On the Orange Line, the bus gets packed with standing passengers at the Van Nuys station. A young black woman with red and yellow dyed hair sitting next to me gets up to offer her seat to an elderly black woman who got on the bus at Van Nuys. I immediately felt guilty that I didn’t notice the elderly woman get in. Standing by the exit door is a short disheveled man with a hole in the top of his tennis shoe, carrying a coat and a big binder full of worn and wrinkled papers. He’s an interesting character, and I’m continually drawn to looking at that hole in his shoe.
The bus breaks very hard just past the Laurel Canyon exit and several passengers barely keep their balance. I reached out to stable a man in front of me. Several of the passenger exchange looks and gasps of exclamation, and nervous laughter. At the North Hollywood hub, I really push myself to try to lengthen my stride and walk as fast as I can to keep up with the other passengers. I don’t want to miss a train, but I’m also really feeling my years and the extra pounds I’ve put on since getting married. Downstairs, I’m fortunate I find a seat in the car I enter.
Each time I ride the train, I’m always trying to look out the reflective type windows and peer into the tunnels. I’m curious about the whole construction and design. On one trip, I count the number of tunnel lights, and look for the tiny service walkways that line the walls of the tunnels. I find the whole construction fascinating. I really pay attention this time when the train leaves the station, and I can feel it switching to the south bound track. A few stations down the line, a man in a nice gray suit with a battered leather briefcase gets on and takes the seat next to me. He’s reading a book about Thurgood Marshall. I ask him if it’s any good. He replies, “Yes, it’s by the same author who wrote “Eye on the Prize.” I kick myself for not bringing a book today. I purposefully removed as much as I possibly can from my tote to keep my handbag as light as possible, because of all the walking I’m doing taking the metro.
At the courthouse, the public security screening lines are pretty long today. It’s then that I notice that one of the security scanners is not being used. Usually there are three public lines, and a separate one for employees. Today, only two public scanners are in operation. (I always set off the alarm bells and have to lift up the cuffs of my jeans for the sheriffs. I think it’s something in my shoes that triggers them.) As I clear the 9th floor security station and round the corner, I don’t see the usual rush of reporters. I don’t know if I’ve come down here in vain. No Linda Deutsch; no Dominick Dunne; no Eric Leonard, or many of the other familiar faces that I’ve come to recognize, but just don’t know their names. I know I saw Russ in the parking lot, but he’s not up here.
A woman I saw flash a badge and breeze by security downstairs and rode up on the elevator beside me is waiting in the hallway along with several other unfamiliar faces. In the elevator, she was juggling holding several manila envelopes in the elevator, and I glanced over to read what it said on the outside of her leather billfold she had flashed to security: “Drug Enforcement Agency,” I see her enter Judge Fidler’s courtroom, and I wonder if what she’s delivering relates to Spector’s case, or some other case entirely.
I finally see a reporter, David K. Li, and two other female reporters I’ve seen before. It’s 9:15 am, and I see several people entering and exiting Fidler’s court, but no one I recognize or have seen before. I finally see Linda Kenny Baden arrive. She’s with another blond woman, possibly an associate, and they are both dressed in black. Kenney Baden doesn’t look that great in black, I’m sorry to say. It appears there is some sort of delay, that is being talked about by the other people with Kenney Baden. I over hear one of the group say to a reporter, “We were all asked to be here at 9:30 am.”
The prosecution’s clerk, Ed, and DDA Alan Jackson arrive, with a rolling cart that has their many files on the case. A reporter asks Alan a question I miss writing down and Alan replies, “I don’t know.” The few reporters that are here, and the public are allowed inside the courtroom, and I try to watch the interplay between individuals I don’t recognize. I observe two suited men who might be attorneys talking. One introduces the other to “...one of our investigators...” a man dressed very casually. The first thing that comes to my mind is, the man looks like he works under cover. It’s 9:28. What’s going on? Several people are here. The female DEA agent is sitting in the courtroom, waiting. Patrick Dixon arrives. I overhear Dixon talking to the Judge’s clerk saying that he called Roger Rosen....that’s all I can hear.
I’m sitting on the right side of the benches, and a black female sheriff comes over to me, asks if I’m with the defense. I tell her I’m a member of the public, and she motions to me to sit over on the left side of the courtroom benches. I move to sit beside this female reporter and David Li. The woman turns to me and asks, “Outside in the hallway, earlier, were you writing down everything I said? I reply, “I don’t even know who you are.” She introduces herself and says, “I’m paranoid Harriet.” I introduce myself and explain that I’m writing about the trial for the crime forums.
