LOS ANGELES, July 31 -- A television reporter refused Monday to reveal her confidential sources in the O.J. Simpson double-murder case who told her that Nicole Brown Simpson's blood was found on socks found in the former football star's bedroom. KNBC-TV reporter Tracie Savage invoked the state's reporter's shield law in refusing to answer defense attorney Gerald Uelman's questions about her sources. Quoting unidentified sources 'close to the investigation,' Savage had reported last September that DNA tests showed blood matching Nicole Simpson's was discovered on a pair of socks found in Simpson's bedroom. In fact, both sides now acknowledge that DNA testing had not even begun at that point on the socks. Superior Court Judge Lance Ito said he would decide later whether Savage's invocation of the state shield law to protect her sources is outweighed by the defendant's right to a fair trial. The defense argued that the information was leaked by Los Angeles Police Department personnel before the tests were completed would bolster their theory that a conspiracy existed to frame the athlete- turned-actor for the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. Defense attorney Robert Shapiro also asked to call author Joseph Bosco to testify about getting similar information from a police source. Shapiro told Ito that Bosco's source was 'a badged member of the Police Department.' The article appeared in Penthouse magazine and Shapiro said the information was leaked to Bosco about the same time it was leaked to Savage.
Ito gave Bosco time to consult a lawyer before answering any questions about the source of the information. Before resuming testimony Monday, the defense tried to determine whether prosecutors would use photographs and videotape of Simpson wearing leather gloves while working as a football commentator to cross- examine a defense witness. The witness performed shrinkage tests on gloves similar to those found at the murder scene and at Simpson's Brentwood estate. Defense attorney Peter Neufeld said showing tapes and photos of Simpson wearing Brown leather gloves would be prejudicial. A right glove was found on Simpson's estate and a left glove was found near the bodies of his slain ex-wife and her friend. 'Can you establish the foundation that those gloves are the same gloves?' Ito asked prosecutor Marcia Clark. 'Yes, I can,' Clark replied, barely concealing a small smile. 'Interesting,' Ito said before quickly calling a sidebar conference with lawyers. After a brief conference, Ito told Neufeld that the prosecution was entitled to cross-examine the witness on factors that were not considered in the glove shrinkage tests. Neufeld said the defense would chose not to introduce the glove test. Neufeld then resumed questioning bloodstain expert Herbert MacDonnell, who testified that blood on one sock found in Simpson's bedroom had soaked through and left a stain on the inside of the opposite side. MacDonnell used a sock slipped off the foot of defense attorney Johnnie Cochran to explain the stain to jurors, and said it could not have been made while the sock was being worn. MacDonnell testified earlier that the bloodstain on the sock was not a spatter stain butwas smudged or smeared. The defense claims it was planted. Simpson, 48, is on trial in Superior Court for the stabbing and slashing deaths June 12, 1994 of his ex-wife and her friend. The NFL Hall of Fame running back could receive a life sentence without possibility of parole.
