When did O.J. Simpson die? ‘Dateline: Secrets Uncovered’ delves into the trial of 'The People v. O.J. Simpson'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: O.J. Simpson passed away on April 10, 2024, due to prostate cancer.
After serving nine years in a Nevada prison, Simpson was granted parole in 2017. In the following years, he resided quietly in Las Vegas, often engaging in activities like playing golf and occasionally taking photos with fans who remained intrigued by his celebrity status.
When was O.J. Simpson first arrested?
O.J. Simpson was first arrested on June 17, 1994, in connection with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
The following day, a grand jury convened to decide on an indictment but was dismissed on June 23 due to excessive media coverage potentially influencing neutrality. Instead, a probable cause hearing was held to determine trial eligibility. Judge Kathleen Kennedy-Powell ruled on July 7 that there was enough trial evidence.
At his second arraignment on July 22, when asked for his plea, Simpson firmly declared: "Absolutely, one hundred percent, not guilty." Judge Lance Ito was assigned to preside over the case.
What details of the 'Nicole Brown Simpson' case came out during the trial of 'The People v. O.J. Simpson'?
During the trial of 'The People v. OJ Simpson', it came out that Nicole Brown struggled with the decision to report the abuse to the police due to her financial dependence on O.J. Simpson.
In one instance, she had recounted before her death about how Simpson broke her arm during a confrontation. To avoid him being arrested, she falsely claimed to emergency room staff that she had fallen off her bike.
Brown has also detailed numerous incidents of abuse, including public beatings, assaults during sexual encounters, and even in the presence of family and friends. Despite experiencing abuse on 62 occasions, the police were only notified eight times, resulting in Simpson's arrest just once.
On February 25, 1992, Brown filed for divorce from Simpson, citing "irreconcilable differences". Following their divorce, Brown reported that Simpson stalked and harassed her as a means of intimidation to coerce her into returning to him.
She recounted incidents of him spying on her and her new boyfriend, leading her to fear for her life. Brown drafted a will as a precautionary measure. On June 8, 1994, a woman believed to be Brown called Sojourn, a women's shelter, expressing her fear of Simpson and her refusal to reconcile with him, indicating a desperate need for safety.
OJ Simpson's attorney Johnnie Cochran claims 'The People v. O.J. Simpson' trial is a 'rush to judgment'
On January 18, 1995, Johnnie Cochran assumed the role of lead counsel for the defense in the O.J. Simpson trial. This pivotal moment marked a significant shift in the legal strategy of Simpson's defense team.
Additionally, Judge Lance Ito ruled that the jury would be permitted to hear evidence regarding Simpson's alleged history of domestic abuse toward Nicole Brown. This decision had the potential to significantly impact the direction of the trial and the perception of the defendant in the eyes of the jury.
On January 25, 1995, the defense, led by Johnnie Cochran, commenced their opening statement in the 'The People v. OJ Simpson' trial. Cochran framed the case as a rush to judgment and an obsession with winning at any cost.
This narrative aimed to challenge the prosecution's case and sow seeds of doubt in the minds of the jury.
The jury finds O.J. Simpson 'not guilty' in the 'The People v. OJ Simpson' trial
Simpson sought a speedy trial, prompting both defense and prosecuting attorneys to work tirelessly for several months to ready their cases. The trial commenced on January 24, 1995, seven months post the murders, and was televised via closed-circuit TV cameras by Court TV, along with partial coverage by other cable and network news outlets, spanning 134 days. Judge Lance Ito presided over the trial at the C.S. Foltz Criminal Courts Building.
On September 28, 1995, the defense presented its closing argument. Cochran delivered his famous phrase, "If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit," to the jury following the prosecution's closing arguments the day before.
After deliberating for less than four hours, the jury returns with a verdict of not guilty on two counts of murder, declaring Simpson a free man.
Families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman sue O.J. Simpson for 'damages' in civil court
On October 23, 1996, a civil trial against O.J. Simpson commenced for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
The families, including Ron Goldman's father Fred Goldman, filed a lawsuit against Simpson for damages in civil court, alleging wrongful death. The trial began just over a year after Simpson's acquittal in the criminal trial.
On February 4, 1997, following a lengthy civil trial that lasted for five months, the jury unanimously found O.J. Simpson responsible for the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. They awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages to Goldman’s parents.
A week later, the jury determined that Simpson should pay an additional $25 million in punitive damages to both victims' families.
Fred Goldman, Ron's father, expressed his satisfaction with the verdict, stating, “The jury decision of last Tuesday was the only decision important to us, to find the killer of my son and Nicole. The money is not an issue. It never has been. It’s holding the man who killed my son and Nicole responsible.”
'Dateline: Secrets Uncovered' Season 12 airs new episodes every Wednesday at 8 pm ET on NBC and is available for streaming on Peacock the following day.