER: YES, IN HIS DRIVEWAY.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT DID YOU AND DETECTIVE LANGE DO AT THAT TIME?

MR. VANNATTER: WE DISCUSSED WHAT HAD BEEN FOUND, THE FACT THAT WE MAY HAVE AN
EXTENSION OF THE CRIME SCENE FROM BUNDY, AND WE MADE A DETERMINATION THAT DETECTIVE
LANGE WOULD RETURN TO THE BUNDY CRIME SCENE IMMEDIATELY AND START THAT
INVESTIGATION.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID YOU DO AFTER DETECTIVE LANGE LEFT?

MR. VANNATTER:  I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE RESIDENCE AN I STARTED LOOKING AROUND,
AND IN THE VICINITY OF ONE OF THE VEHICLES PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY I OBSERVED WHAT --
WHAT APPEARED TO ME TO BE A BLOOD SPOT ON THE GROUND.

MR. DARDEN: WHAT SIGNIFICANCE, IF ANY, DID YOU ATTACH TO YOUR OBSERVATION OF THAT
APPARENT BLOOD DROP?

MR. VANNATTER: WELL, SEEING THAT BLOOD DROP OBVIOUSLY TRIGGERED THE FACT THAT I HAD
SEEN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BLOOD TRAIL LEAVING THE CRIME SCENE AT BUNDY WITH SOMEONE
THAT WAS EITHER INJURED OR CARRYING SOMETHING BLOODY THAT WAS DRIPPING, IMMEDIATELY
MADE ME THINK THAT I PICKED UP THE BLOOD TRAIL AGAIN FROM BUNDY. I WALKED LOOKING AT
THE DRIVEWAY TO SEE IF I COULD FIND ANY OTHER BLOOD DROPS. I FOUND APPROXIMATELY THREE
OR FOUR MORE DROPS BETWEEN THE REAR END OF THE BRONCO AND THE FIRST ONE THAT I
DISCOVERED. I LOOKED IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND I OBSERVED WHAT
APPEARED TO BE A BLOOD SMEAR ALONG THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONSOLE AND WHAT
APPEARED TO BE BLOOD ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. I THEN WALKED
BACK IN THE DRIVEWAY AGAIN LOOKING AT THE BLOOD DROPS, AND FOLLOWED THEM TO THE --
FOUND AN ADDITIONAL THREE OR FOUR DROPS THAT LED TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE LOCATION.
AT THAT POINT OTHER DETECTIVES WERE THERE AND POINTED OUT BLOOD SPOTS RIGHT IN THE
FOYER OF THE HOME TO ME.

MR. DARDEN: OTHER DETECTIVES POINTED OUT BLOOD DROPS INSIDE MR. SIMPSON'S HOME?

MR. VANNATTER: THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

MR. DARDEN: DID YOU CONTINUE TO SEARCH THAT AREA FOR OTHER BLOOD DROPS?

MR. VANNATTER: NOT AT THAT POINT, NO. A I HAD OTHER DETECTIVES THAT HAD ARRIVED THERE. I
INFORMED THEM THAT IT WAS NOW A CRIME SCENE, TO SEAL IT, NOT TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL I
RETURNED, THAT I WAS GOING TO DO A SEARCH WARRANT TO GET INTO THE RESIDENCE.

MR. DARDEN: WEREN'T YOU ALREADY INSIDE THE RESIDENCE?

MR. VANNATTER: YES, BUT I HADN'T SEARCHED IT.

*****

MR. DARDEN:        NOW, YOU EARLIER TOLD US THAT MR. SIMPSON WAS NOT A SUSPECT. AFTER YOUR
FIRST WALK THROUGH AT BUNDY WAS HE A SUSPECT?

MR. VANNATTER: NO.

MR. DARDEN:        AT SOME POINT IN TIME DID YOU CONSIDER HIM A SUSPECT?

MR. VANNATTER: ABSOLUTELY, YES.

MR. DARDEN:        AT WHAT POINT WAS IT THAT YOU CONSIDERED HIM A SUSPECT?

