UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, March 13, 1995
7A
LAPD may have missed evidence
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — The way O.J. Simpson's lawyers put it, you couldn't find a bigger bunch of bunglers than those in the Los Angeles Police Department.
But did Keystone Kops so botch the investigation that none of the evidence can be trusted? Or is the evidence so strong defense lawyers are taking desperate stabs at sowing doubt?
"The defense has no choice. Because the evidence is so overwhelming, they have to attack the police investigation," said Vincent Bulgioti, a former Los Angeles prosecutor who tried Charles Manson.
Week after week, the defense grilled officers about oversights in the investigation.
"Then we get there, and you want to tell us when he died? Everybody trampled around. Whose footprints
are those? Yours? Theirs?" said Juan J. Jimenez, the coroner's assistant chief of investigations. "They dropped the ball. They've done this on numerous occasions."
LAPD spokesman John Dunkin defended the investigators as well-trained and experienced.
"I'm disappointed that people are prone to make offhand statements based on limited information," he said.
But Dallas police Sgt. Jim Chandler said such criticism was routine
"In the absence of a witness to discredit, they have to discredit the collection of evidence and procedures," he said. "We see it in virtually every criminal trial."
Although Detroit police Lt. William Rice said they would not have been tolerated in his department, he thought the LAPD slip-ups were insignificant.
Forensic pathologist Cyril H. Wecht of Pittsburgh said the opposite.
"It was horrible, a debacle, inexcusable, unforgivable... to say these are routine or acceptable errors," said Wecht, past president of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. "Til tell you what I would expect in the year 1994 in the second-largest metropolitan area — near perfection."
Defense lawyer Johnnie Cochran Jr. said in his opening statement
that the evidence would be shown to have been contaminated and corrupted.
Among the defense targets: some of Simpson's blood given to police a day after the killings allegedly is missing; blood on a gate at the murder scene wasn't analyzed for weeks; no photographs were taken of a cup of melting ice cream or candies at the murder scene that might have helped pinpoint the time of death; and blood found on Ms. Simpson's back wasn't tested.
The defense also contended that Detective Mark Fuhman, who is back on the stand this week, might have planted a bloody glove at Simpson's estate and framed him.
Dunkin said such accusations
verged on ludicrous.
"It's a typical homicide investigation," Detective Philip Vannatter said last week. "People are making something out of nothing."
Florida hospital site of fatal mistakes
Man dies following removal of respirator in second incident
The Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — A hospital that amputated the wrong foot of one patient admitted Saturday to a fatal error with another, saying a 77-year-old man died after a staff member mistakenly removed his respirator.
Lee Alfonso died March 3 at University Community Hospital after an employee believed he had disconnected another patient's respirator, the hospital said in a news release.
"A health care worker failed to properly identify the patient before carrying out a medical order," the hospital said.
The employee, who wasn't identified, did not consult Alfonso's medical chart, check his identification bracelet or follow other procedures to confirm his identity beforehand, the hospital said.
Alfonso died less than an hour later, according to Tony Cunningham, Alfonso's family attorney.
The hospital said the worker, employed for 2 1/2 years, had a clean record. The employee was suspended until an investigation could be completed.
On Feb. 20, a surgeon amputated Willie King's left leg below the knee, but it was his right leg that was supposed to have been removed. He has been transferred to Tampa General Hospital.
"It's almost unbelievable that this
particular institution has had two incidents like this in such a short time. It's awful," said Emilio Echevarria, a surgeon on Florida's Board of Medicine. "They better quickly look at all their procedures and protocol. I'm shocked."
A report has been filed outlining the latest error with the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation and with the Agency for Health Care Administration. Both departments are expected to conduct investigations.
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M-F 9-6
Sat 10-3
816 W. 24th Behind Laird Noller Ford 749-5750
A lecture will be held in the Kansas Union Ballroom on
APRIL 5,1995 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are available at S.U.A. STUDENT for $10. (Limit 4 per person). SENATE ON SALE TODAY!
Mondays are special at Molly's!
Open to all majors
Flexible hours
On-campus office
Applications due by 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 28.
Call 864-3728 for information
Pick up applications at
428 Kansas Union
(Organizations and Activites Center)
Accepting Applications for the 1995-96 Jayhawker Yearbook Editorial Staff
- Gain experience in journalism,business and management.
Positions Available:
EDITOR AND ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Journalism major preferred or journalism experience required. BUSINESS MANAGER: Business major preferred or business experience required. PHOTO EDITOR: Fine arts or photojournalism major preferred or photo experience required. ASST.PHOTO EDITOR: Fine arts or photojournalism major preferred or photo experience required. MARKETING DIRECTOR AND ASST.MARKETING DIRECTOR: Marketing major preferred or marketing/ communications experience required.
Awareness
Carrie Peter
"If you think that AIDS could never happen to you, then please listen to my story.
I thought AIDS was somebody else's problem, not mine. I was not a member of any high risk group. I lived in a very small town, I never used I.V. drugs or had a blood transfusion. I am a middle class, middle American, heterosexual female. Never believing for one moment that AIDS would ever touch my life, I donated blood,, and on February 26, 1988, I learned that I was HIV positive. Everything about my life has changed and many of my dreams have been taken from me. Please don't take any chances. I don't want anyone else to take even one step in my shoes."
Coming March 15 Kansas Union Ballroom 7:00 P.M.
Sponsored by Sigma Kappa and GAMMA