Seymour Amster using his usual demeaning and derogatory when cross examining the Witness. He was challenging her in almost the same way as he had with Criminalist Daniel Rubin who was on the stand all day on Thursday, even using the same redundant questions:
"How many tool marks did you see on the bullet?" "How many striations did you see on each bullet you tested?" "Did you see how many marks there were when you tested it under the microscope?" "Did you measure the area of the markings?"
To which her answer was continuously, "No I did not." "As I've said before I don't count the tool marks." "I'm going to try and make sense of that question.:
The Judge often interjected with: "Did you understand that question?" To which the Witness responded with "I did not... No." The Judge then said, "Apparently not, we better try that one again Mr Amster."
Amster continued challenger her by asking if she 'utilized physics' when comparing the bullets. Which she didn't. He then asked if she 'considered the velocity' in the determining if the bullets matched, which she had not. He even asked if she used 'kinetic energy' when comparing the bullets, which of course she didn't.
Continually Amster went on with his same redundant question of 'how many'? How many striations were there on the bullet? Knowing full well that they don't count the striations. He asked how many patterns were on the bullet knowing full well that nothing is counted per say.
Amster: Did you take a photograph of the test fired bullets?
A.m: No I did not.
Did the microscope which you were using have the ability to take a photograph?
A.M: Yes it did
Amster: Yet you still didn't use it to take a photograph?
A.M: I didn't need to as I could see it with my eyes.
Amster: How many clusters of striations did you find on each bullet.
Judge: Mr Amster she has told us repeatedly that she ...DOES.. NOT... COUNT... THE... STRIATIONS... NOR THE CLUSTERS.
This went on an on and Ms. Manfreda really held her own on the stand with the Defense continually asking the same question after being repeatedly told not to. It's as if he doesn't quite hear the Witness when each time they even tell Mr Amster the same answer nor does he hear the Judge when she tells him to stop asking that question.
After lunch recess we came back to the Courtroom and Ms Manfredo was on the stand again. The Judge walked in with her robe gaping open showing that underneath she was wearing a very brightly coloured striped outfit.
Amster: So what do you look for when examining the bullet.
Judge: You have asked that I don't know how many times Mr Amster (she said with a long sigh)
Amster: Ok so you believe that you eyeballs can determine the exact height, width, weight and all the characteristics of the bullet then? And you believe, withdraw the question, so you are certain that the 2 bullets have the exact same tool marks as each other?
This went on and on all day so it really wasn't very interesting at all which is why I won't elaborate much anymore.
March 15th.
I arrived later today at 10.30am and saw most of the Jury sitting on the benches along the hallway and the Detectives talking with each other at the end of the hallway. Detective Dennis Kilcoyne was talking to Detective Dupree. Kilcoyne is a very tall man with a grey moustache. He has a very large presence and I'm sure can be very intimidating when he wants to be. He was the lead detective in the hunt for the Grim Sleeper for years before Franklin was arrested and was a big part in forming the serial killer task force in 2007. He has since retired, I think for the past 3 years at least. My guess was that he will be called upon to testify today as this was the first day I had seen him since the Trial began.
I was confused as to why everyone was in the hallway so I assumed that the recess had started early. Detective Dupree informed me that, "We are starting late today because Lonnie had missed the bus!" Whatttt? The 'alleged' serial killer had 'missed the bus'?? Somehow that statement sounded hysterically funny to me as I was imagining Lonnie running down the street chasing a bus that had pulled out from the curbside and left him standing there at the bus stop. After a short moment I realized he must have been referring to the Sheriff bus. But really how could the Sheriff bus really have left without him? I told Dupree that if I'd known, I could have picked him up on the way as I drove my car in today. He laughed.
Lonnie Franklin was wearing the same dark blue shirt and grey tie and black trousers as he had worn the day before. His glasses were firmly on and his eyes were fixed straight ahead.
Detective David Holmes was called to the stand. He has been with the LAPD for 18 years and is currently assigned to the RHD ~ Robbery Homicide Division.
