Joe Shlabotnik
Banned
My mind is currently being blown at Americans not knowing he was a football player
The O.J. Simpson trial is fascinating as hell
- Thread starter Baraka in the White House
- Start date
nocturnalis
Member
After the trial, all they talked about was the murder.
You'd almost think they'd learn, too. But based on whats going on in Baltimore (100's of convictions being overturned due to cops on video planting evidence), I guess PD's across the country decided its more important to have a bunch of racist assholes on the docket, than to have convictions that stick. Convictions! Ha! See what I did there!
Football player? He was american hero, Lt. Nordberg. Survived multiple gunshot wounds!
Completely agreed - the whole thing is heartbreaking. It's nice that it's in episodes because it gives you time to digest. Also I would suggest after the episode that covers the actual murder and immediate aftermath to watch June 17, 1994 - my favorite documentary ever. It covers the media spectacle with the good and the bad, with no narration and some background music, interlaced with unedited clips of broadcasts of the surrounding days. A great piece to study 1990's US media.
TheOfficeMut
Unconfirmed Member
Can you imagine the trial happening today with Trump tweeting? Lol
Wat
Even the OJ supporters I knew, knew he did it.
It was fascinating for me because it was happening when I emigrated to the US.
It was hypnotic.
There's never been a more obviously guilty guy since Charles Manson.
I can't even
……forgetit
Member
Best way to watch this? Is it available on any streaming service?
Baraka in the White House
2-Terms of Kombat
The pissing contest between Cochran, Shapiro, and Bailey led to some amusing drama on the defense side, too. Cochran usually won those battles but the egotism and pettiness of it all revealed a lot about each of them.
It was a parade of assholes.
He was preparing to commit suicide when he felt like the cops were closing in but wanted to say goodbye to his mother first.
Dude clearly flipped out when he felt trapped.
It was a parade of assholes.
He was preparing to commit suicide when he felt like the cops were closing in but wanted to say goodbye to his mother first.
Dude clearly flipped out when he felt trapped.
Did it ever explain why he led the police on a freeway chase ". I mean he was suppose to turn himself in at 11am. But instead he ran from the police.
John Dunbar
correct about everything
is it true that cochran wasn't specifically talking about the gloves when he said that "if it doesn't fit" line? if so, my life has been a lie.
Baraka in the White House
2-Terms of Kombat
I don't remember that. I just remember Darden basically giving the defense a gift by asking O.J. to try on the gloves. They knew the gloves wouldn't go on easily and O.J. himself made quite the show of it.
I think Cochran just seized on that in the moment.
pretty done
Member
Because he was guilty? lol
The case changed everything in the way DNA evidence is handled at crime scenes.
This trial is one of the main reason that mainstream news is the way it is. The ratings were astronomical, and even only being 11 at the time, that trial was all anyone was talking about. School, social events, going to friends houses. I didn't even live on the west coast. It was the perfect storm of "people care about celebrities so we need to shove them down their throats" and "if it bleeds it leads".
Dude Abides
Banned
You'd think Mark Furhman would have been disgraced and faded into utter obscurity.
But no, he's on Fox News.
But no, he's on Fox News.
nocturnalis
Member
Trump and O.J. were friends. Trump apparently tried to get him on Celebrity Apprentice, but the producers wouldn't let him.
I believe it was on Hulu recently, but I don't see it there now. I watched it on ESPNnow when it aired.
Pesmerga00
Member
Pro Tip:
If you don't want people to think you are a murderer, don't write a book on how you could be one.
If you don't want people to think you are a murderer, don't write a book on how you could be one.
So is Ollie North. The day President Pence signs Trump's pardon, he will get a job offer from Fox that afternoon.
why oh why doesn't that surprise me - from neither Fuhrman nor Fox News.
Spiritual_Chaos
Banned
Didn't he try on another (new) pair later on - without the rubber gloves on – and it did fit. The jury just didn't care.
Was it really the prosecutions fault – Or was it that this trial shows how flawed the US juror system really is.
I mean you have a juror that, in 2016 stand by that she acquitted him because of Rodney King.
