Jurors Watch Simpson Try On Gloves
SANTA MONICA, Nov. 6 (Noon) -- Jurors in the O.J. Simpson civil trial Wednesday afternoon watched Simpson painstakingly pull latex gloves onto his hands and then try to squeeze on the "bloody gloves." However, the scene was not live, but shown on video from the criminal trial. Still, it was high drama in the silent, darkened courtroom as spectators and jurors leaned forward in their seats and stared intently at the screen.
The video -- shown without sound -- was introduced by the defense during cross-examination of Richard Rubin, a glove expert and former executive at Aris Isotoner. The plaintiffs vehemently tried to keep the video out of court, arguing it was hearsay and that Simpson tried on the gloves under inadequate conditions, but Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki overruled their objections.
In his direct examination, Rubin was on the stand for about an hour, explaining that the Aris Light leather gloves were not made in large quantity and were exclusively manufactured for Bloomingdales. In 1990, the year Nicole Brown Simpson purchased two pairs of the gloves, Bloomingdales sold between 200 and 240 pairs. John Kelly, who represents the Brown family, took Rubin through 11 photographs and a videotape that showed Simpson wearing dark leather gloves. Each time, Rubin identified the gloves as Aris Light leather. Kelly also asked Rubin if he thought the gloves fit when Simpson tried them on in the criminal trial.
"They fit with a poor quality of fit, but they fit," Rubin said. "They were on inch short in the wrist."
Baker, in his cross-examination, pointed out that most of the photos showed Simpson wearing black gloves. In a few pictures, he was wearing light brown. But the gloves, one of which was found at Simpson's estate and the other at Nicole's Bundy condominium, appear to be dark brown. Baker also emphasized that the gloves were designed to be skin tight.
Asked Baker: "It's not going to fall off, is it? It's not going to fall off in two different places."
Rubin resumes his testimony this afternoon.
-Robert SchmidtFind out about Court TV's coverage of the civil trial, and take a look at the witness lists provided by both sides.
Rob Schmidt's Reporter's Notebook
Court TV Reports and Trial Coverage
Documents and Depositions from the Pre-Trial Civil Proceedings
A Look Back at the Criminal Case
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