Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9407280086
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Short
In the wrongful death lawsuit disclosed Wednesday, Goldman's mother, Sharon Rufo, seeks unspecified damages for the loss of her 25-year-old son's companionship and support.
Rufo, who lives in St. Louis, had not seen her son in the five years prior to his death. She is divorced from Goldman's father, Fred.
At a court hearing, meanwhile, Judge Lance Ito resolved a last-minute snag in testing of blood samples set to begin today.
Prosecutors hope the evidence will link Simpson to the June 12 stabbings of Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, 35, and Goldman, a friend of hers.
Officials at Cellmark Diagnostics, the Maryland laboratory hired by the prosecution to conduct the delicate tests, had objected to Ito's order allowing defense scientists to cut blood samples for possible independent testing. Ito will decide later whether the defense may use 10 percent of the samples.
Cellmark officials had written to the judge explaining that the lab preferred to use its own technicians. But Ito reaffirmed a ruling handed down Monday, saying the cuts by defense experts could proceed.
However, Ito said the defense must use the lab's equipment to divide samples of blood found on Simpson's Bronco, at his estate and at the scene of the slayings.
It was not clear whether the defense planned to cut the the samples or even show up at the lab. Defense attorney Robert Shapiro objected vigorously to the ground rules under which his experts would have to work.
by CNB