Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409240066
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHICAGO TRIBUNE
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
In questioning detectives who searched Simpson's estate June 28, defense lawyers tried to show that police went on an overly broad ``grazing expedition'' when they seized videotapes and personal papers, including divorce documents, not listed in a warrant.
In the initial warrant, police said they planned to look for bloody clothing and a murder weapon such as the knife Simpson had purchased.
Simpson has pleaded not guilty to charges he murdered his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
Under laws of search and seizure, police may take items in plain view with obvious value as criminal evidence but cannot go on a general search. The definition of ``obvious'' most likely will become a central point when Ito rules whether to suppress the evidence today.
Ito blasted the news media for disseminating what he called erroneous reports that DNA tests on bloody socks found at Simpson's estate matched the blood of one victim.
``I'm so saturated by the irresponsibility of the media that I'm beyond being outraged. I'm almost numb to it at this point,'' Ito said.
The judge said he might consider a gag order to prevent such news leaks.
In other news related to the case, a burglar stole computer equipment from the offices of Simpson's lead defense lawyer and broke into a file cabinet where some papers for the Simpson case were kept, Robert Shapiro's secretary said Thursday.
by CNB