The OJ Simpson Murder Trial and the Criminal Justice System A crime being committed is the first event to initiate our criminal justice system. On June 12th 1994 a double murder was reported at the residence of Nicole Brown Simpson the ex-wife of the then beloved Orenthal James (OJ) Simpson. It was discovered that Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman had been brutally murdered and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) began their investigation, this being the second step in our criminal justice system. The murders occurred between 10:15 p.m. and 10:40 p.m., this is based on testimony from prosecution and defense witnesses who heard barking from the area of the crime scene. Ms. Simpson's blood-covered pet Akita was found shortly before 11 p.m. Nicole Brown was found stabbed multiple times in the head and her throat was cut. Ron Goldman is assumed to have come upon the crime in progress and was also stabbed more than thirty times. The evidence discovered during the investigation suggested to the police that OJ Simpson may have had something to do with this murder and they obtained an arrest warrant. The investigators believed that they “knew” OJ Simpson committed the murders. His lawyers and him were informed of the arrest warrant and agreed to a specified time when OJ would turn himself into authorities. Investigators are later admonished, by the defense, on how they handled the crime scene. Now, as previously mentioned OJ Simpson was beloved. He was a revered hall of fame football player, actor, and sports announcer and was also well known as the Hertz rental car company spokesman. His name was essentially a household name. Because of his popularity, when the media caught wind of the issuance of an arrest ... ... middle of paper ... ...this day justice has still not been served. If OJ didn’t do it then somebody did. Although some people might say that OJ has been dealt the wrath of karma, because he does indeed sit in prison for an unrelated crime. The one good thing that I believe comes from this case is that it educated America on the mistakes being made by a law enforcement entity. The attitudes portrayed by these officers are terrible and, regretfully, most likely common. What it did was wake us up by showing us how biased criminal investigations can be and that bigotry has no place in the criminal justice system. Resources http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/famous/simpson/index_1.html http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/Simpson/Simpsonaccount.htm (A. Dershowitz, 1996) REASONABLE DOUBTS: The O.J. Simpson Case and the Criminal Justice System
...on’s blood was found at the scene of the crime. There may be ways to plant such evidence, but it would be rather difficult to draw blood from a man without him realizing it and planting it at the scene of a crime. I also would have expressed that O.J. had a motive to kill his ex-wife, as well as a history of violent outbursts towards her. With all of the evidence that the prosecution had at their disposal, they should have been able to pin the murder on O.J. beyond a reasonable doubt. Everything pointed to O.J. and showed that he was the murderer. The only thing the prosecution was not able to do was fit the bloody glove on O.J’s hand. The only issue is, the glove was made of leather and had been soaking in blood prior to being found. When leather is soaking in a liquid, it tends to shrink. If only the prosecution had realized this, the case would have been theirs.
The Casey Anthony trial has been arguably the most controversial case since the trial of O.J. Simpson and has been speculated over ever since the verdict had been given in July of 2011. It was decided by a jury of her peers that Anthony was not guilty of murder, for the death of her daughter Caylee. Many believe that Anthony should have been found guilty however, very little Americans actually comprehend the justice system.
One of the most coveted trials in terms of popularity and media attention the O.J Simpson trial which took place between 1994 and concluded on October 2,1995 with O.J Simpson being acquitted of charges laid upon him during the Murder Trial Due to handling of physical evidence and questions over whether Mark Fuhrman planted the bloody glove at the scene to frame O.J. so in an attempt to understand how a deviation from standard operating procedures in the handling of physical evidence can affect the outcome of a criminal trial; One most first understand evidence and how to preserve it. When the crime scene technician took blood samples from Simpson’s Ford Bronco (1996) she used a cotton swab to take samples; but instead of using
“Police Records Detail 1989 Beating That Led to Charge : Violence: A Bloodied Nicole Simpson, Hiding in Bushes after 911 Call, Told Officers: 'He's Going to Kill Me.' Judge Overruled Prosecutors' Request That Simpson Serve Jail Time.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 1994, articles.latimes.com/1994-06-17/news/mn-5290_1_jail-time.
On June 12th, 1994, Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman’s bodies were found Nicole’s condominium; the victims had been stabbed to death. The identity of the murderer was unknown up until O.J was suspected to be a suspect. When accused, he was in another state, and was forced to fly back. (Aaseng 1996)
On June 13, 1994, Nicole Brown, ex-wife of O.J. Simpson, was found murdered alongside Ronald Goldman (Dershowitz 19). Chapter one of Reasonable Doubts describes how many people jumped to the conclusion that O.J. carried out the murders. Incriminating evidence emerged that more than pointed to Simpson’s guilt (Dershowitz 21). Soon enough, media reports claimed that Simpson would be charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Simpson’s reluctance to be peacefully taken into custody was illustrated by his famous Los Angeles free-way chase that ended in his eventual surrender (Dershowitz 23). Dershowitz chose to join the defense team when offered the opportunity, claiming that the case could greatly educate people, especially his Harvard law students, on...
It was the night of June 12, 1994, a woman and her long time male friend are murdered in cold blood. The victims, Nicole Brown Simpson, her neck cut so savagely it was almost severed from her body and Ronald Goldman, stabbed repeatedly, nearly 30 times. The accused, her ex-husband and football star, Orenthan James Simpson, better known as O.J. Simpson. During the trial, a trial that consisted of 150 witnesses, lasted 133 days and cost in the ball park of 15 million dollars, there were many questions asked and even more questions left unanswered (Douglas).
The OJ Simpson criminal investigation was about a legendary football player, OJ Simpson, who was accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. There were many things that made him seem guilty of this crime. For example, after the murders, he was involved in a police chase, sitting in the back seat of his white Bronco, holding a gun to his head. There was also evidence that he had been an abusive husband, with photos of Nicole with marks and bruises, as well as a 911 call she made saying he was going to beat her. At the scene, investigators found many examples of forensic evidence, such as OJ’s blood, hair, clothing fibers, DNA, and a size 12 shoe print, which was his shoe size. They also found evidence
There are many evidence that support why OJ Simpson was the murdered for his wife Nicole Brown and her acquaintance Ronald Goldman. Police respond to a 911 call on New Year's Day 1989 to find a bruised and bleeding Nicole hiding in the bushes, wearing only a bra and sweatpants, crying: "He's going to kill me! He's going to kill me!" The judge gave him two years of probation, 120 hours of community service, and he was ordered to give $500 to a shelter for battered women this shows that OJ Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson already developed a very abusive relationship . Furthermore, on June 22, 1994 District Attorney’s office leaked the media t...
Simpson showed up at his first court appearance on June 21 and he pleaded not guilty to the two murders. A jury was formed right away to see if there was enough evidence to press charges on OJ Simpson. