OJ Simpson is a former American football player who in 1995 was prosecuted for the murder of his wife and a friend of hers. This is considered one of the trials that has received the most attention in American history, although it also had a great impact in international media. We tell you all about the OJ Simpson case: origin, trial, resolution and controversy.
Before talking about the case itself, it is also important to talk a little about the life of this Football player and why it is a case that has gone down in history. The truth is that Simpson was active for 10 years and was part of two teams, the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49erswhere he retired in 1979.
His fantastic performances led him to be included in the Hall of Fame in 1985, nothing more and nothing less, than the first year in which he could have been chosen to enter. In addition to this, he had become an icon not only of American football, but also of the pop world of the United States.
This is thanks to the fact that he formed his own film company called Eastern Productions and appeared in several feature films such as The Naked Gun with Leslie Nielsen. In addition, she was one of the figures that was most used as the face of propaganda for companies from different sectors; all this until what happened between 1994-1995, the trial for his murder.
What was OJ Simpson convicted of?
As we had anticipated above, OJ Simpson is condemned for the murder of two peoplehis wife, nicole brown simpson and a friend of hers, Ronald Goldman. Firstly, OJ Simpson was declared innocent, however, we will see how this whole process unfolded and, more importantly, how the American population experienced this process, a latent problem in American society, the racial question, gaining importance.
It cannot be forgotten that -only- three years of the so-called Los Angeles Riots of 1992 or the Rodney King revolt, another trial that involved the racial issue in the middle. It is essential to highlight that the couple, with two children, had differences that, in her own words, could not be reconciled and that this had been formalized in 1992 when the divorce process began.
Keep learning:
The evidence against OJ Simpson
It is one of the most controversial aspects of the entire trial, since the evidence seemed more than clear so that in the sentence it was decreed as guilty of the murders to the star of the NFL, however, one of them, as we will see, allowed that first was acquitted.
In this trial of Simpson, there is knowledge of evidence presented and not presented before the jury.
Submitted:
- The evidence we are referring to is that of Simpson’s DNA, obtained through the blood found on the bodies of those murdered and which coincided with or was found to be a mixture of the blood of the three individuals involved in the case, that is say, the killer (OJ Simpson) and the two killed (Goldman and wife, Nicole Brown).
- A left glove was found that was bloody, this glove matched a right glove found in the home of OJ Simpson. It was therefore determined that it was the same pair.
- Hair from Simpson was found on the shirt Goldman was wearing when he was killed.
- There is also another series of evidence that is a little less clear, such as that relating to the footprints of the shoes that OJ Simpson was wearing when he carried out the murder; It also “recalled” the allegations of domestic assault prior to Nicole Brown as well as certain footprints on the carpet from a Ford Bronco driven by OJ Simpson.
Not presented:
This evidence was not presented at trial because much of it is based on information that cannot be contrasted, such as the visit of Rosey Grier, a former football player and pastor, to the prison and Simpson’s alleged confession heard by a prison guard, however, Grier is also claimed to have urged him to confess and Simpson did not.
There is also talk of a Ford Bronco being seen in the area of the murder by neighbors. Likewise, there are testimonies such as that of Rosa López that, although they were recorded on a video camera, were not brought to trial due to lack of verification that what was said could be true.
It is also said that OJ Simpson’s wife had called a women’s shelter a few days before the event claiming that she was afraid of her ex-husband and that she felt in danger. Nor could it serve as definitive proof. The knives from the Ross cutlery – where OJ Simpson supposedly acquired the knife – and their respective invoices were delivered, but they did not transcend much in the case.
OJ Simpson trial
The trial began on January 24, 1995, the presiding judge was Lance Ito and his jury was a mix of people from different races as well as different sexes, in order to avoid controversy.
Meet more relevant characters:
OJ Simpson’s Defense
Simpson got the best possible lawyers for his defense, in fact, he was known as the Dream Teamwho headed it first Robert Shapiro and later Johnnie Cochran. Just think that with all the evidence that we have seen before, this group of highly reputable lawyers managed to first avoid the conviction of murder and get Simpson acquitted.
How was the defense argued? Very simple, they succeeded convince the jury that DNA testsa very recent technique at that time, they were manipulated and badly done, which the judges believed.
Did OJ Simpson go to jail?
Yes, indeed, later he would not be saved from his sentence and would pay not only with prison but also with the payment in damages of 33 million dollars to relatives, which have not been paid in full, but only a small part.
Simpson in 2017 manages to get out of jail preventively, moving to a parole regime.
It may interest you: