The 17 *New* Hairs

[RubyB]

First, I'd just like to say that calling that a bag of garbage is disingenuous. It was a bag of trash. Where I come from there's a distinction!

From CSI II GB's report this information is gathered. The car was brought into the forensic garage on the evening of July 16th. The trash bag from the tow yard's dumpster was also brought in that evening. A visual inspection and pix were taken of the car and trash bag. The maggot evidence was collected that evening and the contents of the bag were boxed up. The inspection on the car was continued on July 17th, and GB found what he found and documented same. His report says that he didn't get back to the contents of the trash bag until Aug 8th, when he completed an inventory of those items. For whatever reason, he failed to collect the trace evidence from these items at that time (hairs in question).

So Dr Lee hits town and takes a look in the car trunk and he did apparently find a hair there! So then he asks to see the bag of "garbage", and was told that the bag wasn't available, but he was welcome to inspect it's contents. So as Dr Lee is checkin out this box 'o trash, he observes a few hairs on soda cans and what not. Then Dr Lee leaves and GB gets busy collecting ALL the hairs from the trash items(17). I'm sure it was embarrassing, but not exactly EPIC FAIL!! It was an oversight and I'd expect that those hairs can be matched up with all those people crashing at TL's, since it's been established that that's where this bag 'o trash came from.

JB was lookin' for a "What about that, Mr Fung?" moment (at a motion hearing, no less) but he certainly wasn't gonna get it on this 17 hairs BS. I submit that JB's clumsy attempt = EPIC FAIL.

And another thing, I'm kinda disappointed at the number of you who think that Dr Lee carries nanny hairs around with him just hoping for an opportunity to bolster some psycho's defense.:razz:

 

[suspicious1]

Let's not get too upset about JB claiming the Dr. Lee found all these hair. This was JUST a motions hearing - that is all. IF he tries to use the same type of defense at the actual trial - the SA will be able to show exactly who found what, where they found it and when it was found - it's all there in the reports.

Dr. Lee, poor guy, was VERY good at what he did in the past. He made some serious errors and not many people are taking him seriously any more. I know people who have met him and every one says he is really a nice guy. I would be interested in knowing if he has testified in any other cases since the Specter fiasco? Do I think Dr. Lee 'planted' hair - NO! If you look at the transcript for the NG show he was on in November - he goes out of his way to praise OCSO and they way they handled the evidence - and I am sure the SA office had that transcript with them in court the other day, just in case they might have needed it

Worry more about this if it brought up at trial - don't worry too much about it now. It did give the SA a heads up as to what kind of defense is going to be presented. The defense can try to discredit every single piece of forensic evidence they want - it won't make a bit of difference once the jury hears '31 days'!

Absolutely!!!!!!:clap:

 

[seagull65]

Remind me to never commit murder, cause if ONLY 17 hairs of mine were found at the crime scene, it would have been a good hair day for me. I swear, everytime I shower or brush my hair, 1700 (!) hairs come out of my head. I should be bald or balding! lol

me too, Ripley (Smiley doesn't have that problem)

 

[seagull65]

I think Dr. L is still very respected and all the talk about planting hairs was only joking, surely. But it's true about the M. Peterson trial. In that trial wasn't he the person who said it was "too much blood for a beating" ?

 

[Ripley007]

I think Dr. L is still very respected and all the talk about planting hairs was only joking, surely. But it's true about the Peterson trial. In that trial wasn't he the person who said it was "too much blood for a beating" ?

I'm so bad, I actually sent you a thanks for agreeing with my previous posts....

I don't recall Dr. L** ever being acussed of any misdeeds till the Phil S case where he was accused of HIDING eviedence, not planting it. As I believe the way I believe about the Phil S case...Dr. L is still suspect in my mind...JMHO.

 

[Macushla]

I think Dr. L is still very respected and all the talk about planting hairs was only joking, surely. But it's true about the M. Peterson trial. In that trial wasn't he the person who said it was "too much blood for a beating" ?