Shelly Samuels! I didn’t recognize her! Her hair is much shorter, and it’s been highlighted. She’s wearing a great suit. She ran into the courtroom, dropped something off, said hello to to her attorneys and left just as quick. I see Brunon has arrived. The Judge is asking the defense to...” update me as to Mr. Cutler’s health...” but, the defense isn’t even prepared to answer this. They don’t know if he will still be out, and just assumed that court would start on Monday, as “..to the matter of record...” One of the attorney’s spoke to him. He didn’t feel good yesterday, but he’s feeling better today. The attorney said that they could call him to find out the status of his health. Dixon jumps up and the people, “ask that that be done as soon as possible...” In other words, call him, find out if he’s going to make court on Monday. The Judge orders the defense to get on that. Call him now, I think. Then the Judge says “I need to see counsel in chambers.”
The Court TV guys who control the cameras are still are not here. It’s now that I remember that I hadn’t turned off my cell phone yet. Carp! I turn it off and it makes a huge noise shutting off. The same, black female sheriff yells at me to turn off my cell phone. I tell her that’s what I’m doing. I’m totally embarrassed! The court’s young media relations person arrives. The original press release it appears, was for 1:30 pm, and that’s why several of the reporters left. Dateline came and left. Eric Leonard came and left. She’s telling Harriet and David that she called as many people as she had in her cell phone. The cameramen finally arrive.
The reporters talked about why it’s not on record, why didn’t they announce the
reason the judge and counsel went into chambers. They both think that’s unusual. 9:52 am, court comes back in session. The Judge talks about what’s going to go on this afternoon, and it will depend on time. There are two separate matters. This is where the judge talks about “....possibility at some point, that a piece of evidence should have been turned over to the prosecution....” There are lots of ifs, and’s and buts... ”The second issue appears to be concerning sanctions against the defense. The Judge just received the reply motion from the defense this morning and he hasn’t read it yet. And that appears to be it. Court appears to be over for this morning. It’s barely 10:00 am.
It’s now that I notice that there are now three black camera boxes mounted on the wall. I see the judge, out of his robes, opening envelopes from the DEA agent and the other “investigator” (the one that was being introduced to someone else) is there, observing the envelope opening, too. It is regarding another case, and not Spector.
The reporters are all struggling with what to do. It’s 3.5 hours before court resumes. There is literally
nothing to do in the immediate vicinity. There’s not that much in the way of good eating... besides, it’s 10 am... and, there isn’t any shopping near buy. It’s the one day that I really wish I had brought a book. If I had a book, I could just go down to the cafeteria on the ground floor and read. But I get what I think (at the time) is a “great” idea, lol...(oh boy) and that’s to take the train back and exit or two, and see if I can spot a shop or
something to occupy me for the next 3.5 hours. I take the train back one station to Pershing Square, and that drops me off at Hill and 5th Street. There’s a newspaper vendor right at the entrance to the subway, and I buy an Los Angeles Times and a Daily News. But looking around, there’s virtually nothing in the way of shopping. I think at first I’ll go to Pershing Square to read the papers, thinking there might be some food vendors there or something. Nada. And, the place is virtually deserted. Those that are there are in sleeping bags or under newspapers. That’s when I have my idea to walk down to the garment district, and see if I can shop for some new fabric. I still have about three-quarters of a mile to reach the heart of the fabric district. If I paid more attention to the Dash system, I’m sure I could have just hopped on any bus to get me closer, but I don’t take the time to find a map. I decide to walk.
I head east on 5th Street to Broadway and turn south. I’m now entering the jewelry district. Virtually every store is either a jewelry/diamond store or a fast food asian restaurant. The air is very muggy, and I really start to feel the weight of those two newspapers in my chenille tote. When I finally reach 9th street, I head east again. Coming up on Los Angeles street, I’m passing in front of the California Mart Building. Looking across 9th Street, I see the “New Mart” has completely taken over the entire building. As I pass, I’m transported back in time to 1979 and my first job here in California. I was working in the internal audit department of Manufacturer’s Bank, which used to be on the ground floor of the New Mart Building. This was the bank that was started to serve the specific needs garment industry. Years later, the bank was purchased by a Japanese Bank, and “Mitsui” was added to it’s name. The bank was sold again and the Mitsui was taken off. Sometime within the last few years, the original main branch was closed, and the Figueroa “Corporate Office” became the main branch of the bank.
