Request Weighed for Videotaped Testimony in Simpson Case

O.J. Simpson’s defense attorneys, determined to bring reluctant witness Henry Lee onto their team, on Friday urged a judge to let them videotape the criminalist’s testimony in his Connecticut lab, since Lee refuses to address jurors in person during the upcoming civil trial.

Superior Court Judge Jack M. Newman was about to grant the request when fierce opposition from a lawyer representing plaintiff Fred Goldman gave him pause. Newman said he would study the dispute for the next few days before issuing a ruling.

Lee, a forensic scientist, helped win Simpson acquittals on criminal charges of murdering his ex-wife and Ronald Goldman. He told jurors that there “could be” marks indicating a second killer’s footprints at the crime scene. He also warned that “something’s wrong” with the police handling of a blood drop.

But Lee later expressed frustration that his cautious assessments may have been blown out of proportion. Although he will be visiting California on Monday to speak at a forensic science seminar, Lee has insisted he will not return to the state to testify for Simpson. Simpson’s defense indicated that Lee would answer questions under oath for a video camera in Connecticut.

Also Friday, Judge Newman agreed to let a defense expert examine the negative of a photo purporting to show Simpson wearing a pair of Bruno Magli shoes--the rare, expensive brand linked to bloody size-12 footprints at the murder scene.