Decision ‘08

Delayed Justice: The Butcher of Brentwood Guilty on All Counts

Sorry to go non-political on you, but the most appalling jury verdict of all time has met at least a partial redemption. Though O.J. Simpson is forever innocent, in the eyes of the law, of the criminal charge of brutally murdering his ex-wife and Ronald Goldman (a crime that any sentient person knows he committed beyond all doubt, not just a reasonable one), he has been found guilty of 12 counts, including kidnapping and armed robbery, in connection with an ill-advised confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas. Though Simpson will, of course, appeal, he may very well spend the rest of his miserable life behind bars:

O.J. Simpson, who went from American sports idol to celebrity-in-exile after he was acquitted of murder in 1995, was found guilty Friday of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Mr. Simpson, 61, could spend the rest of his life in prison.

A weary and somber Simpson released a heavy sigh as the charges were read by the clerk in Clark County District Court. He was immediately taken into custody.

The Hall of Fame football star was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 12 other charges for gathering up five men a year ago and storming into a room at a hotel-casino, where the group seized several game balls, plaques and photos. Prosecutors said two of the men with him were armed; one of them said Simpson asked him to bring a gun.

The verdict came 13 years to the day after Mr. Simpson was cleared of murdering his ex-wife and a friend of hers in Los Angeles in one of the most sensational trials of the 20th century.

Good riddance to bad rubbish…

14 Responses to “Delayed Justice: The Butcher of Brentwood Guilty on All Counts”

1 peter Says:
October 4th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
From today’s Borowitz Report:

At the University of Minnesota’s School of Law, professor Davis Logsdon said there is “a valuable lesson to be learned” from Mr. Simpson’s conviction: “Apparently, in America it’s easier to get away with murder than stealing sports memorabilia.”
2 Bob from Ohio Says:
October 4th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I have always thought OJ’s son Jason killed them. Just a hunch, of course I don’t know it.

Same DNA history. It would also explain the fact that the gloves were too small.

It was the terrible DAs that got OJ acquited. The gloves demonstration alone raised a reasonable doubt.
3 Aaron Says:
October 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Didn’t Simpson lose a lot of his money between 1995 and now — not only due to court costs for the murder case, but also in the subsequent civil suit for wrongful death?

If so, that would seem a good reason why he couldn’t get away with this while he got away with murder: he wasn’t able to afford even one exceptional defense attorney, let alone four.
4 Mark Says:
October 4th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
No, the gloves demonstration raised a reasonable doubt about the IQ of the DAs. The gloves were weathered, with dried blood, and had shrunk. Additionally, they were put on OVER a thin set of gloves OJ was wearing at the trial.

Really, any review of the evidence shows conclusively that OJ killed both of them. There is NO DOUBT. The DNA evidence was not only convincing, but conclusive (a 1 in 6 billion match). As to his son Jason, well, that’s absurd.

Briefly:

OJ was seen running in the shadows to his house by the limo driver, dressed all in black, at about the same time that Kato Kailan (sp?) heard a loud noise near the fence of the property, where one of the gloves used in the killing was later discovered. In his haste to meet the limo and keep his alibi, OJ left blood in his bronco, on the driveway, and in his house (blood samples in the Bronco included the 100% guilt-proving mixture of OJ, Nicole, and Ronald Goldman’s DNA mix.

OJ admitted the crime to many friends, and was overheard confessing in the jail awaiting his trial to a former NFL player turned pastor, Rosie Greer.

OJ had cuts on his hands when questioned by police that he could not explain.