Across Los Angeles street from the New Mart Building, a film crew is in full swing in front of the 860 Cooper Building. It doesn’t appear to be a big film production, but they have taken up the entire corner in front and on the side of the building. I finally reach Michael Levine’s. Imagine a moderate sized grocery store where you can see from one end of the store to the other. And virtually the entire store is filled with isle after isle of fabric. Directly across the street from the main store is Michael Levine’s Home Decorating store. A little bit smaller than the main store, but filled to the brim with upholstery and drapery fabric. I’m headed for the main store today, because I’m always looking for unusual cotton prints for my “Market” line of bags, and for the hot/cold packs I make. I find two great asian prints and get six yards or each. On my way back to the court house, it feels like I’m walking two miles instead of the three-quarters it really is back to the Metro subway station. On top of the newspapers, I feel even more weighted down by 12 yards of fabric. As I wind my way back up the streets, I notice several buildings have big signs posted on them that say “FILMING” and a phone number to call.
Finally back on the 9th floor, I see Alan Parachini and Pat Kellyhttp://sprocket-trials.blogspot.com/2007/05/trial-notes-4-30-07.html from the court’s public relations department. They are waiting for the throng of reporter’s to arrive. LKB and and her blond assistant arrive, and they head down to the other end of the hall. Linda Deutsch and a very tall gangly reporter I only know by sight arrive. Another reporter, Michelle Caruso, makes it back from lunch, and this whole group chat with a short, elderly woman they know who appears to be wearing an employee badge of the courthouse. (I later find out her name is Jeanne.) It’s obviously someone from the court or possibly the DA’s office that they haven't seen in a while. It’s a waiting game in the hallway, and as reporters arrive back from lunch they all check in with the court’s public relations office woman. Eric Leonard from KFI arrives and talks to Linda Deutsch. Dominick Dunne greets Linda Deutsch. I think it's around 1:15 pm, and reporter David K. Li has been wondering to several who will listen, why this “show” isn’t getting started.
The group of defense lawyers heads down toward this end of the hall, but stop at the elevator hallway, apparently waiting for the rest of the defense team to arrive. I notice that I have ink all over my hands, and I want to get up to wash them but I wait just to make sure I’m going to be able to get a seat in the courtroom. The stone bench I’m sitting on outside the court is uneven and wobbly. A juror from another trial is sitting on the same bench with me, and wonders out loud, why they can’t design something more comfortable besides these stone benches. The defense team starts to move again down this way. Phil is not in the group, but there are lots of unknown faces hanging out in the hallway.
A quite elderly woman (apparently a friend of Jeanne) I barely recognize from the Blake criminal trial approaches me and asks if I post on WebSleuths. “Not any more I reply.” She then asks me if I post on Court TV. “Yes, I reply. She then says, “I heard that you were going to be here.” And that’s it. No polite reintroductions; she just walks back over to her friend, who was the older woman chatting it up with several of the reporters. Ed, the prosecutions assistant arrives. There are a lot more individuals from the public who arrive, and I wonder if I’m going to get a seat. Nothing to worry about. I finally get in.
It’s Shelly Samuels! Shelly Samuels is here, along with several other individuals who appear to be attorneys. Is that LESLIE ABRAMSON!!!!???? She’s milling around with the defense attorneys. What in the world is she doing here? I over hear someone whisper that she represented Phil for nine months. So this must be a big discovery issue. The judge finally takes the bench. Spector is not here, taking advantage of hs 977 waiver. The judge starts to explain why everyone is here. Sometime within the last 10 days, someone contacted the district attorney’s office who was a former law clerk for Mr. Shapiro. Robert Shapiro was the first attorney that that Phil Spector hired. This set off alarm bells with the district attorney’s office, and they immediately contacted the judge.
The judge, sought the intervention of LAPD (who was not involved in the case) for discovery, and he appointed a Special Master, Professor Lori Levinson at Laloya University to conduct an investigation. This was to determine if the information this individual wanted to pass on was privileged information, or if it did concern some information that was
not privileged. Professor Levinson kept in verbal communication with the judge, giving him updates. And within those discussions, Professor Levinson determined that there was something about some possible evidence that had been moved. The judge said he had an informal meeting with parties, and asked the prosecution if they had seen this “evidence.” They had not. So that’s what we’re here to find out if any of this information exists. Some have been subpoenaed; some are here voluntarily.
