DIRECT EXAMINATION OF KERMIT CHANNEL BY MR. JOHN FOGLEMAN
[Note: The abstract copy didn't include pages 438-472]
[473]
MR. PRICE: This concludes my proffer.
CROSS EXAMINATION OF KERMIT CHANNEL BY MR. PRICE
This knife right here which has been listed as E-169 and the exhibit sticker is Exhibit 77. I performed an analysis for blood on that knife and assigned it a different number, a Q-133. (TR 2161) This is a photocopy of a report that I performed on this knife in which I concluded that no blood was found on Q-133. So this knife right here, Q-133, is my Q number. That's correct. (The report was introduced as Defendant Echols' Exhibit 10 without objection.) On May 26th, 1993, I received a 3 page letter from Gitchell of the West Memphis Police Department requesting answers to questions he had about certain pieces of evidence. (TR 2162) Question 14 states, "Is there anything which would indicate a black male involvement?"
CROSS EXAMINATION OF KERMIT CHANNEL BY MR. FORD:
The third page of that letter dated 5-26-93 states: "Anything you can think to give us would be greatly appreciated. We need information from the Crime Lab desperately. Today is the third week the boys are missing. Tomorrow, 2-27-93, will be the actual third week. We feel like we have not gotten sufficient information from the Crime Lab. (TR 2163) We realize that you have other cases coming in and must go to court on other matters. However, this case has received national recognition and without the Crime Lab's information, our hands are tied. The efforts of everyone in
[474]
the Crime Lab is greatly appreciated. The officer investigating this matter and myself need this information We feel as though we are walking blindfolded throughout the case at this moment. Please answer the above questions a soon as possible and fax it to my attention." With respect to the tests that I conducted, I did not find one thing to link Baldwin to this crime.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION OF KERMIT CHANNEL BY MR. FOGLEMAN
With the limited amount of evidence, I did not find anything to link anybody. Gitchell also was asking questions to Peretti about not having any information on time of death The ability to find blood on the knife, State's Exhibit 77, would be effected if it was submersed in water. (TR 2164) The submersion of a knife in water would be detrimental to any blood that could possibly be on a knife along with the surface tension of the blade itself. I would find it highly unlikely on any object like that being submerged in water, whether it is a knife or basically any item. Surface tension is the area of the knife. I would not expect to find any blood if it were submersed. There was nothing that I did that indicated the involvement of a black male. (TR 2165)
