Lee Bailey. Despite strong evidence against Simpson, the lawyers successfully raised doubts about the handling of the evidence. Lead prosecutor Marcia Clark appeared to have a strong case against Simpson, as a glove matching the one found near the dead bodies surfaced on Simpson's property, while DNA testing connected him to the bloodstains left behind.
However, Cochran famously dismissed the matching gloves in his closing statements, noting, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit. Simpson trying on gloves during his murder trial. On October 3, , the jury found Simpson not guilty of either murder. It was one of the most-watched events in television history, with million people tuning in to hear the verdict. Simpson was hauled back to court for a civil trial, and in February he was found liable for the wrongful deaths of Brown Simpson and Goldman.
Simpson moved to Florida in , in large part due to a state law that prevented his home from being seized to help cover the civil damages. He auctioned off memorabilia to raise money and harbored hopes of returning to show business, although he found himself back in the headlines after allegedly attacking another driver in a road-rage incident in December He was acquitted the following October.
In October , Simpson was convicted of 12 counts of armed robbery and kidnapping, along with Clarence "C. The two men were found guilty of robbing two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room in Simpson, who was immediately taken into custody, told police that he had just been trying to reclaim his possessions.
In December , Simpson and Stewart were sentenced to up to 33 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after nine years. Simpson spent nearly nine years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping. He was sentenced to prison on December 5, , and was released on parole on October 1, I followed what I thought was the law," the former running back testified in a Las Vegas courtroom.
I didn't break into anybody's room. I didn't try to muscle guys. The guys had my stuff, even though they claimed they didn't steal it. On July 31, , Simpson's parole request was granted for five of the convictions that had landed him in prison in , including two for kidnapping, two for robbery and one for burglary with a firearm. The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners made the decision based on the lack of previous criminal convictions on Simpson's record, although he was forced to remain behind bars for related sentences.
Simpson's legal team filed an appeal for a new trial in October , but the Nevada Supreme Court panel rejected the appeal in September , ruling that there was no reason to overturn the lower court's decision. On July 20, , year-old Simpson appeared via video conference from Lovelock Correctional Center in front of the Nevada Board of Parole in Carson City to make his case to be set free.
At the hearing, which was live-streamed and broadcast on television, Simpson answered questions from the four-person parole board about his crime, saying he knew the memorabilia dealers well and that he owned the property he took from them.
Simpson also said, "I'm not a guy who lived a criminal life. I'm a pretty straight shooter. When speaking about his jail time, he mentioned that he started a Baptist religious service in prison and that he followed the rules. Simpson also said that if released he was looking forward to spending more time with his family: "I've missed a lot of time, like 36 birthdays with my children.
He made a mistake. The parole board granted Simpson's parole and he was released from the Lovelock Correctional Institute in Nevada just after midnight on October 1. The Department of Corrections released a short video of Simpson leaving the prison:. Around the time of the book's originally planned publication, Simpson taped an accompanying interview with HarperCollins publisher Judith Regan. However, it was shelved due to the victims' families concerns that Simpson would find a way to profit from its broadcast.
At least one gun was drawn. The potential for harm to occur in that room was tremendous. When you take a gun with you and you take men with you, to show, in a show of force, that's not just a, 'Hey, give me my stuff back. Simpson apologized in court for his actions, saying, "I didn't know I was doing anything illegal.
I'm sorry for all of it. Simpson was sent to prison. In , Simpson's bid for a new trial was rejected, but he was granted parole that same year on some of the charges, based on good behavior. Simpson was not released from prison at that time, since his prison sentences were set to run consecutively. He had to wait until to appear again before the parole board. In July , Simpson was granted parole , with an earliest possible release date of Oct. Before the decision was announced, Simpson gave his account of the botched robbery to the parole board, telling the board members how he learned that some "some guys" were trying to "fence" what he said were his personal mementos in Las Vegas.
I was there for a wedding and [was told that] the property was there. You know? Actually guys who helped me move, helped me move and store some of this stuff. All I want is my property. I wasn't there to steal from anybody. Simpson added, "I haven't made any excuses in the nine years I've been here and not trying to make an excuses now.
Simpson ultimately surrenders at his house a little before 9 pm. He is arrested and thrown in jail without bail. Simpson pleads "absolutely, percent not guilty" to the murder charges. Judge Lance Ito is assigned to the case. Prosecution decides not to pursue the death penalty and instead, seeks life without parole for the defendant if he's convicted. The initial jury is selected and is made up of four males and eight females. Eight of the jurors are Black, one Hispanic, one white person and two mixed race.
Shapiro tells the media that he and another one of Simpson's defense attornies F. Lee Bailey are no longer on speaking terms. Johnnie Cochran becomes lead counsel for the defense. Judge Ito rules that the jury is allowed to hear evidence of Simpson's alleged domestic abuse towards Brown. Prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden make passionate opening statements.
Cochran begins his opening statement on behalf of the defense. The jurors take a field trip to Simpson's Rockingham home and Brown's house, now labeled a crime scene. Detective Mark Fuhrman is cross-examined and denies being racist. He also objects to the defense's theory that he undermined the investigation by tampering with evidence. For a second time, Kaelin takes the stand and describes how he spent his evening with Simpson just hours before the double homicide occurred.
Criminologist Dennis Fung admits that proper protocols were not entirely enforced at the scene of the crime. The DNA testimony begins and jurors learn one day later that one in million people, including Simpson, would have the genetic characteristics as a drop of blood that discovered at the crime scene.
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