Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 2, 1995 TAG: 9505020133
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
Judge Lance Ito had tried to persuade Tracy Hampton to stay, reportedly dismissing three deputies who guard the jury in part because of her complaints. But Hampton appeared to grow unhappier by the day, sitting statue-still in the jury box, her eyes downcast.
She was replaced by a 28-year-old Hispanic woman who said on her jury questionnaire that Simpson was the only person with ``a visible motive'' for killing Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
Hampton was the seventh juror dismissed, leaving just five alternates with months to go. The change shifted the ethnic configuration of the jury to seven blacks, three whites and two Hispanics.
After the new juror was selected by lot and took her seat, testimony resumed with police chemist Gregory Matheson offering explanations of why only small amounts of blood spilled at Nicole Simpson's condominium were tested by the police crime lab.
In conjunction with the testimony, prosecutor Hank Goldberg flashed on a 7-foot courtroom screen one of the bloodiest photos seen so far. The defense objected to the photo as overly gruesome, but it was allowed. It showed Nicole Simpson's body huddled at the foot of her steps with a dark pool of blood around her head and bright red streams of blood flowing down the walkway.
Matheson said it was clear that the blood was coming from the body, and vast amounts of testing were not needed.
O.J. Simpson stared at the ceiling during the photo display of his ex-wife's bloody body.
Goldberg also elicited testimony designed to answer a central defense theory - that blood evidence was contaminated to the point of uselessness. Matheson said even sloppily collected evidence still is useful and doesn't ``turn into someone else's blood.'' Prosecutors have said Simpson's blood was found at the murder scene.
Ito, who has fought to keep the jury intact despite claims of possible juror misconduct and a rebellion last month, held a one-hour meeting with attorneys in his chambers before granting Hampton's wish to leave.
At the outset of jury selection, Ito welcomed her warmly as a panelist who was used to living in hotels for her job and might not mind life in sequestration.
Last week, when an airline ticket stub came into evidence, Ito tried a friendly remark about Hampton's expertise on airline matters. ``Don't forget, we have an airline expert sitting here,'' he said. But she showed no response.
For the first time since she was sequestered Jan. 11, Hampton arrived at her View Park home, where she lives with her parents, and was greeted by reporters, photographers and camera crews.
``I'm fine now that I'm home,'' Hampton said as she unloaded her belongings - including suitcases, a Monopoly game and a stair-stepper exerciser - from a deputy's car.
Ito said he found ``good cause'' to dismiss Hampton, but he gave no reason in open court for her departure.
by CNB