OJ Simpson Case

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OJ Simpson The Trial of the Century

Transcript of OJ Simpson Case

OJ SimpsonThe Trial of the Century

OJ SIMPSON

TRIALO.J. Simpson allegedly murdered his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman on June 12th, 1994 outside their house in Los Angeles. We chose this case because over the years it has developed into a high profiled cased and has become very controversial. The significance of this case to the study of law is that even with overwhelming evidence it is believed that there was an error of impunity due to the malpractice of police officers leading evidence contamination and dismissal. Because of the acquittal he is unable to be charged again despite new evidence proving his guilt due to the Double Jeopardy Law.Error of

Impunity:

lapses that result in criminals either remaining at large or receiving sanctions that are below a socially optimal level.

A procedural defense that forbids a defendant from being tried again on the same (or similar) charges following a legitimate acquittal or conviction

Double Jeopardy Law:

DEFENDANT

OJ Simpson was born July 9th 1947, in San Francisco, California. He was a first round pick running back for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in 1968 and was later traded to the San Francisco 49ers until 1979. After a successful football career of setting countless NFL records he was inducted into the football Hall of Fame in 1985.  In retirement he became a popular NFL broadcaster and T.V show actor. In 1967, Simpson married Marguerite L. Whitley and together they had three children: Arnelle, Jason and Aaren. In 1979, his son Aaren drowned in the family’s swimming pool and later that year Simpson Whitley divorced. In 1985, Simpson then married Nicole Brown and together they had two children: Sydney and Justin. Two years later, in 1989 Simpson pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge and later was divorced from Nicole in 1992.

RESPONDENTS

Nicole was born on May 19, 1959 in Frankfurt Germany, later immigrated to Southern California. In 1977, while working as a waitress at an upscale Beverly Hills nightclub, she first met O.J Simpson. Although he was married at the time the two began dating and six years later, after divorcing his first wife, the two married and had two children. Throughout the marriage family members would recount seeing bruises on Nicole’s body. After several incidents Nicole reported O.J and he was arrested for assault in 1991. A year later she filed for divorce.

Nicole Brown

Ron GoldmanRon was born July 2nd 1968, raised in Illinois, and was murdered when we was 25. In his adult years he moved to Los Angeles, California and worked as a waiter at a high end restaurant. It was thought that him and Nicole were romantically involved although he previously denied this.

CRIME COMMITTED

On June 12, 1994 Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman, were found murdered outside Nicole’s Los Angeles condo entrance. Both had been stabbed to death, and showed signs of defensive wounds on their hands and forearms. However, Nicole had been blatantly over killed, being stabbed dozens of times in the head, also leaving a gaping wound in her neck through which the larynx could be seen and several vertebras incised.

After several days, many crucial DNA pieces of evidence found at the scene of the crime had been analyzed and lead police to O.J Simpson as their prime suspect. The LAPD later issued a statement to the media saying that they were allowing O.J to turn himself in by June 17th. When he failed to appear an all-points bulletin was released.

THE INFAMOUS CAR CHASE

Later that night O.J’s Ford Bronco was seen being driven by friend, Al Cowlings down the interstate. OJ was located in back seat with a gun pointing to his head stating that he was going to kill himself if any police approached the vehicle. As well, 24 letters were sent to friends and family resembling a suicide note, all beginning with “First everyone understand I had nothing to do with Nicole’s murder… Don’t feel sorry for me. I’ve had a great life”. With over 20 police vehicles and 15 helicopters involved with the low-speed chase quickly became a national televised broadcast. The chase finally ended, after several hours, at Simpson’s home when he surrendered to the LAPD. In the vehicle $8000 cash, a change of clothes, a fake mustache, a small hand gun and a family portrait was found.

EVIDENCE

-Trace amounts of blood found on a rare imported size 12 shoe prints near the bodies, OJ owned a similar pair-Blood samples from the crime scene that matched Simpson's DNA

-A pair of dark, leathered gloves was found at the crime scene. A similar pair was found at Simpson's house, along with bloody socks that had DNA from Simpson and Nicole

-The glove appeared to have matched DNA and blood of Nicole, Ronald and O.J. There was also a strand of blonde hair, similar to Nicoles on the glove

-Blood found on the outside, doors, steering wheel and carpets of his vehicle. The blood also matched DNA to O.J.,Nicole and Ronald

-Dark african american hair was found on Ron Goldman

-Limousine driver, Alan Park testified that OJ was not home at time of murder

THE PROSECUTION

Although there was no murder weapon found or witnesses to the murders, the prosecution was still able to present a strong case agains OJ. The prosecution used the DNA evidence and OJ’s weak alibi as their main arguments for the case. There was several traces of Nicole and Ron’s blood found on OJ as well as Oj’s own blood at the crime scene. OJ changed his story several times, first stating that he was “sleeping at home” and later changing his story several times to say he was “packing for a trip” and “hitting golfballs in the backyard”. Another argument the prosecution presented was that OJ has had a history of violence when it came to Nicole. Also that Limousine driver, Alan Park testified that OJ was not home ,at10:35, the time of murder as he was waiting outside the home and no car was in the driveway.

THE DEFENSE

The defense was said to be “The Dream Team”, also presenting a strong case. First they claimed that OJ, a 46 year old retired football player with chronic arthritis would not be physically capable of even carrying out the murders. However this was disputed as merely months earlier, OJ had produced a successful exercise and heavy weight lifting video. Despite the overwhelming amount of DNA evidence at both the crime scene and OJ’s house almost all DNA evidence was dismissed and was not considered to be a reliable or accurate in this case due to errors made by the police officers collecting evidence. This is because not only was the crime scene open to the media and possibly contaminated, but leading criminalist Dennis Fung admitted to not wearing rubber gloves while collecting evidence as well as having “missed a few drops of blood on the fence by the bodies” and only returning to the crime scene weeks later to collect the evidence.

“If the glove don't fit you must acquit” was a phrased coined by one of Simpson’s defense lawyers when the glove found at the scene of the crime, supposedly the murders, did not fit OJ.

SENTENCING

On October 3, 1995 an estimated 100 million people worldwide tuned in to hear the sentencing. Before the verdict, President Bill Clinton was even briefed on security measures if rioting were to occur as the jury’s decision was announced. After only 4 hours of deliberation the jury returned the verdict not guilty.

THEORY

Unfortunately with minimal available evidence it is our belief that there was an error of impunity with OJ Simpson for the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. The reason being not only for the overwhelming evidence against him that had to be dismissed, but his actions both immediately and years after the crimes committed. Our theory is that being on the verge of a mental breakdown, although divorced, seeing Nicole with Ron caused OJ to snap and murder both in a jealous rage. So consumed with his guilt for the violent act he became suicidal.

Years later the theory that OJ is in fact guilty of the double homicide is still disputed as he released a book called “If I Did It”, suspiciously making the “If” almost invisible, so as to read “I Did It”. As well, a second book was released by Mike Gilbert, a close friend of OJ’s entitled “How I Helped O.J Get Away With Murder.