14 ore 18 agos 1994 anni - Defense files motion for Mark Fuhrman's records

Descrizione:

Simpson's defense counsel files motion to obtain personnel records of Detective Mark Fuhrman.

Simpson's Defense Seeking Records on Detectives By Michael Janofsky Aug. 19, 1994

"Lawyers for O. J. Simpson filed a motion today seeking access to personnel records of the four Los Angeles police detectives who investigated the stabbing deaths of Mr. Simpson's former wife and a friend of hers.

The defense team also asked for any records that would show if one detective, Mark Fuhrman, had a history of racial bias. Last week in court, the chief defense counsel, Robert L. Shapiro, asserted that race would not be an issue in the case.

The lawyers contended in the motion, which is scheduled to be argued in court on Aug. 31, that the records are "critical to central issues in this case" regarding the credibility of the detectives and the "hidden motives and potential prejudices" of Mr. Fuhrman. Trial in September

Mr. Shapiro did not return a telephone call seeking comment. Nor did the District Attorney's office respond to the motion. The police referred questions to the City Attorney's office. A spokesman there, Ted Goldstein, said that since none of the detectives had sought representation, the office would have no comment.

Robert H. Tourtelot, a lawyer representing Mr. Fuhrman, said the motion was "a desperate act by some desperate defense attorneys." He chided Mr. Shapiro for telling the court that racism would play no part in the case and said the motion "has racism written all over it."

"We will vigorously oppose the motion," Mr. Tourtelot said.

The trial on the two murder charges is scheduled to begin on Sept. 19. Mr. Simpson has pleaded not guilty.

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The defense lawyers accused the detectives of misstating facts and acting improperly to justify their request for a search warrant of Mr. Simpson's estate on June 13, the morning after the bodies were found at the townhouse of the former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson.

Even though the judge presiding over Mr. Simpson's preliminary hearing last month ruled that the detectives had acted properly that morning, the defense lawyers asked for records for the last five years on the four officers -- Mr. Fuhrman, Phillip Vannatter, Tom Lange and Ronald Phillips. The defense said it wanted to check whether any of the officers had falsified documents or evidence in a case, failed to follow department policy or had contact with Mr. Simpson or the two victims.

The defense also asked for a wealth of background on Mr. Fuhrman, including anything that would describe "acts of alleged prejudice or bias" based on race, sex or ethnicity. Several Documents Cited

The motion filed today cited several documents, including psychiatric reports, already made public by the defense, in which Mr. Simpson's lawyers say Mr. Fuhrman expressed "negative opinions against African Americans and other people of color." The motion also alleges that there was a 1987 complaint in which Mr. Fuhrman was accused of shooting a suspect and then, the motion says, helping "plant a weapon near the fallen suspect" as a way to justify his action.

A version of this article appears in print on Aug. 19, 1994, Section A, Page 12 of the National edition with the headline: Simpson's Defense Seeking Records on Detectives.


Sourced from:
The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/19/us/simpson-s-defense-seeking-records-on-detectives.html

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