Mr. Brunon: “This appears to be...” He goes on that he’s concerned about the fact that conversation between referee and witness... that there’s a potential for prejudice against Phil Spector..... We don’t know anything. Just seems to me that we shouldn’t have this in a public forum. We ought not to air all this in a public forum.
Brunon wants this special hearing all in camera.
Judge: I believe this is no more than.... Ms. Abramson! Don’t shake you head at me...”
Leslie Abramson starts to talk, and one of the defense attorney’s stands up and says, “She’s assisting us....”
The judge speaks again. He appointed a Special Master. “If
any evidence is moved, concealed, tampered with, not turned over...”
There’s more attorney’s talking and Leslie Abramson lifts up her arms, and/or makes a gesture and the judge says directly to Ms. Abramson, “Easy on the gestures.” Abramson replies, “You want me not to be Jewish?” The attorney for the witness who has come forward, wants to confer in camera with the judge. All the attorneys want to go in, but the judge says no. Two attorney’s from each side, the witness and his representative. Abramson wants to know if she can stand in the hall and listen, the judge says no.
They all meet in the judge’s chambers for the in camera meeting.
So this is why Shelly Samuels and all these attorneys from the DA’s office are here. It’s a tricky part of law. There may be officers of the court who have done something illegal. Sitting next to me in the back row, are three young journalism students from a local college. They are so young looking, I’m surprised they are in college; they look like they are in high school. In the morning session, they were in another courtroom listening to the Chester Turner case. This is a case where Turner is charged with killing (I believe) eleven women from 1987 to 1996. With the last killing Turner was caught, and he’s now finally on trial.
During the in camera meeting, I discuss today’s proceedings with the journalism students, and try my best to explain what’s going on, even though I’m a little confused myself. The in camera meeting is over and the judge takes the bench. This witness is in the courtroom and you can tell right away he does
not want to be there. He is trying everything he can, to get out of testifying today. The judge says to the witness and his attorney, “That’s why you are here. There’s no criminal liability on your behalf. I’m not giving him immunity. If he chooses not to testify.....” The witness’s attorney tries to get his client out of taking the stand and says to the judge, “So, calling this an ordinary witness is not the case. We were misled as to why we were brought here today. I don’t think that is fair to Mr. Diamond (this is the witnesses name). Diamond’s attorney says to the judge, “I was never called by Lori Levinson...” And the judge immediately snaps back, “Don’t impugn Professor Levinson....!” The judge goes onto say, “We have decided there are no fifth amendment issues here.” (for his client)
You can tell the judge is getting somewhat exasperated. “You approached (the DA’s office). You said you have information! Take the stand and be sworn in! Fidler is irritated with this witness.
The prosecution starts to question the witness, Greg Diamond. Even a simple question about was he working for Bob Shapiro he can’t seem to answer without tap dancing around the question. At that moment in time, were you working in some capacity? Prior to that date, were you a law clerk of Bob Shapiro? Diamond finally answers, “Yes. I was a clerk and an intern.” He’s asked to name all the defense team at the time, and Diamond looks to the judge and asks, “Can I take the fifth?” The judge replies no. And Diamond is asked if, Sara Caplan, Dr. Michael Baden, Dr. Henry Lee, and other individuals, I think they ask if Bill Pavlic (sp?) was a member of the “defense team.”
Patrick Dixon: Who was Sara Caplan? Was she an employee of the bar?
Diamond: Yes.
Alan Jackson: Was it your understanding that Robert Shapiro represented Phil Spector?
Diamond: Yes.
Diamond is asked who all was there at Phil Spector’s house, right after the crime scene was released by the police to the defense.
Dixon: Did law enforcement leave there, and leave the defense team alone?
Diamond: Yes.
Dixon: Did you call the District Attorney’s office?
Diamond: Yes.
Dixon: Did you have a conversation with Alan Jackson?
Diamond: Yes.
Dixon: How long were you there with the defense team?
Diamond: I can’t recall.
Dixon: Three hours? Four hours?
Diamond: It was throughout the evening.
Judge: Were you doing anything to help Mr. Shapiro?
Diamond: I was not in a working capacity mode.
Judge: We have to hold... determine, why he was there; what his role was.
