OJ Simpson Case Summary
The Crime
In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Orenthal James Simpson or OJ Simpson was a
well-known celebrity within North America. He was an all American
Football player who turned to acting and sports casting after he retired
from the National Football League. On June 12, 1994 Nicole Brown, OJ’s
ex-wife, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, were found murdered outside
Nicole’s residence. The scene of the crime took place outside Ms. Brown’s
condominium complex, where two murdered bodies were discovered in the
entrance pathway. The police scanned the scene of the crime carefully
searching for evidence. They found crucial DNA evidence that supported
their idea that Mr. Simpson had been involved in committing these
murders. The LAPD issued a statement to the media saying that they were
allowing OJ Simpson to turn himself in by June 17 at 11:00 a.m.
OJ Simpson did not report to the police station on June 11th, but his
lawyer and close friend Robert Kardashian addressed the media with a
note that Mr. Simpson had written to the public. In this note Mr. Simpson
stated:
“To whom it may concern: First, everyone understand I have nothing to do
with Nicole's murder. I loved her, always have and always will. If we had a
problem, it's because I loved her so much.
I've had a good life. I'm proud of how I lived. My mama taught me to do
unto other. I treated people the way I wanted to be treated. I've always
tried to be up and helpful so why is this happening? I'm sorry for the
Goldman family. I know how much it hurts.
Don't feel sorry for me. I've had a great life, great . Please think of the real
O.J. and not this lost person. Thanks for making my life special. I hope I
helped yours.”
Mr. Simpson explained how he loved Nicole very much and he wished he
had spent more time with his friends and family. Upon hearing this letter
many people believed that OJ was planning to commit suicide and were
correct in assuming so. Following the release of the letter, the infamous
car chase took place while broadcasted on live television. OJ Simpson's
Ford Bronco was spotted driving down the interstate, being driven by his
friend Al Cowlings. Mr. Simpson was located in the rear seat with a gun
pointing to his head stating that he was going to kill himself if any cop
approach the vehicle. Within the video below detective Tom Lange talked
to Simpson while the car chase was taking place. He pleads with Mr.
Simpson to stop this chase and not to commit suicide. Every news station
within the world broadcasted the chase as the police chased Mr. Simpsons
white bronco at slow speeds down the highway. Citizens flocked to the
overpasses to watch as the truck passed them while being followed by
numerous cop cars and news helicopters. The chase finally concluded at
Mr. Simpson's home and came to a dramatic end when Cowling parked in
the driveway and cried to OJ to not to take his life. Mr. Simpson finally
listened to his close friend, surrendered to the LAPD, and was arrested.
The Trial
The trial for OJ Simpson was given the name “the Trial of the Century”. It
became the most publicized case of all time within the U.S. The state of
California spent over twenty million dollars on this one case alone. It
received more media attention than serial killers such as Charles Manson.
OJ pleaded not guilty on both accounts of murder and on January 29, 1995
the trial people vs. OJ Simpson began. Even though the prosecution had
no fingerprints, witnesses, or murder weapon, they were confident that
they would convict Mr. Simpson. They relied on crucial DNA evidence to
prosecute him. Some of the evidence the prosecution relied on was the:
• Bloody footprints of shoes that matched shoes Mr. Simpson owned.
• Hair Samples located on the bodies and crime scene
• Articles of clothing that were located at Mr. Simpson residence
The prosecution also called DNA experts to testify that blood found at the
crime scene matched Simpson's blood and that blood from both of the
victims. The experts explained that the blood sample obtained within the
Ford Bronco and at Mr. Simpson residence were direct matches, leaving
the jury to believe that OJ had tracked the blood back to his residence after
he committed the murders. Although there was substantial DNA evidence
against Mr. Simpson, the handling of this evidence by the LAPD was
unprofessional in the least. The way it was handled by the police lead the
courts and jury to believe that something was not right. The defense
highlighted the faults of the LAPD and how Mr. Simpson was framed.
The defense team that represented OJ Simpson was called the “Dream
Team”. The lawyers that were part of this team were:
• Robert Shapiro
• Johnnie Cochran
• F. Lee Bailey
• Alan Dershowitz
One of their main arguments was the police mismanagement of the case.
The Defense focused on discrediting the Los Angeles police department.
They claimed that the police failed to conduct a well-constructed, proper
investigation. Johnnie Cochran addresses the court stating that main
police involved within the case were racist. He argued that police
Detectives tried to frame Mr. Simpson of the crime by planted crucial
evidence like the bloody glove in his residence. This lead to the famous
court act where OJ Simpson tried on the murder gloves discovered in his
home and to much surprise the glove did not fit.
" If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit "- Johnnie Cochran
After many months of deliberation and numerous witnesses within the
criminal trial, 12 juries finally came to a verdict. Mr. Simpson was found not
guilty in both counts of murder. Society was shocked by this verdict due to
the DNA evidence presented and how obvious the evidence pointed
towards Mr. Simpson. Many critics of the trial argued that the mishandling
of the evidence by the police department was the reason for this verdict.
Directly after Mr. Simpson criminal trial concluded, a civil lawsuit was filed
against OJ by the parents of Ronald Goldman. The outcome of this trial
was different from that of the criminal. The lawyer for the Goldman family,
Mr. Petrocelli brought crucial evidence into this trial which was not involved
within the Criminal trial. A lie detector test that Mr. Simpson completed
after the crime was examined, which showed how OJ had failed this test.
This test involved questions asking if he had involvement within the crime.
The jury within this trial awarded the Goldman family and the Simpson
children 12.5 million dollars in compensation.
