July 20, 1995 - Part 2
July 20, 1995 - Part 2
(10:35:24) Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE, Not behind the file cabinet, not buried in some other material, but where people can find them. Is that so? Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Detective Braun-Sergeant Braun now. Congratulations on your promotion. You were training Detective Rolla on the evening of July 20, 1993; correct? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. How long had you worked together? Ms. BRAUN. Probably about a month. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You were the more experienced investigator on the scene; is that correct? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Your experience told you that if someone was going to leave a suicide note, the likelihood is that it would be left in a place where it could be discovered? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. What is the point of having a report of investigation? Ms. BRAUN, Our criminal reports? Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Yes. Ms. BRAUN. It is to document what occurred, what actions we took. Mr, BEN-VENISTE. The idea is to memorialize for purposes of later referral the important things that have either been observed, taken into custody or done in connection with your investigation? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. So when you're asked a question today, what time did you depart Mr. Foster's home on the evening of July 20, 1993, you don't have to guess. You can look at your report and it says 23:10; correct? Ms. BRAUN. Correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. So you know that by writing a contemporaneous note and then typing it up in a report, that you will have satisfactory information for later reference or inquiry about an important event, that is, when you left the Foster home; correct? Ms. BRAUN, That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Now, at any point that evening-let me reiterate what I think you've already testified. You were in plain clothes rather than uniform? Ms. BRAUN. Yes, sir. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. The house began to fill up quickly with friends and relatives of the Foster family to provide solace and share in the grief; correct? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. At any point, do you recall making a request to search the Foster home? Ms. BRAUN, No, we did not. 163 Mr. BEN-VENISTE. That was because you did not think it was appropriate to do so, I take it? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. That's their private place. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Nothing in your training tells you that in a suicide investigation you ought to attempt to search the home? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Do you recall asking whether a suicide note had been found? Ms. BRAUN. No, I don't recall asking that. We spoke to different individuals at the scene-I'm sorry, at the home, and we were trying to obtain information through communication with them regarding Mr. Foster's state of mind. Normally, those are things that spontaneously come out at a death notification. The family is usually very forthcoming with that kind of information. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Do you specifically recall asking Mrs. Foster whether a note had been found? Ms. BRAUN. I did not communicate with Mrs. Foster. Investigator Rolla did. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Detective Rolla, did you specifically ask Mrs. Foster whether a note had been found? Mr. ROLLA. No. What we asked, basically, was did they see this coming, was there any indication of depression or anything. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. But I'm focusing on the note right now. Mr. ROLLA. No, we didn't ask for a note. Mr. BEN-VENISTE- Did you ask her to search for a note or help her search for a note? Mr. ROLLA. We asked her to please look around. If she finds anything out of the ordinary, if she finds a note or anything, please give us a call. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. So you did ask her? Mr. ROLLA. Yes, we asked her. Mr. BEN-VENISTE, You left it to Mrs. Foster to do the search at the house? Mr. ROLLA. That's correct. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. It did not occur to you and it would have been extremely inappropriate to have requested that the house be sealed in some way as though it were the scene of Mr. Foster's violent death? Mr. ROLLA, No, that would be ridiculous. We'd look for cooperation.