Through a limousine driver and a skycap, prosecutors sought to explain one of the most tantalizing mysteries of the O.J. Simpson case: If Simpson was the killer, where did he ditch his bloody clothes?
The prosecution offered one suggestion Wednesday - that Simpson stuffed the clothes in a garbage can near an airport skycap station just before he flew to Chicago the night of the knife murders.But the theory was supported by no facts, just innuendo. It emerged in bits and pieces through the testimony of two witnesses over two days.
"The theme for the day is general confusion," said Southwestern University law professor Robert Pugsley. "I was confused and I'm sure the jury is feeling it, too."
The defense has another word for it: desperation. A defense attorney belittled prosecutor Christopher Darden for hinting that bombshell evidence would emerge today regarding a bag in which the clothes were allegedly carried.
"All his case is based on hopes and dreams," Johnnie Cochran Jr. snapped. He accused Darden of trying to grab attention by creating "a sound bite."
Defense sources said they had received no new evidence from the prosecution.
The prosecution calls another crucial witness today: Simpson friend and lawyer Robert Kardashian, who had some of Simpson's luggage - including a garment bag and set of golf clubs - after Simpson returned from Chicago.
Prosecutors declined to say whether Kardashian's testimony was the advertised surprise.
On Wednesday, with pieces of luggage draped on the witness stand, the prosecution quizzed skycap James Williams about an airport trash can and the number of bags that Simpson checked.
Williams said he saw Simpson with only three pieces of luggage - the golf bag and garment bag he checked and the duffel bag Simpson carried on his shoulder.
Limousine driver Allan Park, who took Simpson to the airport, had testified that Simpson had four bags when he left the car - the golf and garment bags and two duffel bags.
Park also testified that one of the two duffel bags was sitting on top of the trash can when he last saw it. Williams told jurors he saw Simpson standing next to the trash can, but he said under cross-examination that "I didn't see him do anything with the trash can."
Deputy District Attorney Marcia Clark was not permitted to show jurors photos of the trash can after the defense objected, and she presented no evidence backing up her implication that Simpson could have thrown away one or more bags.
Park was the second witness to say Simpson was protective of a small, dark bag when his luggage was being loaded into the limousine at his estate. But he said he didn't see whether Simpson put the bag in the trunk or inside the limo.
Simpson's lawyers have suggested the bag was filled with golf balls and ultimately tucked inside the golf bag.
The defense produced in court a golf bag, duffel bag, garment bag and two other bags from Simpson's collection of luggage. Only the first three pieces were identified by the witnesses as similar to what they saw June 12, the night Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were killed.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CROSSROADS
An in-depth look at the Simpson trial, including transcripts, is available online. Search for XSIMP30.