But I’m not going to retry OJ in these comments - I suggest you read any of the dozens of books written in the wake of the trial, and review the evidence. It really is one of the most open-and-shut cases of all time…
5 Mark Says:
October 4th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Aaron, yes, OJ lost the civil case and was found liable for the wrongful death of Nicole and Goldman. Unfortunately, he has used a variety of tricks, including trusts and offshore accounts, to shield his income from the Goldmans. I believe that they have yet to see a cent of the $35 million judgment. OJ, meanwhile, has lived quite well off of his noteriety. I assure you he, to this day (though perhaps not any longer), lives a lifestyle that would fill any one of us with envy - though, of course, he has to live with the fact that he murdered two people in cold blood, a circumstance that doesn’t seem to bother him much, but will someday…
6 bill honer i Says:
October 4th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
During the murder trial in Los Angeles, my hope was that the jury would acquit Simpson because of Detective Mark Fuhrman’’s perjury and other issues of police/prosecutorial malfeasance. This desire was based upon Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holme’s observation that is better for 12 guilty men to go free than for one defendant to have his rights violated and be found guilty. Although there is circumstantial evidence that Simpson killed his wife and Ron Goldman, I can appreciate the reaction of people of color who believe in his innocence because of their awareness of how the police have often violated the rights of Blacks and Brown’s in America.

Circa 1990, the Harvard School of Criminal Justice concluded that race played a factor at every stage of the criminal justice process. Only children and fools could assume that, in racist America, considerations of race worked to the advantage of people of color. Less than 50 years ago, blacks and browns in the South could not enter the same stores, restaurants, concerts, or schools as whites, and were subjected to other forms of discrimination.

White Americans (I happen to be one) might contend that this is not the case, and that the police are generally unbiased in their views of people of color. Such arguments are reminiscent of light skin Jamaicans arguing that there is no shade prejudice on the island of Jamaica, while dark skin Jamaicans contend that shade prejudice does indeed exist. Simpson has demonstrated antisocial tendencies throughout the years. His behavior appears to have finally caught up with him. I suspect that he will do very well in prison, where he will be surrounded by others with sensibilities similar to his own.
7 Mark Says:
October 4th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
So O.J. should go free for murder because black people have historically been screwed by the justice system, and because Mark Fuhrman lied about using the N-word? Tell that to the Goldmans…
8 dch Says:
October 4th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Wow Bill, its amazing that in the year 2008 anyone could write something as stupid as you just did. “Racist America” delivered as a fact not an opinion, maybe you are talking about your inner feelings. BTW-people of color, actually do get certain advantages based on heir skin color don’t they-college admissions, affirmative action, maybe you have heard of this stuff. Gee, quoting the Harvard School of Criminal Justice-I am sure no ivory tower lefty bias there.. I tell you what, just so you and the Oliver Wendell Holmes of the world can demonstrate your moral superiority to everyone, hopefully, a member of your close family will be the victim of a violent crime, maybe a murder or a rape, (someone has to be why not you and yours?) and hopefully the perpetrator will be freed because of some perceived police and prosecutor misconduct. I am sure you would have no problem with that, right?
9 Bob from Ohio Says:
October 4th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
There is NO DOUBT.

Well, since it is in all caps,it must be true.

You feel very strongly about this. I am just mildly interested.

It was just one trial. Guilty people get off daily.
10 Mark Says:
October 5th, 2008 at 3:02 am
I mean no offense, but it did mean a lot to me. I worked at the time in law enforcement, kind of, and believe me when I tell you, the not guilty verdict hit hard….it was a real let-down, considering how open and shut the case was…
11 Jaded Says:
October 5th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Good news….indeed!
12 eric Says:
October 5th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I am a conservative law and order republican, but the 1994 situation should have nothing to do with this case. We are not a society of revenge. If any of the jury says that their 1994 opinions swayed their 2008 decision, that will serve up an appeal on a platinum platter.

I came across your site through the Pajamas Media site.

My blog is the Tygrrrr Express.
www.tygrrrrexpress.com

If you feel it is of a high quality, please consider a link or blogroll exchange.

Also, I get a decent amount (not Pajama-sized!) of traffic, in case you have anything
you would like to promote.

Respectfully,

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
13 Mark Says:
October 5th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I’m not saying this case should have anything to do with the 1994 case, don’t get me wrong - I’m just glad to see him go down for something, even if it’s not the heinous double murder he committed…
14 bill honer i Says:
November 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
dch, you think racism in America is an opinion , not fact? Less than 50 years ago, Blacks and Browns in America were denied access to schools, restaurants, and many other public facilities, and suffered other forms of discrimination. Reading yur response, I fear your your educational opportunities in life may well have been limited. Is that the case? Bill