DA Rizzo: On July 7th 2010 were you assigned to investigate series of murders that took place in the late 1980's to 2007.
Det: Yes I was
DA: And you were partnered up with Detective Dupree?
Det: Yes I was
DA: And do you see the Detective in the Court today?
Det: Yes I do
Det. Holmes described Detective Dupree and pointed to him where he was sitting in front of him in the Courtroom. He spoke of how he, Detective Holmes, transported Franklin from the jail at 77th Division to RHD which is located downtown LA at LAPD Headquarters. The Detective identified the Defendant in Court describing what he was wearing ~ a blue shirt and grey tie. Holmes waited with Franklin in the Interview room for Detective Kilcoyne and Detective Coulter to arrive. He took Franklin to the restroom first then, after the interview was taken, he then assisted in taking swabs of from the inside of Franklin's mouth then took him down to the LAPD jail where his blood was then taken too. Both were placed in an evidence envelope and then brought back to RHD and given to Detective Coulter.
On the Elmo, DA Rizzo placed a photograph of an evidence envelope with 3 vials of blood. This photograph was described and confirmed by Detective Holmes.
There was 'nothing further'.
Judge: Mr Amster?
Amster then flew up out of his seat and blurted out loudly, "At anytime you were with Mr Franklin did you read him his Miranda Rights?"
DA: Objection. Relevance.
Judge: Sustained
Amster: I have nothing further.
Detective Holmes was then released.
At 10.24am the next Witness called to the stand was Lt. Michael Oppelt.
Testimony for this will be in my book...
The next witness who was called to the stand, was my favourite ~ Detective Daryn Dupree.
Dupree has been with the LAPD for 26 years and with RHD (as a Homicide specialist), where he is assigned as a Detective currently, for the past 10 years. Dupree is a very good looking black man who looks about 40. However, that would mean he began with the LAPD when he was 14... very doubtful. Anyway, going on the amount of time he's worked with the LAPD I can only guess that he might be 50.
When he began at RHD, and for the first 4 years, he was assigned to the Redrum unit (which is Murder spelt backwards). Throughout his career, Dupree worked gangs and homicide units and some units were both gang and homicide units. Most of his time with the LAPD has been a Detective with both gangs and homicide divisions.
DA Silverman: Detective Dupree, where did you grow up?
Amster: Objection. Relevance.
Judge: Sustained
DA: Are you familiar with the South Central area?
Det: Yes
DA: How?
Det: Because I grew up there.
DA: Were you there in the 1989's
Det: Yes
DA: Was there a problem with crack cocaine at that time?
Det:Yes
DA: Are you familiar with prostitution in that area?
Det: Yes
DA: Are you familiar with the hotels in that area that was described by Det. Trujillo in the area of Western Avenue?
Det: Yes
DA: What are the names of those hotels that Det. Trujillo was describing that is known for high business of prostitution?
Det: The Mustang Motel (inaudible) Fox Motel
DA: Did you review all of the cases that are being prosecuted for this Trial?
Det: Yes
DA: What is your relationship to this case?
Det: I am the last remaining member of the task force. I week prior to the Defendant's arrest I joined the task force.
Detective Dupree went on to say that soon after he joined the LAPD in 1991 he was immediately assigned to the gang unit as he grew up in the area. When questioned about the crimes, Dupree confirmed that 'none of them were gang related.' Much to the Defenses' dismay.
There were a lot of 'Objections. Vague or Irrelevant' coming from the Defenses' table in reference to Silverman referring to the crime scenes as 'crime scenes'. All of them were 'Overruled' but the Defense seems to have a problem with the places where all of these dead women were found being called 'crime scenes'.
Ms. Silverman found these 'Objections' to be as ridiculous as the Judge did, especially as every picture placed on the Elmo clearly has always stated the words 'crime scene' somewhere written to describe each picture.
Therefore it was all 'Overruled' and Silverman was able to use the correct wording when referencing each of the 'crime scenes'.
The DA went back to question Detective Dupree regarding the distance from the Defendant's residence and each of the crime scene locations.
At 11.58am we broke for lunch.