MR. VANNATTER:  HE BECOME A SUSPECT AS SOON AS I SAW THE GLOVE AT THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
IT APPEARED TO BE A MATCH TO THE GLOVE -- THE OPPOSITE GLOVE TO THE GLOVE THAT I HAD SEEN
EARLIER AT BUNDY. AND THEN AFTER COMING OUT INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND FINDING THE BLOOD
TRAIL, HE BECAME A VERY STRONG SUSPECT.

******

MR. DARDEN:        AND HOW, IF AT ALL, DID YOUR OBSERVATIONS OF THE BLOOD INSIDE THE
BRONCO FIGURE INTO YOUR DECISION THAT MR. SIMPSON WAS A SUSPECT?

MR. VANNATTER: THAT APPEARED TO BE THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT HAD TRANSPORTED
THE BLOOD TRAIL FROM BUNDY TO ROCKINGHAM.

*****

MR. DARDEN:        WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO PRESERVE THE BRONCO?

MR. VANNATTER:  I HAD A UNIFORMED OFFICER STATIONED ON THE VEHICLE WITH INSTRUCTIONS
TO PROTECT IT, NOT TO LET ANYONE APPROACH OR DO ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE.

MR. DARDEN:        DID YOU SEE THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WOMAN PEERING THROUGH THE WINDOW
OF THE BRONCO?

MR. VANNATTER: YES.

MR. DARDEN:        HOW DID THAT HAPPEN,?

MR. VANNATTER: WELL, I DON'T -- I WASN'T THERE AT THAT TIME.

*****

MR. DARDEN:        WHEN YOU ARRIVED BACK AT ROCKINGHAM, YOU SAY YOU ARRIVED AT TWELVE
O'CLOCK NOON. WAS MR. SIMPSON THERE AT THE PROPERTY AT THAT TIME?

MR. VANNATTER: NO.

MR. DARDEN:         DID YOU SEE ANY LAWYERS ON THE PROPERTY?

MR. VANNATTER:  I SAW A LAWYER BY THE ROCKINGHAM GATE, YES. HOWARD WEITZMAN.

MR. DARDEN:         WHERE WAS MR. SIMPSON THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW HIM THAT DAY?

MR. VANNATTER:  WALKING ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY IN THE FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE. HE WAS
HANDCUFFED.

*****

MR. DARDEN:         DID YOU SPEAK TO OFFICER THOMPSON WHEN YOU ARRIVED AT NOON?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.

MR. DARDEN:         WHAT DID YOU ASK HIM TO DO?

MR. VANNATTER:  TO MAKE SURE THAT MR. SIMPSON WASN'T ABLE TO ENTER THE PROPERTY IF HE
SHOWED UP THERE. I ASKED HIM TO DETAIN HIM THERE IN FRONT AND LET ME KNOW THAT HE WAS
THERE.

MR. DARDEN:         AND WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU SAW THE DEFENDANT HANDCUFFED WITH
OFFICER THOMPSON?

MR. VANNATTER:  I EXITED THE RESIDENCE AND WALKED TO WHERE MR. SIMPSON WAS.

MR. DARDEN:         DID MR. WEITZMAN ASK YOU TO DO ANYTHING?

MR. VANNATTER: HE ASKED ME TO TAKE THE HANDCUFFS OFF.

MR. DARDEN:         DID YOU TAKE THE CUFFS OFF?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.

MR. DARDEN:         WHY DID YOU TAKE THE CUFFS OFF MR. SIMPSON?

MR. VANNATTER:  BECAUSE HE WAS NOT UNDER ARREST AT THAT TIME.

MR. DARDEN:          BUT YOU CONSIDERED HIM A SUSPECT; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. VANNATTER:  HE WAS A VERY STRONG SUSPECT.

MR. DARDEN:          CAN YOU TELL US WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO EVALUATE
ALL OF THE EVIDENCE YOU HAD UP TO THAT POINT?

MR. VANNATTER:  I HAD ENOUGH PROBABLE CAUSE TO MAKE AN ARREST .

*****

MR. DARDEN:         NOW, DID YOU HAVE A FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH MR. WEITZMAN AFTER YOU
TOOK THE HANDCUFFS OFF THE DEFENDANT?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.

