It was supposed to be a day with new witness testimony and an explanation about what happened to a mystery bag carried by O.J. Simpson the night his former wife and her friend were killed.
But an attempt to interview one witness fizzled and other hinted-at evidence did not materialize by the time testimony in Simpson's double-murder trial wrapped up for the day Thursday morning.Still, sidebar conference transcripts released Thursday offered a tantalizing glimpse of possible things to come, including a new prosecution witness who is expected to testify that he saw Simpson standing near a trash can and reaching into a luggage bag June 12 before catching a flight to Chicago.
Prosecutors have suggested that Simpson may have dropped bloody clothing into an airport trash can the night that Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Gold- man were killed.
But no new evidence about that theory was presented in court Thursday.
Prosecutors are expected to move the trial into a new phase Friday, shifting from the actions of the former football star to biological evidence that could link him to the Bundy Drive scene of his ex-wife's death.
Criminalist Dennis Fung was to testify Friday morning about blood evidence he collected from O.J. Simpson's home June 13.
His testimony, and that of other witnesses who collected blood from the crime scene and Simpson's estate, sets up the introduction of DNA evidence - scientific evidence that already has spawned bitter courtroom debates, including threats to raise credibility questions about a Nobel Prize-winning scientist.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear when prosecutors will present additional evidence suggesting that Simpson got rid of bloody items.
Transcripts from Wednesday's sidebar hearings indicate that a new witness is waiting in the wings to back up a skycap's testimony that Simpson stood near a trash can near the skycap station at Los Angeles International Airport the night of the deaths.
"This witness," said prosecutor Marcia Clark, "will state that he saw Mr. Simpson reach down, then reach back up and go into his bag and zip it up."
This occurred, according to Clark, while the bag was placed on top of the trash can. Clark said a report on the witness' statement is under way.
"The trash can is coming, too," she said.
Defense attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr. dismissed the statements, saying the prosecution was "grabbing at straws."
The prosecution also wants to talk to attorney Robert Kardash- ian, among other reasons, to verify a videotape that apparently shows him walking away from Simpson's estate June 13 with the defendant's garment bag.
Kardashian's testimony was postponed after his attorney, Janet Levine, met in chambers with Superior Court Judge Lance Ito and prosecutor Christopher Darden.
Because Kardashian is an attorney on Simpson's defense team, Levine said in an interview, his testimony creates not only questions about attorney-client privilege but also the ethical dilemma of being an advocate for a client and a witness.
Levine said some questions, such as those involving undisputed issues, might be OK, but she first wants to know what the prosecution intends to ask.
Indeed, following the in-chambers meeting, Ito instructed Darden to write up his proposed areas of inquiry. Levine is expected to file her brief by April 5.
In a brief interview, Kardashian would not say what was in the garment bag he took from Simpson's home the day after the killings.
"I can't answer that until I'm put on the stand, if that happens," he said.