Day 8 - February 21, 2007

James Lenk testified that he saw no key when he checked slippers beside Avery's bedroom cabinet, then found one on the floor after Colborn moved the cabinet and Lenk briefly left the room. Lenk said officers believed it had fallen through an opening in the cabinet; he did not see it fall. He denied planting the key or blood. Outside the jury's presence, the court allowed questions about a 2002 evidence transmittal while noting that no evidence of a blood vial had yet been received at trial. On cross-examination, Lenk acknowledged that his current account of his November 5 arrival time differed from an earlier sworn estimate, and said he had not told lead investigators about his recent deposition in Avery's civil lawsuit before joining the searches. Detective Dave Remiker described a brief November 4 search of Avery's residence and said he then had no other reason to think Avery was involved. He testified that he matched the RAV4's VIN to Teresa Halbach's vehicle and directed officers not to touch it. He also described an answering-machine recording admitted as Exhibit 218 and a bullet fragment found during a March 2 garage search. Outside the jury's presence, counsel addressed an undisclosed report; the defense did not seek a mistrial and said the parties had agreed on a curative measure, without describing it here. The court later denied the State's request to question Remiker about Avery's prior conviction. Daniel Kucharski then testified that the November 6 garage-search team found an estimated 10 or 11 .22 long rifle shell casings.