MR. DARDEN:         WHAT DID YOU ASK MR. WEITZMAN TO DO?

MR. VANNATTER:  TO FOLLOW ME TO PARKER CENTER.

MR. DARDEN:         WAS HE UNDER ARREST?

MR. VANNATTER:  NO. I HAD ASKED HIM VOLUNTARILY TO ACCOMPANY ME TO PARKER CENTER FOR
AN INTERVIEW. HE AGREED TO. MR. WEITZMAN WANTED TO BE WITH HIM.. HE ASKED TO SPEAK WITH
HIS CLIENT AND FOR ME TO PROVIDE A ROOM FOR HIM TO SPEAK WITH HIM IN PRIVACY.

MR. DARDEN:         IF WE CAN GO BACK A MOMENT TO THAT POINT IN TIME IN WHICH YOU REMOVED
THE HANDCUFFS FROM THE DEFENDANT. AT THAT TIME DID YOU SEE THE DEFENDANT'S HAND?

MR. VANNATTER: YES.

MR. DARDEN:         DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES. THAT HE HAD A BANDAGE ON THE MIDDLE FINGER OF HIS LEFT HAND ON THE
UPPER KNUCKLE OF THE MIDDLE FINGER.

MR. DARDEN:         WELL, WHAT SIGNIFICANCE, IF ANY, DID YOU ATTACH TO YOUR INITIAL
OBSERVATION OF THE BANDAGE?

MR. VANNATTER:  IT APPEARED THAT HE HAD AN INJURED KNUCKLE ON THE LEFT MIDDLE FINGER OF
HIS LEFT HAND. AND WELL, GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CRIME SCENE AT BUNDY, SEEING THE
DISTINCT SINGLE SET OF SHOEPRINTS, BLOOD SHOEPRINTS LEADING AWAY WITH BLOOD DROPS ON
THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SHOEPRINTS AND THEN TRACKING THE BLOOD TRAIL BY VEHICLE TO
ROCKINGHAM, PICKING UP THE BLOOD TRAIL AT ROCKINGHAM THAT WENT RIGHT INTO HIS HOUSE,
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT -- THAT HE HAD THE INJURY THAT WAS -- THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED
THOSE BLOOD DROPS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BLOODY FOOTPRINTS.

*****

MR. DARDEN:         NOW, PRIOR TO PHOTOGRAPHING THE DEFENDANT'S LEFT HAND DID HE REMOVE
THE BANDAGE?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES. THE BANDAGE WAS TAKEN OFF.

MR. DARDEN:         WERE YOU ABLE TO OBSERVE THE INJURY AT THAT TIME?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES. IT WAS A -- HIS KNUCKLE APPEARED TO BE SWOLLEN AND IT IS THE UPPER
KNUCKLE OF THE MIDDLE FINGER OF HIS LEFT HAND, APPEARED TO BE SWOLLEN AND THERE
APPEARED TO BE A LACERATION THAT RUN UP AND DOWN ACROSS THE KNUCKLE, AND THEN
DIRECTLY BELOW THAT TOWARD THE FIRST KNUCKLE THERE APPEARED TO BE A SMALLER
LACERATION THAT RAN ACROSS THE FINGER AND DOWN.
 
 

CROSS-EXAMINATION

MR. SHAPIRO:    IN THE CASE OF OBSERVING THE FINGER OF MR. SIMPSON YOU CONCLUDED THAT
THERE WAS A LACERATION ON THE MIDDLE KNUCKLE OF THE LEFT-HAND FINGER, AS WELL AS A
SMALLER LACERATION, AND THAT THAT LACERATION HAD CAUSED SOME SWELLING; IS THAT
CORRECT?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.

MR. SHAPIRO:   WHAT IF HIS FINGER WAS ALWAYS SWOLLEN DUE TO A MEDICAL CONDITION AND
NOT DUE TO ANY LACERATION? WOULD THAT CONCERN YOU?

MR. VANNATTER:  I GUESS THAT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY; HOWEVER, IT APPEARED TO BE SWOLLEN
FROM THE LACERATION THAT MORNING.

