Research Paper on "OJ Simpson Case"

Research Paper 4 pages (1381 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

O.J. Simpson Case:

Orenthal James Simpson, who is commonly known as OJ Simpson, was a renowned celebrity in North America in the 1970's and 1980's. This celebrity was an all American footballer who ventured into sports casting and acting following his retirement from the National Football league. Together with her friend, Ronald Goldman, OJ's ex-wife, Nicole Brown, was found murdered outside her residence on June 12, 1994. Since the crime was carried out outside Ms. Brown's residence or condominium complex, the two bodies were found in the entrance pathway as law enforcement officers carefully scanned the scene of the crime in search of evidence. In this process, the police identified critical DNA evidence that supported the notion that Simpson has been involved in the murder of the two individuals. Despite of declining an initial plea by LAPD to turn himself in, OJ Simpson eventually surrendered to Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and was arrested. This was after a long chase that almost culminated in Mr. Simpson committing suicide until his friend, Al Cowlings, convinced him otherwise.

OJ Simpson Trial:

OJ Simpson case or trial was declared as the trial of the century since it replaced Lindbergh kidnapping and became the most publicized case in the history of the United States. Unlike serial killers like Charles Manson, OJ Simpson's trial received increase media attention as the state of California spent more than $20 million on the case alone. Due to its consideration as the trial of the century, Simpson's case has actually been one of the most studied, observed, and debated incidents in America's history. This case was characterized by discovery of two murders that are described as butchery, apprehension of a high-profile sports hero as the suspect, the suspect's attempt to flee the country, the circus televised trial, and verdict that surprised the nation and lead to its polarization along racial lines (Nickell & Fischer, 1998, p. 205). Moreover, this case brought the spotlight of controversy into the whole field of criminology, especially forensic serology and crime-scene investigation. Actually, the successive civil trial was regarded as an attempt to redeem the perception of justice that was disenchanted by OJ Simpson's criminal trial.

The trial of OJ Simpson commenced following his not guilty plea of both accounts of murder while the prosecution was confident of convicting him though they lacked the murder weapon evidence, witnesses, or fingerprints. The prosecution's confidence in convicting the suspect was mainly based on the crucial DNA evidence such as hair samples on the two bodies and crime scene, bloody shoe footprints matching Simpson's shoes, and clothing articles in his residence. Since the prosecution lacked witnesses, they called DNA experts to testify that the blood found at the crime scene not only matched that of the two bodies but also matched Simpson's blood. In addition to the hair, fiber, shoe and blood evidence, the prosecution also used glove evidence and others like Simpson's strange reaction to a phone call informing him of the murder of Nicole Brown and flight in Bronco.

In order to convict him, the prosecution argued that Simpson cut his hand while committing the murder which left a trail of blood from the crime scene in Bundy to his Bronco and his residence at Rockingham (Thompson, n.d.). The prosecution account also stated that the blood of the two victims was transferred to the Bronco since it was splattered on the suspect and soaked the glove the suspect carried with him to drop behind his house. While the suspect disposed the clothing he had at the crime scene, he left his socks since he did not realize that they were strained with Nicole's blood.

As measures to prove the suspect's innocence, the defense account or story had various elements that countered the prosecution's account. These elements included that Simpson had bled at his home and in the Bronco since he cut himself at home in the evening of the crime, the DNA of the actual perpetrator could not be detected, inconsistency of the quantity of the DNA found in evidentiary items. They argued that Simpson's blood was taken from the reference tube by… READ MORE

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