"Nobody wants to hear a good book about O.J.," Scotto grumbled.
After the defense rested, prosecutors called a pair of rebuttal witnesses. The case's lead detective suggested that Scotto's wife -- though attorneys initially thought he blamed Scotto -- tried to tamper with witnesses during the preliminary hearing. The defense moved for a mistrial, which was denied after extensive arguments outside the presence of jurors.
"I'm surprised you haven't seen my head spin and fire come out of my mouth," snapped Judge Jackie Glass.
A key question in the case is whether Simpson saw weapons during the incident or told anyone to bring them; nearly everyone else in Room 1203 testified to seeing at least one gun.
Alexander and McClinton said they carried a .22-caliber Beretta and a .45-caliber Ruger, respectively. Simpson, McClinton said, further ordered him to "show" his weapon and "look menacing."
In a recording McClinton secretly made after the incident, a man identified as Simpson asks McClinton whether he pulled out "the piece" in the hall -- and in view of security cameras. McClinton repeatedly says no.
"There ain't nothing on that video . . . ain't nothing they can see," Simpson says.
Scotto, who has a voice so soft that the judge repeatedly told him to speak up, said McClinton and Alexander approached him the next night at Stewart's home. Scotto testified that they said he and Simpson needed to pay up "or else," and that there were no weapons in the hotel room.
Scotto's testimony was part of a defense attempt to portray Simpson as a victim of his shady cohorts -- not their ringleader.
Defense attorneys also suggested that Alexander was willing to shade his testimony for a price.
On Oct. 3, 2007, Alexander left a message for Scotto in which he asked for help.
"I will do whatever I can," Alexander said in the voice mail repeatedly played in court. "And I think I can do quite a bit."
Alexander testified that he needed help getting a lawyer. Scotto said that wasn't the case.
"His testimony was for sale," Scotto said.
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ashley.powers@latimes.com