MR. SHAPIRO:    WELL, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT, WITH THE COURT'S PERMISSION, AND
TELL US IF YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JOINT ON THE FINGER ON THE 13TH WHEN YOU
FIRST OBSERVED IT AND TODAY. WOULD YOU MIND DOING THAT FOR US?

(DETECTIVE VANNATTER EXAMINES THE DEFENDANT'S FINGER.)

MR. SHAPIRO:   YOUR HONOR, BEFORE I PROCEED WITH FURTHER QUESTIONS, MAY MR. SIMPSON
SHOW HIS FINGER TO THE JURY BEFORE WE DO FURTHER EXAMINATION?

(THE DEFENDANT DISPLAYS HIS FINGER TO THE JURY.)

*****

MR. SHAPIRO:         ARE YOU AWARE THAT A TRAINEE WAS SENT OUT TO THE CRIME SCENE?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.

*****

MR. SHAPIRO:   NOW, REGARDING THE SEARCH FOR A KNIFE, YOU WERE AWARE THAT MR.
SIMPSON FLEW TO CHICAGO?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.

MR. SHAPIRO:    DID YOU CAUSE THAT AIRPLANE TO BE SEARCHED?

MR. VANNATTER:  I BELIEVE IT WAS SEARCHED, YES. I KNOW WE HAD DETECTIVES BACK THERE
DOING SEARCHES AND THERE WAS AN AIRPLANE STORAGE FACILITY THAT WAS CHECKED BECAUSE
THERE WAS A BROKEN KNIFE FOUND IN IT. BUT AS FAR AS THE AIRPLANE HE TOOK, I DON'T KNOW
THAT -- I BELIEVE IT WAS CLEANED AFTER IT GOT THERE ANYWAY. SO I DON'T THINK IT WAS
SEARCHED.

MR. SHAPIRO:    YOU DON'T THINK IT WAS SEARCHED?

MR. VANNATTER:  NO. I DON'T THINK THE PLANE THAT HE FLEW ON WAS SEARCHED.

*****

MR. SHAPIRO:   IF YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT O.J., WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO GO UP TO HIS
BEDROOM AND SEE IF HE WAS STILL SLEEPING?

MR. VANNATTER:  IF HE HADN'T HAD BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR, YES. HE WAS ACCOUNTED FOR AT A
POINT THERE THAT MORNING.

MR. SHAPIRO:   YOUR FIRST KNOWLEDGE OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF O.J. SIMPSON WAS
BECAUSE OF A PHONE CALL?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES. I HEARD ARNELLE TELL EITHER DETECTIVE PHILLIPS THAT SHE COULD MAKE A
PHONE CALL TO HIS SECRETARY AND SHE WOULD ALWAYS KNOW WHERE HE WAS AT.

*****

MR. SHAPIRO:    WHAT TIME DID YOU CONFIRM THAT O.J. SIMPSON WAS IN CHICAGO?

MR. VANNATTER:  SHORTLY AFTER SIX O'CLOCK THAT MORNING.

*****

MR. SHAPIRO:   A CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD IS REQUIRED TO BE KEPT IN ALL CASES OF HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATION, IS IT NOT?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES, SIR.

MR. SHAPIRO:   WHERE IN THE CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD DOES IT INDICATE THAT ANY OF THE
FOUR OFFICERS THERE RECOVERED A GLOVE?

MR. VANNATTER:  IT DOESN'T.

*****

MR. SHAPIRO:   YOU HAVE TOLD US ABOUT IS A PATH OF BLOOD THAT LED FROM THE CONTROL
GATE TO THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE HOUSE AT ROCKINGHAM; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. VANNATTER:  THERE WERE BLOOD DROPLETS THAT APPEARED TO BE A TRAIL, YES.

MR. SHAPIRO:  IS IT YOUR OPINION THAT THE PERSON WHO DID THE KILLING WAS BLEEDING AT
THE TIME HE CAME OR SHE CAME TO ROCKINGHAM?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.