Dr. Lee has always been considered a really nice man. As for still very respected - not so much, within the Forensic Science community - at least from what I read. While the talk here about planting evidence may be joking, he did step WAY over the line in the Spector case and it, unfortunately, has taken the 'shine' of his reputation. Most importantly, that one error on his part will now be used at every single trial where he testifies and that will make a lot of defense people shy away from him. Most expert witnesses must be 'above reproach' when it comes to their reputation simply because anything negative publicity can be used to discredit them.

 

[MD MOMMY]

Okay I give up, what is the difference between garbage and trash?

 

[Ripley007]

Okay I give up, what is the difference between garbage and trash?

Prolly jumping in where I am not welcome...just guessing OP might have been pointing to "trash" as non-food type items and "garbage" as possibly rotting food items (ie-causing a "smell".) ***NOTE****there was NO Pizza found inside the Pizza Box....

 

[SuziQ]

Seagull and Ruby, why would I be joking, and why would it be disappointing to suspect someone of planting evidence, when a judge ruled that this same person removed and hid evidence in another case? You may not agree with that line of thinking, but it's absolutely a valid one. IMO, the only people in the field of forensics that still hold this guy in high regard, either have no knowledge of the judge's ruling in the Spector case, or have a short memory.

http://crime.about.com/b/2007/05/25/...d-evidence.htm

(snips)
In a stunning ruling, the judge in the Phil Spector murder trial ruled that a world famous forensic scientist removed and hid evidence from the crime scene. After hearings outside the presence of the jury, Judge Larry Fidler said he was convinced Dr. Henry Lee removed the evidence, but he stopped short of holding him in contempt.


Making the claim more credible is the fact that the witness who said she saw Dr. Lee pick up the white object was at the time an attorney working for Spector's defense team, Sara Caplan. Judge Fidler said she was the only witness who testified during the hearings that he found "completely credible." The judge said, "If Dr. Lee has this object, he's to produce it forthwith."

 

[Hot Dogs]

Okay I give up, what is the difference between garbage and trash?

One is waste, and the other is huge waste.

why would it be disappointing to suspect someone of planting evidence

It must have been hilarious for the OCSO team, who were watching Dr. Lee, to see him pulling hairs out of his pocket and sprinkling them on all sorts of evidence items.

 

[SuziQ]

One is waste, and the other is huge waste.




It must have been hilarious for the OCSO team, who were watching Dr. Lee, to see him pulling hairs out of his pocket and sprinkling them on all sorts of evidence items.

I'm sure after what happened in the Spector trial he'd be more careful the next time. Who knows if Dr. Lee did anything wrong in this case. The point is and remains, if people are suspicious of him, it's for a good reason.

 

[Ripley007]

I'm sure after what happened in the Spector trial he'd be more careful the next time. Who knows if Dr. Lee did anything wrong in this case. The point is and remains, if people are suspicious of him, it's for a good reason.

True, we don't want people tried by predudice juries, but yet I too hope THE KC jury is aware that HL has been discredited in the RECENT past. I simply don't get his statement to NG about finding maggots in KC"S trunk. Seems everything he says supports the prosecution, however, he's a HIRED def witness. I don't get it. And WHY were there still live maggots in KC's trunk? Maybe her little body spent much more time in here than previously supported by LE?....Confussed for sure...

 

[weasel]

Now that wouldn't surprise me at all :furious: He is such a old has been and he has already thrown to many cases or tried to. His incompatence set OJ
Simpson free but it didn't work for Michael Peterson and the spitting of the ketsup. Henry Lee is like a snowball rolling downhill. It's time to retire Henry.

I agree. However, I don't believe he's at all incompetent. He is a hired gun, usually for the defense. He has long ago learned that the defense side of a case pays better. He will say whatever he is being paid to say. Same thing with Baden.

 

[RubyB]

Okay I give up, what is the difference between garbage and trash?

