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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 1994)
By The Associated Press Edited by Deb McAdams News Digest Wednesday, August 24, 1994 Page 2 Simpson lawyers contest DNA evidence LOS ANGELES—Defense law yers attacked the reliability of DN A evidence in the OJ. Simpson case Tuesday, suggesting police bungled blood collection, mislabeled a sam ple and assigned inexperienced tech nicians to the case. Under defense questioning, one police criminalist acknowledged mislabeling a blood sample and an other said she was still a trainee when she collected evidence in the double murder case. Superior Court Judge Lance Ilo repeatedly tried to rein in the detailed questioning at a hearing that had been called only to consider whether the defense would be allowed to con duct its own tests on newly disclosed blood samples, “That is for another hearing,” I to said of the broader line of question ing, and he sustained some objec tions by Deputy District Attorney Lisa Kahn. Simpson, 47, pleaded innocent to the June 12 killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. His trial is sched uled Sept. 19. Police criminalist Collin Yamauchi tolddefcnse attorney Barry Schcck he m islabelcd one blood sam ple. But Yamauchi insisted he took pains to protect evidence, even going so far as to avoid touching blood soaked swatches with a ruler while measuring them. “I didn’t want to risk contamina tion so 1 made approximations,” he said. “I tried to avoid touching them as much as possible.” Yamauchi, who performed some of the earliest tests on the Simpson blood samples, also acknowledged his first experience in DNA testing was six months ago. - A second criminalist, Andrea Maz7X)la, testified she was still a trainee when she was sent to collect evidence. Asked to detail the number of crime scenes in which she had pri mary responsibility for collecting evidence, she replied: “Zero.” Her testimony also suggested she began collecting blood samples from Simpson’s driveway hours before a search warrant was issued. She said she arrived at 7 a.m. on June 13, met with detectives who pointed out items of interest and “proceeded to have them photo graphed and collected.” The search warrant was issued at 10:45 a.m. Scheck and attorney Peter Neufcld, forensic specialists known throughout the country, led the de fense attack against the DNA evi dence, which is crucial to the case. On Monday, prosecutors said DNA tests found the genetic makeup of Simpson’s blood matched that of blood found near the bodies of Ms. Simpson and Goldman. On Tuesday, Simpson’s lawyers asked Gregory Matheson — Yamauchi’s supervisor—whysomc blood samples were withheld from testing, something that wasn’t orig inally revealed to the defense. Matheson said he couldn’t re member specific conversations about how much evidence could be shared with the defense. He suggested Yamauchi made the decision to hold back some samples when others were sent to a Maryland laboratory for testing. “I don’t specifically remember any discussions on this topic,” Matheson said. “We may have had them. I don’t know.” Also Tuesday, a grand jury con sidering an indictment against A1 “A.C.” Cowlings called additional witnesses, including Cathy Randa, Simpson’s administrative assistant for 20 years. Attorneys for Robert Kardashian, a lawyer and friend of Simpson, sought to quash his grand jury sub poena. Simpson and Cowlings were at Kardashian’s house the morning S impson was charged with iwocoun ts ofmurder. The two fled inCowlings’ Ford Bronco, surrendering that night afler a nationally televised freeway pursuit. Netfra^kan Editor ManagingEditor Assoc. NewsEditors Opinion Page Editor Wire Editor Copy Desk Editor Sports Editor Arts & Entertainment Editor Photo Director Night News Editors Jeff Zeleny 472-1766 Angle Brunkow Jeffrey Robb Rainbow Rowell Kara Morrison Deb McAdams Mike Lewis Tim Pearson Art Director General Manager Production Manager Advertising Manager Senior Acct. Exec. Matt Woody Kiley Christian Chris Hain Doug Kouma Heather Lampe Dave Vincent James Mehsling Dan Shattil Katherine Policky Amy Struthers Sheri Krajewski FAX NUMBER 472-1761 The Daily NebraskanfUSPS 144-080) is published by the UNI Publications Board Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St Lincoln, NE 68588-0448, Monday through Friday during the academic year; weekly during summer sessions. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-1763 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public also has access to the Publications Board. For information, contact Tim Hedegaard, 436 9258 Subscription pnce is $50 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan. Nebraska Union 34,1400 R Si.,Lincoln,NE 68588-0448. Second class postage paid at Lincoln, NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT -1994 DAILY NEBRASKAN The TI-85 builds on the functionality of the TI-68 and adds a wide range of graphing capabilities. So math students can handle . calculus problems more easily. And technical stu dents can see the functions for a better understanding of problems. The TI-85 also, handles complex numbers, matrices, vectors, lists and strings. Plus it offers a powerful one-equation SOLVER. The TI-68 solves up to five simultane ous equations. Has complex number functions. Offers formula program ming. Even has a last equation replay feature. All at a great price. Get Serious. Engineering, math or science major? Serious stuff. Get a TI-68 Advanced Scientific or TI-85 Graphing Calculator from Texas Instruments. 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