(16 Mar 1995) English/Nat
Prosecution and defence lawyers at the O-J Simpson trial have apologised (Thursday) after an angry courtroom clash.
Prosecutor Marcia Clark and defence lawyer F. Lee Bailey lost their tempers over whether the defence had tried to fabricate claims of racism against Detective Mark Fuhrman.
Judge Lance Ito told the court that they went "beyond the bounds of professional conduct" during yesterday's (Wednesday) outbursts.
A senior Los Angeles police detective then gave evidence, saying that he looked for a second glove but saw only one glove at the murder scene.
First, Clark apologised to Bailey.
SOUNDBITE:
"I don't like to engage in that sort of exchange. I think it's unseemly, I think that it's bad for the entire profession and I do extend to Mr Bailey my apology for the extreme nature of the exchange yesterday. I don't anticipate that happening again, and I think that we will all, from this day forwards, conduct ourselves as professionals, seasoned professionals that we all are."
SUPER CAPTION: Marcia Clark, Prosecutor
Bailey then apologized to Clark, but saved his kindest words for Ito. He told Ito he was sorry for causing the judge any criticism for the outbursts, in which Clark called Bailey a liar and Bailey called Clark shrill.
SOUNDBITE:
"My apology, my most profound apology is directed at the court. I've been doing this for 40 years, I was caught off guard with that accusation, the reaction was less restrained and less professional that it should have been and the thing that pains me the most is any criticism that has been directed at the court because of conduct of counsel, in my view, you're one of the finest trial judges I've ever had the privilege to appear before."
SUPER CAPTION: F. Lee Bailey, Defense Lawyer
The cross examination of Fuhrman briefly resumed after the apologies.
Then Lieutenant Frank Spangler replaced Detective Fuhrman on the witness stand. He backed up Fuhrman's story, telling the court that Fuhrman was rarely alone and had never picked up a glove. He also testified that he looked at the murder scene from several angles searching for a second glove but couldn't find one.
Jurors were not in court for Wednesday's outburst or for the apologies Thursday.
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