Displaying the bulldog demeanor that worked so well earlier in the trial, O.J. Simpson attorney Barry Scheck went to work on another police criminalist, trying to show that evidence was mishandled and contaminated.
But rather than be intimidated by Scheck's aggressive questioning, evidence technician Collin Yamauchi stood his ground. At one point he snapped "Would you mind not pointing at me like that?" as Scheck shouted and gestured during a question.Although Scheck scored some points Tuesday, the heated exchange highlighted the shortcomings of his in-your-face style, which won him plaudits last month for his effective cross-examination of Yamauchi's colleague Dennis Fung.
"He was snapping at the witness, interrupting the witness, pointing his finger, embarrassing the witness," said law professor Laurie Levenson of Loyola University. "I thought a more low-key presentation might have been more effective."
Yamauchi was to return to the stand Wednesday for more questioning by prosecutor Rockne Harmon. Attorneys also were to discuss a female juror reportedly under investigation for misconduct.
Defense attorneys claim police framed Simpson for the June 12 knife murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. They also say he is the victim of a sloppy, bungled investigation.
Scheck returned to those themes in winding up his cross-examination of Yamauchi. His excruciatingly detailed questioning, which often covered areas other witnesses had discussed, tried the patience of both the witness and the judge.
Still, Scheck had some success. Among other things, he reminded jurors that an envelope containing a vial of Simpson's blood was not sealed when it arrived at Yamauchi's laboratory.
He also showed jurors that Yamauchi could have transferred blood to a glove found at Simpson's estate when he signed his initials to the glove during analysis. Scheck said that action required Yamauchi to grip the glove by its wrist notch - the only area where Simpson's blood was found.
"We've heard it before, cross-contamination and conspiracy," Levenson said. "But I thought Yamauchi was a better witness than Fung, so it was harder for Scheck to make his points."