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“No. I mean I wasn’t there obviously when they were being murdered. You know, when the wounds were spewing blood and it was fresh.”
“But if you had been?”
“Well, both the victims’ carotid arteries were cut, so blood would have been flying out of both bodies like water from little fire hoses.”
Jack looked back at Christine in time to see her shudder and cover her eyes.
“So would you expect some blood to end up on your clothes and shoes if you had been there when the murders occurred?” asked DuBose.
Battle rose and objected to this line of questioning.
DuBose turned to the judge before he could rule. “Surely a medical examiner with as much experience as Mr. Till is qualified to give an opinion about blood residue on clothes and shoes and blood patterns in a crime scene. For why else is he here?”
“I am giving you a lot of leeway, Miss DuBose, but there are limits. Objection sustained. Move on,” said Ambrose.
DuBose said, “All right, Mr. Till, let’s get to some facts you apparently can testify about. Did your wife have to clean the soles of your shoes when you got home that night?”
“What? Uh, no. There wasn’t any blood on them. I mean just a tiny bit.”
“A tiny bit? Like the amount on the bottom of one of Mr. Washington’s shoes?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And in your opinion, why was that the case, I mean with your shoes?”
“Well, it’s fairly obvious. I got there when the blood had dried and hardened. When blood does that it loses its viscosity, meaning its stickiness.”
“What time did you get there?”
“Around ten past seven.”
“So you had very little blood on your shoes despite the enormous amounts on the carpet because the blood had dried and lost its viscosity?”
“That’s right.”
“And what would be the reason why Mr. Washington’s shoes would have almost no blood on the soles?”
Ambrose made to raise his gavel but DuBose saw this and added, “In your professional opinion, of course?”
“Well, same reason as for me. The blood was...” Till looked puzzled now.
“Mr. Till?” she prompted.
“Um, well, it could be because the blood was already dry when... he entered the room, and had lost its viscosity.”
“And in your opinion, how long would it take for blood to dry to that extent?”
“On a warm day like that on a porous surface such as that wool rug, the blood will begin to dry in about a minute. But it will retain its viscosity for up to half an hour.”
“So let’s get this as clear as possible for the jury. In your professional opinion, if Mr. Washington killed the Randolphs, would you expect to find blood on his clothes and the tops and soles of his shoes?”
“Now, isn’t that speculation?” asked Ambrose.
“I asked for his professional opinion, Judge.”
“I’m sorry. That’s still speculation and I cannot allow it.” He eyed the audience. “Same as I would rule if the commonwealth had tried something like that.” He turned to the jury. “You are instructed to disregard that last question by defense counsel.”
“All right,” said DuBose. “Mr. Till, the dirty footprints you found of Mr. Washington’s, the ones you’ve already testified to?”
