3:29
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY DAVID DEAN BY JB
In 2008 he was an Orange County meter reader.
He remembered 8/11/08. He was reading meters that day. He recalled stopping off of Suburban Drive with a co-worker he was training and RK. He was asked to go help RK out and then they stopped there to rest before they headed back into the office.
He was shown Defense Exhibit 57 - the aerial map
He ID'd Suburban Drive and Hopespring Drive and where they parked. There were two trucks. There were three of them.
They went to the school and lift station and then went and parked under the shade to take their break.
He guesses the A's lived down the way and all the media was there.
What did you say?
OBJECTION - relevance - SUSTAINED
They did not discuss the media.
Did you say anything to RK?
OBJECTION - OVERRULED
When they pulled up, he told RK that Caylee's body might be in the swamp. Then RK went into the woods to relieve himself and then came out and walked along the bushes. He said he had seen a skull down in there. DD said he had to go look at it and was heading that way and almost stepped on a big rattlesnake. At that time they found the snake more interesting than the skull. After he picked the snake up and put it in the truck, RK left and came over to where they were. That was when he figured RK was not serious.
This skull ultimately turned out to be Caylee's?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
Was this case common conversation at work?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
He discussed this case at the office. It was on the news every day.
It was the highest profile case?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
They went back to the office and he showed everyone the snake and then a lot of people started taking pictures.
The skull did not come up in conversation again that day.
RK did not tell him he called 911 the next day or days after that or in September or October. He did not tell him that he met a deputy.
OBJECTION - eliciting hearsay and leading - SUSTAINED
Up until 12/11 did RK tell him anything about the skull?
OBJECTION - asked and answered - SUSTAINED
He heard the call that came over the radio on 12/11. Did you hear RK say he found the skull?
OBJECTION - hearsay - SUSTAINED
He recalled the radio transmission. Did RK sound excited?
OBJECTION - leading - SUSTAINED
RK then came over and said what he found. Was it startling?
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
The call was at or near the time that RK found the skull.
JB - EXCITED UTTERANCE
LDB - witness said that RK spoke in a normal voice.
HHJBP TO WITNESS: Please describe RK's state of voice on the radio.
DD - he felt he was talking in a normal tone.
JB - I would ask that the court reporter read back.
OBJECTION SUSTAINED
What did you say to RK when the call came in? He said - I told you she was in there.
He did not see a skull on August 11.
Did anyone else say they saw one? No.
He kept the snake he found. He put it in his freezer. The police came and took it from him. They said they were going to do an autopsy on it.
RK went into the woods about 25 feet into the woods.
No further questions.
CROSS EXAMINATION BY LDB
He told RK on 8/11/08 that he felt like the body was in there. He felt like it was his idea that sent RK into the woods. On 12/11 when he said he told RK that it was in there, it was not because he had anything to do with it, it was because he thought it would be a good place and because of what ICA had said about her being close.
It was a swampy area. In 8/08 the woods are pretty dense. It was dry in some areas. The late August rains hadn't hit yet. It is usually a swamp. There are a lot of Cypress in there. There are times when it is full of water? Yes.
He was familiar with Tropical Storm Fay shortly after that.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY JB
Woods were dry enough for RK to go in 25 feet where he was. Some parts are wet and some are dry?
OBJECTION - leading - SUSTAINED
Where RK was, it was dry. It was so dense, you can't see in there.
ICA's statement - that was something he recalled. Did he recall GA's statement that she was close to home?
OBJECTION - speculation - SUSTAINED
Witness excused at 3:49
10 minute comfort break to 4:00