Expert for Simpson Disputes Testimony on Cuts (Published 1996)
- ️Tue Dec 17 1996
- Dec. 17, 1996
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A pathologist called to the stand by lawyers for O. J. Simpson today disputed a colleague's conclusion that cuts on Mr. Simpson's hand were caused by the fingernails of the two people he is accused of killing.
Dr. Michael Baden, former chief medical examiner in New York City, said the plaintiff's expert, Dr. Werner Spitz, was a respected friend, but he disagreed with Dr. Spitz.
Dr. Baden also said it was unlikely that a person could have killed the victims alone. He said he believed more than one weapon was probably used, and he said defensive wounds on the victims indicate a longer struggle than the short confrontation the plaintiffs contend took place.
''It's very difficult for one perpetrator to control two victims at the same time,'' Dr. Baden said.
Dr. Spitz introduced the fingernail theory for first time last month when he testified for the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald L. Goldman, who are suing Simpson for their wrongful deaths.
Dr. Baden said the cut was probably caused by broken glass.
Mr. Simpson testified that he cut his left middle finger's knuckle with a broken glass in Chicago the morning after the June 12, 1994 killings.
Dr. Baden also said his analysis of the crime scene convinced him the killer would have had blood on his skin and clothing after the killings.
Dr. Spitz said the killer could have left the scene clean of any blood because of the position taken by the killer during the attacks.
Dr. Baden said a lack of screams also supported his multiple-killer theory. ''It would be impossible to stop people from yelling and screaming and taking evasive action,'' he said.
Earlier, a bloodstain expert testifying for Mr. Simpson suggesting that blood was planted on socks found at the foot of Mr. Simpson's bed the day after the slayings.
The witness, Herbert MacDonell, repeated testimony that helped acquit Mr. Simpson of murder in his criminal trial.
Mr. MacDonell also told jurors that he soaked a leather glove -- identical to the bloody gloves found at the crime scene and at the Simpson home -- with his own blood and found that it did not shrink.
Jurors have seen a videotape of Mr. Simpson trying to squeeze his hands into the gloves, which prosecutors contended had shrunk.
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