SIDEBAR #5 (2:50-2:53)
DIRECT EXAMINATION OF DR. FURTON BY JA - continued
You would agree there is not enough material in the things we just looked at to produce the odor present in the trunk? No - he could not agree with that.
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
He thought it would be unlikely that those materials would leave a smell that would still be present 2 years later.
You have done work in studying human detection canines?
OBJECTION - OVERRULED
You were provided info regarding the canines used in this case?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
You would agree that the items found - well trained human remains detection dog?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
No further questions by JA.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY JB
There was no bleach stain that was apparent to him. He never testified to that.
Chloroform levels - why didn't you go to Iran to get that paper? (WHAT?) Why didn't you read that one? He said he may have read it, but he only relied on the articles that he had at his disposal. He is sure there are many out there and he would be happy to read them.
The one he relied on were in the United States? He read peer reviewed papers. He did not know if the Iranian paper was peer-reviewed.
Regarding Slide #3, the chemical compounds are none of the 5 sited in Dr. Vass's study. None of these were found by Dr. Vass?
OBJECTION - OVERRULED
These are compounds found in his studies and were different than Dr. Vass's.
Longitudinal studies. How long?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
Would the chemical compounds of long term study be relevant to this case?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
Would the chemical compounds assist him in his opinions?
OBJECTION BY JA -that's a (?) violation -
SIDEBAR #6 (3:02-3:03)
In your opinion, would the chemical composition of a body buried over a year be of any assistance in evaluating this case? It would be of limited use, but it is important to look at the body of knowledge. It is known that buried remains will vary compared to above ground remains. There are limited publications.
Are you aware Caylee was last seen on 6/16 and the car was left at the Amscott on 6/27? Yes.
Are you aware Dr. Vass did his first readings until 17 days later?
Dr. Vass, after 8 years of study, ended up having a conclusion as to the uniqueness of the chemicals found. What were his findings?
OBJECTION - hearsay - SUSTAINED
Do you have an opinion if the chemical composition of decomp is unique?
OBJECTION - asked and answered - OVERRULED
It is known that the 5 compounds that were in the end relied upon by Dr. Vass are not unique to human decomp.
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED and jury is asked to disregard
What else could account for these chemicals being in the trunk? Would that include a bag of garbage in the trunk for 3 weeks?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
They could be contributors to the compounds found in the study. And could the gas be a contributor?
OBJECTION - hypothetical - SUSTAINED
Do you know the chemical composition of the trunk before the garbage went in there? No. He would hae to know that to give an accurate analysis.
Something was decomposing - that could also be garbage?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
He was shown Defense Exhibit C. He sees the garbage on the left and the garbage on the right. Do you see they are altered?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
It appears that the garbage has been removed and spread out onto a long table.
He doesn't know if food items were thrown out between collection and drying.
OBJECTION - OVERRULED
Recess until 3:25
Trash does appear to be pretty clean.