At 1.36pm, Detective Dupree was already waiting on the stand when we returned after the lunch break.
DA Silverman asked Dupree about the 4 VHS tapes which have now been converted to DVD's which is part of the evidence. He had reviewed them all. On the Elmo was still photograph of the video which we were about to see. It was a tape without audio and then it was played.
All we saw for about 7 minutes was a man, who was identified by Detective Dupree as the Defendant Lonnie Franklin, who was sexually playing around with a woman. It was clear that he had set up a hidden video camera to record the event that was about to take place. You see a woman undressing herself and Lonnie Franklin's mouth on her chest area. Then you see Franklin taking his clothes off only from below the waist and then she reached her hand in to his groin area. Tissues/paper towels were used too. It seemed that he didn't penetrate this woman but a sexual act did take place in the 7 minutes we watched this awful video. The location where the video was shot was not a recognizable location to Detective Dupree. Did that mean it was not at Franklin's home I wondered. Or did it mean that Dupree didn't recognize it to be Franklin's home although it may well have been?
Det. Dupree was part of the tactical team that cleared the residence but wasn't part of the team that did the search. However the location which the video was taken was not mentioned.
After the video was played, it was time for the Defense to cross examine the witness.
Mr Amster, shot up and fired, "You were part of the tactical team that was there on the day of the search?", Detective Dupree responded with "Yes.".... Amster then asked him if there was a Detective also there besides Dupree, to which the response was that the other Detective was not there on that day.
Detective Dupree was free to leave the stand and Mr Amster demanded to the Judge that he must still 'remain on call' for the entirety of the Trial. This is always confirmed each time a Witness leaves the stand. The Judge responded sarcastically with, "Yes I think he'll be around." Obviously Dupree will 'be around' as he sits right in front of the Judge every day and he will do so for the duration of the Trial. Again that was a daft question from the Defense which allowed Judge Kennedy to keep using her great sense of humour which she clearly has.
DA Marguerite Rizzo questioned the Witness about his testimony from before where Kilcoyne was the head of the task force in 2007 which culminated in the arrest of the Defendant Lonnie Franklin. This was confirmed by Detective Kilcoyne. He was asked to point out the Defendant in the Courtroom and state what he was wearing. He pointed to the man at the end of the Counsel table and said he is wearing a blue shirt, a grey tie and black glasses. Det. Kilcoyne told the Court how he interviewed Lonnie Franklin on the day of his arrest back on July 7th 2010 on the 5th Floor of the LAPD Headquarters which is where RHD is located. The video taped interview was with Detectvie Paul Coulter and Lonnie Franklin and it began at 12.50pm in the afternoon. The interview was 40 minutes but the video tape was rolling for approximately 3 hours. We then were about to see the 40 minute version in Court.
The highlights of this interview for this interview will be in my book.
During the showing of the video we see Detective Holmes come in and take the handcuffs of Defendant Franklin and then he asked if he needed anything to which Franklin responded that he needed to 'urinate... go to the bathroom'. So Holmes walked Franklin down the corridor and all we saw was a blank video with 3 empty chairs and a table for a few more minutes.
DA Rizzo paused the video after we sat and watched the blank room for those minutes and then asked Detective Kilcoyne what Franklin was doing at that time. he said "I assume he was going potty!" The Courtroom all laughed.
"Mr Franklin you have a major problem, ok?" Kilcoyne said, "July 7th 2010 and up to 25 years ago. You've had this problem, at least that we are aware of for 25 years. You creep out, you pick up these ladies that work Western and Figuroa in the middle of the night. You have sex with them, you kill them and you dump their bodies in alleys throughout the City of Los Angeles, mostly not too far your house. You see the number of faces here, (pointing to the photographs on the desk) that's how many families are affected by this. Families that have been suffering with this for 25 years.
More testimony will be in my book.....
We know an awful lot about you, much more than you have any idea of. Especially with the comment you made a while ago saying you 'don't creep at night'? We know that you cruise Western Avenue looking for whores every night."
This went on for a few hours longer and will be notated in my book and possibly my next Blog....
To be continued..
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