MR SHAPIRO:   THEN THERE WAS A THOROUGH SEARCH FOR BLOOD FROM THE AREA OF
ROCKINGHAM -- FROM ROCKINGHAM TO THE AREA WHERE THE GLOVE WAS FOUND?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. SHAPIRO:   HOW MUCH BLOOD WAS FOUND THERE?

MR. VANNATTER:  NONE.

*******

MR. SHAPIRO:   WOULD YOU AGREE THAT HE VOLUNTARILY RETURNED TO LOS ANGELES?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.

MR. SHAPIRO:   WOULD YOU AGREE THAT HE VOLUNTARILY SPOKE WITH YOU IN A
TAPE-RECORDED INTERVIEW WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF COUNSEL?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.

MR. SHAPIRO:  DIDN'T HE VOLUNTARILY ALLOW YOU TO EXAMINE HIS FINGER?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES, HE DID.

*****

MR. SHAPIRO:    I WANT TO MAKE SURE, IT HAS JUST BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME, SO THAT THERE IS
NO MISUNDERSTANDING, WAS THERE ANY BLOOD TRAIL FOUND LEADING AWAY FROM THE GLOVE
INTO THE RESIDENCE?

MR. VANNATTER:  NO, I DIDN'T FIND ANY.

*****

MR. SHAPIRO:   I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE BRONCO. YOU SAID THAT YOU WANTED THE
BRONCO TO BE SECURE WHEN IT WAS AT ROCKINGHAM? BY "SECURED," YOU WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT NO TRACE EVIDENCE COULD BE TAMPERED WITH REGARDING THAT VEHICLE?

MR. VANNATTER:  THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

MR. SHAPIRO:         AND YOU LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE PRESS WAS NOT ONLY IN THE VICINITY OF
THE BRONCO, BUT HAD SPILLED COFFEE ON THE HOOD OF THE BRONCO WHILE IT WAS BEING
SECURED BY YOUR OFFICERS, DID YOU NOT?

MR. VANNATTER:  I SAW THAT THERE WERE COFFEE STAINS TO BE DISREGARDED IN THE TOW
REPORT, YES.

MR. SHAPIRO:   AND YOU ALSO HAVE SEEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF A CIVILIAN RUNNING UP AND
TOUCHING THE EXACT AREA WHERE YOU SAW THE BLOOD, DID YOU NOT?

MR. VANNATTER:  I SAW PHOTOGRAPHS OF A -- WHAT APPEARED TO BE A WOMAN LOOKING INTO
THE VEHICLE, YES.

*****

MR. SHAPIRO:    YOU EXAMINED THE INDEX FINGER OF MR. SIMPSON AND OBSERVED IT TO HAVE A
CUT WHICH YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED HERE; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.

MR. SHAPIRO:   AND I TAKE IT YOU EXAMINED THE LEFT-HAND GLOVE AT BUNDY; IS THAT
CORRECT?

MR. VANNATTER:   I DIDN'T. I HAD IT EXAMINED.

MR. SHAPIRO:   AND WAS A CUT FOUND ON THE LEFT HAND GLOVE AT BUNDY THAT WOULD BE IN
THE AREA OF THE CUT ON O.J. SIMPSON'S LEFT HAND?

MR. VANNATTER:  NO.

*****

RE-DIRECT EXAMINATION

MR. DARDEN:         DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION AS TO HOW THE PERSON WHO DROPPED THE GLOVE AT
ROCKINGHAM ENTERED THE PROPERTY?

MR. VANNATTER:  I BELIEVE HE USED A KEY TO COME THROUGH THE ROCKINGHAM GATE AFTER
PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE STREET.

*****

MR. DARDEN:          YOU TOLD US THAT YOU DID NOT FIND THE MURDER WEAPON?

MR. VANNATTER:  THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. DARDEN:         ARE YOU SURPRISED AT ALL THAT YOU HAVEN'T FOUND THE MURDER WEAPON?

MR. VANNATTER:  NO. THE KNIFE IS A VERY EASY ITEM TO DISPOSE OF.

MR. DARDEN:         AND DID YOU FIND A BLOOD TRIAL AT ALL IN THE DEFENDANT'S BEDROOM?

MR. VANNATTER:  YES.