Getting this witness to answer questions is like pulling teeth from an pissed off cat. It’s unbelievable how much he is squirming on the stand, and being evasive. The witness is stalling in any way he can. Mr. Brunon interrupts and says something to the effect, “We need to know... get to evidence... if the people are conceding...
Judge: What was your understanding as to why you were there?
Diamond: I was an observer.
Judge (or Dixon?) Did Shapiro ask you to observe?
Diamond: No. I was there to observe. I was just there to observe. I was originally asked to go to Mr. Shapiro’s office.
Judge: We will assume he was there in a privileged capacity.
Diamond says that he did receive paychecks (from Bob Shapiro). More discussion as to whether or not what he observed or whatever was done in his presence is privileged.
Dixon: How long were you there?
Diamond: An estimate only... it could be three hours; maybe more.
Dixon: Did you see anyone pick up anything.
Now the witness is really getting squirmy on the stand.
Diamond: Your honor, may I ask again to my fifth amendment rights?
Judge: Certainly. There is no fifth amendment issue here.
Diamond: Can I have a continuance in this matter?
Judge: No sir.
Diamond confers with his attorney. He appears to be afraid to say what he needs to say. Maybe he’s afraid he’s going to be charged at a later date? Everyone is waiting on pins and needles to what he is going to say. Mr. Brunon addresses the judge, and the judge, with a bit of a smirk on his face makes the comment of Mr. Brunon’s concern for him. It’s funny because Mr. Brunon doesn’t represent Greg Diamond. Something is said and I miss it, all except the judge’s reply:
Judge: Any part of a rat’s anatomy. We are trying to approach real carefully.
The judge now gets tough with the witness.
Judge: Did you observe (someone pick up an item?)
Diamond: There was an item. (snip) It was whitish, white and quite small.
Dixon: Where were you when you saw this item picked up?
Diamond: I ws in the entry way, where (it) was found.
Inside, my mind is whirling. If this is all true, this could be huge.
Dixon: Who picked up this item?
Diamond: One of the members (of the defense team, who’s an attorney)
Dixon: Who picked it up?
Diamond: It was Ms. Caplan.
Dixon: After you saw this, what happened next.
Diamond: The item was turned over......
Dixon: to whom?
Diamond: Dr. Baden.
Dixon: Was there any conversation between the two?
Diamond: I don’t recall. (snip) He looked at the item.
Dixon: What happened next?
Diamond: As far as the item?
Dixon: Yes.
Dixon is now asking about the private investigator, Bill Pavlic, and if Diamond saw the private investigator take the item.
Diamond: I don’t recall.
Dixon: Were you contacted by officers of the LAPD?
Diamond: Yes.
Dixon: Did they interview you?
Diamond: Yes.
Mr. Brunon objects. He says something like, “based on questions...” but the judge shuts the defense down.
Dixon: Didn’t you tell detectives... during your interview with robbery~homicide, you saw Bill Pavlic take possession of the item?
Diamond: I don’t recall.
Dixon: didn’t you tell LAPD officers that he, (Pavlic) placed it in his pocket?
Diamond: No.
Judge: You heard words?
Diamond: Yes (snip) I observed that it was identified.
Judge: Somebody talked about what it was?
Diamond: Yes.
Dixon: When was the last time you saw it?
Diamond: I don’t recall.
Dixon: At some earlier time, did you tell someone...
Judge: You have no present recollection?
Diamond: I’m trying to answer as truthfully as I can.
Judge: Tell me everyone that you can recall who (may have touched the item)
Diamond: At this time... it’s a little cloudy...
It was seen and it was observed. <--- can="" from="" my="" nbsp="" notes="" p="" said="" t="" tell="" this.="" who="">Diamond: I would like to answer; it’s a very serious
question.
Judge: All my questions are serious. Just tell me who.
Answer this question.
The witness doesn’t answer.
Dixon: Why can’t
you answer. Please tell us.
There is a break or something. I can’t
tell from my notes, and I’m vaguely remembering at this point, but at
some point there is a break, or another in camera conference, and the
Judge says that although the witness can’t claim the fifth as privilege,
the judge did check case law, and he is required to offer to the
witness to go in camera, to hear from the witness in camera to see if
there is an issue of fifth amendment. So the judge and the witness, his
attorney and the court reporter all go in camera.
It’s 3:15. There is
quite a bit of whispering and waiting in the courtroom. The judge
emerges from in camera and says, “There is no basis to claim privilege.
So, the witness has to continue to answer questions.