Elegant Weapon
Member
Murica
It's pretty amazing that these are the kinds of guys who misinform so much of America. As a kid, we thought things were cool, I remember getting into my friend's father's van as a kid and hearing Rush Limbuahg and already knowing he was full of shit.
Spiritual_Chaos
Banned
The prosecution didn't even bring up the fact in court that there were "proof" in the car that he was going to leave the country. If I remember it properly.
Diprosalic
Banned
i'm not american but i could've sworn he played baseball before watching the doc.
HammerOfThor
Member
All I really remember from when I was a child was that my grandma was convinced the butler/maid did it. No idea if they even had one, but thats what she thought lol
For anyone who wants to read an incredibly detailed, no holds barred account of the trial by a top former prosecutor, I highly recommend Outrage by Vincent Buigliosi (who prosecuted Charles Manson, and wrote the equally excellent Helter Skelter). He absolutely goes to town on the OJ prosecutors, who made a complete shitshow of the entire thing from start to finish.
Robdraggoo
Member
I didn't know he was a football player either before the trial. I'm 35.
Before the trial my only exposure to him was in the naked gun.
Not to give the conspiracy theory any credence, but I believe some believe he was trying to cover up for his son.
I think what she was saying was that he would've left behind far more conclusive evidence. Still doesn't make for a good justification but whatever.
Sapiens
Member
Spiritual_Chaos
Banned
lightskintwin
Banned
I think you mean, was it the prosecutions fault, and the answer was a resounding yes. However it's to the defenses's credit they were capable of poking so many holes into them.
As one of the lawyers on the OJ defense said, "So the defense presented a credible case, [and we were] able to show that the prosecution's case was full of lies. That doesn't mean that ultimate truth was on one side or the other, but the defense got the jury to focus on the lies of the prosecution rather than on the innocence or guilt of the defendant. "
I watched People v. OJ last year and while I know it's fictional, I thought it did a really good job of presenting the outside factors of the case, especially the Rodney King trial.
With the history of the LAPD in the back of everyone's minds, a conviction was going to be difficult enough. But when one of your lead detectives is an admitted racist? No way you're getting a conviction. I obviously believe he did it but the prosecution failed to convince beyond a reasonable doubt.
With the history of the LAPD in the back of everyone's minds, a conviction was going to be difficult enough. But when one of your lead detectives is an admitted racist? No way you're getting a conviction. I obviously believe he did it but the prosecution failed to convince beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pilgrimzero
Member
I remember being at work at a grocery store deli and we all watched tv or listened to a radio to get constant updates on the whole mess.
It was a big deal back in the day.
It was a big deal back in the day.
TheSecondSpitter
Member
Fun fact: A politician in Australia mentioned this in parliament when they were trying to repeal double jeopardy laws there.
Baraka in the White House
2-Terms of Kombat
The crazy thing about Furhman? Aside from being a monster, he hardly had anything to do with the actual investigation. He was there for like the first 30 minutes on scene before real forensics folks arrived.
I knew him as an actor before my dad corrected me.
Naked Gun movies are so good but creepy to watch a bit knowing what he did.
lightskintwin
Banned
Enough time to plant the gloves.
Their families won the civil suit against OJ. That's gotta at least count for something.
Baraka in the White House
2-Terms of Kombat
That's certainly the kind of picture the defense painted. They managed to make LAPD look bumbling and ineffective yet capable of elaborate cover-ups and frame jobs.
But even the idea of the police framing him is flimsy considering how much of the LAPD he had hosted or entertained in the past, plus the fact that they handled the initial investigation/arrest with obvious star-struck kid gloves.
lightskintwin
Banned
The prosecution showed there was some evidence planting by the LAPD. I believe one of the examples was blood stains put in a certain spot that wasn't there in the initial investigation.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
It also led to some of the best book covers the world has ever seen:
LOL. It took me a good amount of looking to find the 'if" in that second picture.
Also didn't help that one of the detectives was clearly racist. Yeah, he said he reformed and all that, but you don't give a racist officer sensitivity classes and keep him as a detective regardless.
Just sucks that the department's bullshit came back to bite them in the form of a murdering millionaire going free. :/