Direct Examination Flashcards
Would you please state your name for the record?
Detective Nichols
what police department do you work for?
I am a homicide detective for the Midlands State Police Department
In your years of police work, what kind of training have you received?
National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) training
Evidence preservation and collection
Witness interrogation
Undercover officer safety and confidential informant handling
Computer and machine based data collection and analysis
Did anything unusual happen the night of July 16th at around 11PM?
Yes, I was working that night. I responded to an incident call in the Jaywood Building condos at about 11:10 in Downtown Midlands City to investigate a report of a potential homicide
What happened when you arrived?
I briefly spoke with Ofc. Sandlin and Ofc. Stanfield, who pointed out the victim and informed me that the victim was found unconscious
Who was this victim identified as?
A woman named Kerry Bell Leon
When you interviewed Kerry Bell-Leon, were there any visible injuries?
Yes. She had a bump above her right eye (pg 3, line 13; line 22) She also had bruises on her throat
What did Kerry Bell-Leon tell you had happened to her that night?
once she regained consciousness, she immediately accused Dylan Hendricks of attacking her in her condo in the jaywood building
What did you do next detective
I began my investigation at Kerry Bell Leon’s condo
Did you find any evidence in the condo?
Well there were no signs that anything was stolen. But I did find an orange extension cord on the floor in the living room
Would you recognize this extension cord if I showed you it today?
Yes
I am now showing you what has been previously marked as exhibit 4 for identification purpose, do you recognize it?
Yes, its the extension cord I found at the bell leon residence
How do you recognize it?
It is in the same condition as when I collected the cord at the bell leon residence. I impounded it into evidence and took it to the evidence locker at the police station, where it has been kept until today
What is the significance of the extension cord to the case?
I saw marks and bruises on Kerry’s neck upon my investigation. Based on my training and expertise, I suspected that some form of strangulation occurred, but could not conclude what had caused it. Upon investigating the condo itself.
Did you find any other evidence other than this extension cord?
Yes, I also found a key on the living room floor
What is the significance of this key?
Well, I had been informed that the crime involved breaking and entering. So when I found that key, I wanted to see if maybe that was the key the intruder had used
Would you recognize this key if I showed it to you today?
I believe so yes
I am now showing you what has been marked as exhibit 6 for identification, Do you recognize it?
Yes, it’s the key I found at the bell leon’s resident
Is this an accurate representation of that key?
Yes
How do you recognize it?
It appears to be in the same condition as when I discovered it at the Bell-leon residence. Like the chord, I impounded it into evidence and took it to the evidence locker at the police station, where it has been kept until today
Now detective, what did you do with that key?
I tried it on the doors and it opened the front and back condominium doors, as well as the door at bottom of the fire escape
Would you be able to locate those doors for the court today on a floor plan of the Bell Leon residence?
Yes I would
I am now showing you what has been marked as exhibit 10 for identification, Do you recognize it?
Yes, it’s the bell leon’s condo floor plan
How do you recognize it?
It has the same detailed floor plan that i investigated during the night of july 16th
Does this accurately represent the bell leon’s condo?
Yes
Now, can you locate those on the floor plan for us?
Yes, here is the front door. And here is the back door. The back door makes a straight path towards the fire escape.
Where does the fire escape lead to?
To a locked door under a lit awning, which is opened by the same key i found in Kerry’s condo
When you first arrived at the scene, did you investigate the entrances?
Yes, and none of them showed any evident forced entry. However, the door to the utility closet and the back door to the condo were wide open