Dixon: can you
describe to the best of your ability.....
Diamond: An item was found
lodged between the carpet and the staircase. (snip) The room is not very
large.
I’m trying to make sense of my notes here, and also from
memory. More questions are asked.
Diamond: Dr. Baden made mention that
it was a fragment of a tooth.
More questions, and the witness
testifies about Dr. Baden identifying the object as tooth material.
Dixon: Your memory was fuzzy?
Diamond: no.
Dixon: Didn’t you tell
them.... (LAPD????)
Diamond: It was passed around.
Dixon asks more
questions.
Diamond: Everyone had seen the item. I know Sara, Dr.
Baden, Bill... all had seen it.
Dixon tries to get the witness to pin
down the path of the item from person to person. But Diamond can’t
precisely say who got it after Dr. Baden. Just that it was passed
around. Dixon asks who on the defense team, who all had it?
Diamond:
Everyone was mulling around as to what it was.
Dixon: Could you tell
us was it passed? Were there other statements? What was alleged to be a
piece of tooth?
Diamond: That’s the only statement that stays in my
mind.
Dixon: Did you tell LAPD....
Diamond: No.
Patrick Dixon is
trying to get the witness to say that Bill Pavlic had the item last. But
he’s saying the detectives asked him that, but he’s not sure if Bill
ever had it.
Dixon: When was the last time you saw the item? Who had
it last?
Diamond: I don’t recall who might have had it the last time.
Sara found it. Dr. Baden identified it. Bill Pavlic......
Dixon: Do
you have any idea what happened to it?
Diamond: No.
Dixon: Do you
know who has it?
Diamond: No.
There must be a break here, or
something, because I have in my notes that Leslie Abramson says
something. The attorney’s are conferring with the judge. It’s now that
I’m able to lean forward to see the name on the badge of the elderly
woman who was so friendly to the reporters. The attorneys want to ask
the witness questions in another direction. Someone says, “I think this
came out in the Vanity Fair article.
Dixon: Nothing further at this
time.
Now, one of Spector’s defense attorney’s questions the witness. I
find out later that this attorney is Plourd or Flourd.... I’ll have to
check the online articles for his exact last name and the spelling.
Plourd: What is your current occupation?
Diamond: Paralegal secretary
Plourd: When did you pass the bar exam?
Diamond: I never showed up to
take the exam.
Plourd: Do you have any projects you are trying to
sell?
Diamond: I’m a writer, and I do have a project I sold to CBS.
Plourd: Any (projects that are) legal matters to entertainment?
Diamond: That one I did was a legal show.
Plourd: How did you get to
the Alhambra property?
Diamond: I was in Sara’s car.
Plourd: Who
else was in the car?
Diamond: In that car? Just us.
Plourd then asks
him about other vehicles on the property, and if there was a limo
present.
Diamond: Yes, there was a limo present.
Plourd then asks him
about what other individuals were there and/or how they got there.
Diamond: I’m certain there were other people... I just don’t recall.
As I’m listening to this testimony, I don’t know what to believe. Is
this all some guys need for attention? Is this all just the idea of some
guy looking to sell a story for a show? ??? Another individual, Stan
White is brought in to stand in the gallery.
Plourd: Do you recognize
this individual?
Diamond: I don’t recall.
It appears for right now,
they are done with this witness. Diamond says to the judge that he won’t
be in town tomorrow. The judge tells the witness that he can’t leave
the Los Angeles area, that he is subject to recall. He will be available
to the court. The defense asks to bring in Baden, and the prosecution
agrees. Dr. Baden had flown in from New York, and they wanted to try to
get him back to New York as soon as possible, and not hold him over in
Los Angeles another day. Dr. Baden is brought in, and Plourd starts
asking him some questions.
Plourd establishes through questions who Dr.
Baden is and where he is employed. If I’m reading my notes correctly,
Dr. Baden is employed by the New York State Police as their chief
pathologist. Plourd then has Baden go over his credentials, and some of
the famous cases he’s worked on, such as John Belushi.
Plourd: In your
career, how many times have you been to a death scene?
Baden:
Thousands of times.
Dr. Baden says that Robert Shapiro hired him to
work on the case. Dr. Baden states that he remembers Sara Caplan being
at the scene, along with Dr. Lee and Bob Shapiro.
Plourd: Did you
collect anything at the scene?
Baden: (very emphatically) No.
