THE O.J. SIMPSON MURDER TRIAL

UCLA law professor Peter Arenella and Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson offer their take on the Simpson trial. Joining them is Los Angeles attorney Albert De Blanc Jr., who will rotate with other experts as the trial moves forward. Today’s topic: Phase I of DNA grinds to an end. Gory photos coming soon.

PETER ARENELLA

On the prosecution: The DNA war’s first protracted battle ended with a whimper. The absence of degradation on the Bundy rear gate stain was not suspicious because it wasn’t exposed to the same contaminants as the Bundy blood drops. Next, gruesome photos and critical testimony about whether the victims’ wounds are consistent with a single assailant theory.

On the defense: Barry Scheck attacked the prosecution’s innocuous explanation for why the Bundy rear gate stain was not degraded like its front gate counterpart by showing that both stains were subjected to similar conditions. Having been hurt badly by the DNA experts, the defense must be grateful they will have Dr. Golden to kick around again.

LAURIE LEVENSON

On the prosecution: Hallelujah! DNA is over, except for the statistics, and it is time to move to the heart-wrenching part of the case--the coroner’s testimony. Jurors will now be reminded that this case involves human beings, not just blood swatches. They also will begin to piece together how the crime occurred. The photos will tell the story.

On the defense: From flying berries to dirty pathways, Scheck tried to highlight why the blood on the Bundy back gate should have been more degraded. The defense will use the fact that those blood drops were in better condition than the blood collected the day of the murders to suggest that evidence was planted by corrupt police.

ALBERT DE BLANC

On the prosecution: The presentation of autopsy evidence and the photos will bring Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman squarely back into this case. It’s likely that the jury will be transfixed on this evidence. The prosecution will have the opportunity to clear up a lot of issues: the single-assailant theory, whether a single knife was used and time of death.

On the defense: Golden will provide the defense with their biggest and probably last opportunity to significantly affect the core prosecution evidence. The bottom line issues are whether any mistakes made by Golden significantly affected the coroner’s opinion regarding cause of death, time of death, number of assailants and numbers of knives.

Compiled by HENRY WEINSTEIN / Los Angeles Times.