The O.J. Simpson trial for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, with Simpson as the primary suspect in the case, is the “Trial of the Century.”
The O.J. Simson murder case and trial are one of the most infamous criminal trials in American history.
Due to its details and wide media coverage, people often refer to the murder case as the ‘Trial of the Century.’
The involvement of O.J. Simpson immediately drew media attention causing havoc. However, his friend Robert Kardashian stayed alongside him and defended him throughout the trial.
Police filed the case on June 12, 1994, when people identified the bodies of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
Insider reports suggest that the crime scene was extremely gruesome, with multiple stab wounds on victims’ bodies.
The 1994 O.J. Simpson Trial For Homicide Of Ex-Wife And Friend, Exposed America’s Racial Divide, Legal Controversies And Biases
After police discovered the bodies, the initial investigation began, and Simpson was arrested on June 17.
During the interval, the LAPD formally charged the former NFL star with two counts of murder. His two murders include the killing of his ex-wife and good friend.
The murder trial officially began on January 24, 1995, and ran over eleven months till the final verdict on October 3.
The court selected the jury on November 3, which resulted in a jury composed of four men and eight women.
Moreover, the prosecution delivered its opening statement and strongly asserted that Simpson killed Brown and Ronald.
The initial statement was linked to O.J. stabbing them both out of jealousy and due to a personal grudge.
On February 12, 1995, the jury visited key locations related to the case and studied the crime locations.
During the preliminary investigations, the police, alongside the jury, presented the DNA evidence and linked it with Simpson’s blood.
Simpson’s blood was present on the floor of the crime scene, which solidified the prosecutor’s case.
The later court date, June 15, 1995, went on to become an iconic moment in the O.J. Simpson trial.
The court ordered the alleged murderer, Simpson, to try a pair of leather gloves, which didn’t fit him properly.
And after it didn’t fit, the defense attorney Johnnie Cochran famously stated, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.“
Though the case looked simple and subtle, media and experts believed the false interpretation of the case and misconduct.
However, it became clear to everyone once the attorney presented a taped recording of LAPD Detective Mark Fuhrman.
In the tape, Detective Mark used racial slurs which raised further questions about police conduct and bias in the case.
Alongside the attorney, O.J.’s long-time friend Robert Kardashian’s primary role in his infamous double murder trial.
People believe Robert saved him and saved him from public fallout despite all the allegations and hearings.
He was already retired from practicing law but reactivated his legal career to assist O.J. Simpson during the trial.
The lawyer was the man who stood with Simpson’s trial lawyer and navigated the team through legal complexities.
The controversial trial remains a landmark event in legal history. Despite its deeply polarizing background, Judge Lance Ito and the jury acquitted him of all charges on October 3, 1995.
Jury Acquitted The NFL Player Despite Shocking Identification of O.J. Simpson’s DNA At The Crime Scene
The O.J. Simpson murder case revolves around the brutal murders of Nicole Brown Simpson, his ex-wife, and her friend Ron Goldman on June 12, 1994.
A passerby alerted the police by midnight, and they found Nicole and Ron murdered outside of her condominium.
They were killed in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, with multiple stabbing wounds on their bodies.
While Brown was lying on the ground near her front door, her friend was located nearby, close to a tree.
Before the LAPD detectives reached the crime scene, the LA County coroner’s office identified the body.
Investigations revealed that Nicole Brown suffered severe injuries, including a cut in the carotid artery on their deep neck.
Detectives predicted the wound to be the indication of a violent struggle. However, there were more wounds on Ron’s body, which suggests his attempts to defend himself.
Following the discovery, investigators quickly focused on O.J. due to his tumultuous relationship with Brown.
She previously alleged him of domestic violation, and the case became more strong as they found his blood on the floor.
On June 13, 1994, police interrogated the NFL star and noted a finger injury consistent with that of the killer.
The investigation further explemfied when Simpson became a fugitive and resisted arrest by fleeing in a car.
Detectives arrested him after a highly publicized low-speed chase in a white Ford Bronco driven by Al Cowlings.
After the arrest, his trial began in January 1995 but concluded on his behalf. The jury found him not guilty of the murders.
His attorney capitalized on racial divisions, but O.J. Simpson was still found liable for wrongful death in a civil trial in 1997.
However, the court ordered him to pay 33.5 million in damages to both families. The controversial verdict made the trial one of the most complex American trials of all time.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- O.J. Simpson suffered from rickets in his childhood, so he had weaker bones.
- Before excelling in football, Simpson was a standout athlete at the University of Southern California (USC).
- The infamous slow-speed chase on June 17, 1994, overpassed the NBA Finals game.
