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Expert says crime scene DNA matched Simpson's blood
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Web posted at: 10:45 p.m. EST
SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- A DNA expert said Wednesday that the DNA of O.J. Simpson's blood matches the DNA of blood found at the scene where Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were killed.
Dr. Robin Cotton testified that the chance of the blood being someone else's other than Simpson's was one-in-170 million or more.
Cotton is expected back on the witness stand Thursday and is expected to say that DNA from blood found on a sock taken from Simpson's bedroom matches the DNA from Nicole Brown Simpson's blood.
Also Wednesday, jurors in the civil trial heard evidence that their counterparts in the criminal trial did not hear as an FBI agent testified that carpet fibers found at the crime scene matching those from Simpson's Ford Bronco were "unusual" and "unique" to that type of vehicle.
Special Agent Douglas Deedrick, a hair and fiber expert, told jurors that carpet fibers found on a knit cap found near the bodies and on the glove found at Simpson's estate matched a sample taken from Simpson's Ford Bronco.
Deedrick said he had not seen such fibers before and found them to be "unusual." That type of carpet, a rose-beige color nylon fiber made by Dupont, was put in from 1992 through 1994 Ford Broncos, he said. The fibers have a very distinctive shape when viewed under a microscope, he said.
When Deedrick told the jury that only about 14,000 Ford Broncos were made with that kind of carpet, a lawyer for Simpson objected, cutting him off practically in mid-sentence. Following a lengthy sidebar, the matter was dropped with Deedrick never able to further discuss the number of vehicles with the carpet.
The jury in the criminal trial did not hear about the unusual nature of the carpet fibers.
Deedrick also said that cashmere fibers found on Goldman's shirt and on the knit cap matched the cashmere lining of the leather gloves found at the crime scene and the Simpson estate.
On cross examination, Deedrick's impartiality and credibility came under attack as he admitted keeping a framed picture of himself, Fred Goldman, and Goldman's daughter on his office desk at the FBI.
He conceded that it was possible for some of the hairs found on key pieces of evidence to have come from the ground or from other sources of contamination.
Deedrick also conceded that there was no statistical data base with which to conclude how rare were the hairs found on the knit cap and other evidence that he believed were similar to Simpson's.
He also said that negroid hair not similar to Simpson's was found inside the knit cap.
The defense also filed papers arguing to allow the criminal trial testimony of former police detective Mark Fuhrman to be presented to the jury. Defense attorney Daniel Leonard referred to the plaintiffs' attempt to exclude the testimony as "logically bankrupt and grossly unfair."
The defense wants to present the testimony of Fuhrman to "rebut the presumption that evidence was properly obtained." Evidence obtained by Fuhrman -- including a blood drop on the Ford Bronco and the glove found at Simpson's home -- were presented to the civil trial jury through the testimony of other police officers.
The battle over the admissibility of Fuhrman's testimony began weeks ago when the plaintiffs were successful in barring any mention of it in the defense's opening statement. The judge said he would rule later in the trial whether he will allow in the testimony.
Special Section:
Related stories:
- Simpson attorney challenges pathologist on timeline, marks - November 12, 1996
- Custody trial for Simpson children begins - November 12, 1996
- Simpson custody battle begins as civil trial continues - November 12, 1996
- Pathologist describes swift death of victims in Simpson trial - November 8, 1996
- Doctor describes cuts on Simpson's hands - November 7, 1996
- O.J.'s glove demonstration replayed for civil jury - November 6, 1996
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