Long, long time ago, when I used to stay w/my GM in CT, she would have to separate the trash from the garbage (food waste, which I was told was fed to pigs?!) That was before garbage disposals, and come to think of it, that's a pretty good decider right there. If it goes in the disposal, it's garbage. The rest goes in the trash. Bottom line, to me anyway, is those food wrappers and containers in that bag were not garbage

 

[RubyB]

Dr. Lee has always been considered a really nice man. As for still very respected - not so much, within the Forensic Science community - at least from what I read. While the talk here about planting evidence may be joking, he did step WAY over the line in the Spector case and it, unfortunately, has taken the 'shine' of his reputation. Most importantly, that one error on his part will now be used at every single trial where he testifies and that will make a lot of defense people shy away from him. Most expert witnesses must be 'above reproach' when it comes to their reputation simply because anything negative publicity can be used to discredit them.

I first became aware of Dr Lee in the Wm Kennedy Smith trial and was fairly impressed w/him. But I personally resent his role in the OJ affair and thought he embarrassed himself in the M Peterson trial. We'll never know what actually transpired in that Spector debacle; I can't imagine what he could have been thinking. Dr Lee knows he's got to rehabilitate his reputation, and I doubt that this will be the venue for him to do so. If the defense wants to retain him to take a look at what LE has as evidence, then I'm sure he's happy to accommodate that request. Who knows what is going on behind the scenes, but his inspection of the car can only be termed "cursory". I will be extremely surprised if we find that Dr Lee is willing to don his hip waders to venture into this quagmire, after the hit his reputation has taken. I just don't think that he'll actually take the stand on KC's behalf, let alone tamper with the evidence.

FWIW, I think that Dr Baden is a buffoon!! That's the dude's whose rep is completely shot! He sold his soul to FOX so he could get face time to speculate on current affairs. He's gone from professional witness to professional talking head in no time. He also embarrassed himself greatly in the Spector trial (for his marriage I assume).

 

[ym523]

I think Dr Lee had the hairs in his pocket.

I think so too, wasn't he the Dr that was in trouble for planting evidence?

 

[Spangle]

If the pushup bra don't fit, you must acquit!

Oh I hope not.. cause after all those candy bars......

 

[ziggy]

Ruby - they are both Buffoons if you ask me! Dr. Lee's credibility has been going down hill for a long time and he's got a big enough ego (like all the rest) that he won't be able to save himself. I would love for the prosecutor's to expose these liars for hire on the stand.

Dr. Lee actually believes he is all that but he can't even understand questions that are asked of him...or can he? Is he just pretending he does not understand the English language and how long has he lived here? I just don't trust him. my opinion only.

 

[RubyB]

Ruby - they are both Buffoons if you ask me! Dr. Lee's credibility has been going down hill for a long time and he's got a big enough ego (like all the rest) that he won't be able to save himself. I would love for the prosecutor's to expose these liars for hire on the stand.

Dr. Lee actually believes he is all that but he can't even understand questions that are asked of him...or can he? Is he just pretending he does not understand the English language and how long has he lived here? I just don't trust him. my opinion only.

Cool, I can live w/that!
Just please tell me that you don't honestly believe that he showed up in Orlando armed w/nanny hairs to plant under OCSD's watchful eye. I mean really. It just strains credulity.

 

[faefrost]

I think so too, wasn't he the Dr that was in trouble for planting evidence?

Not exactly. While inspecting the crime scene of the Phil Specter case he found something that witnesses identify as one of the victims fake fingernails, which had apprently broken off. he pocketed that piece of evidence, and it subsequently disapeared never to be seen again. There is much speculation that that piece of evidence alone could have clearly proven that there was a struggle, and that the victim did not "comit suicide" as LKB claimed in court. (one does not break off pretty salon fake fingernails when simply shooting oneself).

This is why LE in the Caylee case would not let Dr. HL within touching distance of the scene where Caylee's body was found, and stopped him in the street.