Plourd: Did you observe Sara Caplan (pick something up, or) give you
anything to look at?
Baden: No.
Plourd: Did you make a comment, on
anything, to make a determination (of anything) being tooth material?
Baden: No. That is beyond my scope.
Plourd: Did you see anybody else
pick up an object.
Baden: No.
Plourd: Did you see Mr. Pavlic (with
something)?
Baden: No. I didn’t see anyone pick up anything. I did
not. I was just there to observe the death scene.
Alan Jackson then
questions Dr. Baden.
Jackson: When were you contacted (hired by Robert
Shapiro)?
Baden: Shortly after the death occurred.
Objection!
Sustained!
Jackson: How much were you paid?
Baden: I don’t recall.
My secretary would have (that information). I was called. (I’m currently
paid) approximately about $7,500 to observe an autopsy. It was less
then.
Just then, Leslie Abramson’s phone goes off. She yells out to
the judge, “Sorry!!” and then leaves the courtroom. The prosecution then
brings in Greg Diamond and asks Dr. Baden if he recognizes him. Same
with Stan White. Dr. Baden did not recall either of these individuals at
the crime scene and says he doesn’t recognize either of them.
Baden:
They could have been there, but I don’t recall.
Jackson: Do you
remember if members of the defense team (were there), Robert Shapiro,
Sara Caplan, Investigator Bill Pavlic, Dr. Lee?
Baden: They may have. I
just don’t remember.
Dr. Baden does remember Dr. Lee being at the
crime scene. Dr. Baden denies what was claimed to have been found, and
denies ever having identified something as part of a tooth.
Baden: (It) “never
happened. Because I'm not a forensic dentist and I don't have that
expertise.”
Jackson is blown away by this answer. He doesn’t have the
expertise to identify possible tooth material? Isn’t he a medical
examiner? Baden says that, “I can recognize and intact tooth (at
autopsy) but a fragment? No. Not a piece at a scene. That’s Dr. Lee’s
area of expertise. But certainly at the autopsy.”
Jackson then asks him
about the broken nail, and Baden says that he couldn’t determine a
broken nail
at a death scene, but at an autopsy, yes. The two sides now argue to the judge about a specific point, and Jackson want to show that something “goes to bias.” I think it’s here that Baden says, (and I’m not sure from my notes), “I assume she didn't have a broken nail at work.” Jackson is done questioning and Plourd takes over.
Plourd: Ever been accused of mishandling evidence?
Baden: No.
Plourd: Did you ever find evidence?
Baden talks about finding a bullet at the scene when “Christian Brando died.” This is clearly a misstatement by Dr. Baden because Christian Brando was not the individual who died. Christian Brando was the individual who killed his sister’s boyfriend.
Baden: In my examination (of the Brando case) I found a bullet under a rug. I didn’t collect the item. I notified law enforcement.
Plourd: Do you recognize Leslie Abramson?
Baden: Leslie Abramson, yes.
Baden is asked when was the first time he was asked to put his conclusions on paper. I think this question is by Jackson. I believe from memory, it is here that Baden is asked about his conclusions about the crime scene. Baden is adamant that Lana Clarkson killed herself, and one of the things he is using to come to that conclusion is her broken thumb nail. He’s adamant about that, even though Jackson raises some good questions as to how he came to that conclusion.
It’s getting very late, probably past 4pm. Several individuals who have been waiting out in the hall, Robert Shapiro, Sara Caplan and others. The judge orders Stan White and Greg Diamond back to court tomorrow at 9:30am Sara Caplan and Robert Shapiro would be on 1 hours call/notice to appear. Bill Pavlic would be ordered to be at court at 10am tomorrow.
Outside the courtroom in the hallway, Linda Deutsch, Dr. Baden and the woman “Jean” all chat and catch up. In the elevator down, reporter John Spano tries to question Stan White about what he knows about what went on today. Spano was not in court all day, and missed most of what went on.
As I leave the courthouse, I’m really, really wanting to come back the next day to see what the next witnesses have to say about this supposedly found “tooth material.” But I can’t. I have clients I have to see. I’ll just have to find the time to watch Court TV Extra on the internet, and see how the questioning will unfold that way.
I hope you have enjoyed my trial notes. Please understand that my notes
should not be used in place of a more exact transcript of the trial. Although I tried to be as accurate as possible when I was quoting someone, I’m sure you will find some statements that do not exactly match Court TV’s Extra coverage.
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