THE O.J. SIMPSON MURDER TRIAL

UCLA law professor Peter Arenella and Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson offer their takes on the Simpson trial. Joining them is Los Angeles defense lawyer Jill Lansing, who will rotate with other experts as the trial moves forward. Today’s topic: After three polished prosecution witnesses, another Los Angeles Police Department technician, Collin Yamauchi, runs into trouble on the witness stand.

PETER ARENELLA

On the prosecution: “Oops! Did Yamauchi’s statement that he expected tests to exclude O.J. because of his ‘airtight alibi’ open the door to admission of O.J.’s alibi statement to the police? The prosecution will argue that the door was never opened because media reports of Simpson’s alibi are not references to the content of O.J.’s statement to the police.”

On the defense: “Judge Lance Ito offered the defense a ray of sunshine in a week where prosecution experts have rained on their parade. What could be better than jurors hearing O.J.’s claims of innocence without subjecting him to cross-examination? Still, Ito has offered the defense the prospect of favorable rulings in the past, only to side with prosecutors.”

LAURIE LEVENSON

On the prosecution: “A slip of the tongue may damage the prosecution more than any cross-examination. If Ito allows the defense to introduce O.J.’s statement, they can explain the cut on his finger without having him testify. The prosecution’s strategy has been to force O.J. onto the witness stand, but Yamauchi’s unplanned response may undermine that plan.”

On the defense: “What a windfall! If the defense can get O.J.’s statement before the jury without him taking the stand, then they have overcome a big hurdle. Meanwhile, Barry Scheck must be chomping at the bit to cross-examine Yamauchi. Although he may be a good technician, Yamauchi is not polished and doesn’t seem prepared.”

JILL LANSING

On the prosecution: “During Yamauchi’s testimony, notable only for its lack of drama, a remarkable possibility emerged. In a stretch for minimally relevant mental-predisposition evidence, Rockne Harmon may have opened the door to otherwise inadmissible statements by O.J. Harmon got what he was seeking, but he may have to pay a high price for it.”

On the defense: “Yamauchi’s lack of aggressiveness, reminiscent of Dennis Fung, may make him an easy target for Scheck. If Harmon’s introduction of Yamauchi’s media-based information about an alibi opens the door to O.J.’s statement, the defense’s greatest gain with this witness may have happened while they were sitting down.”

Compiled by HENRY WEINSTEIN / Los Angeles Times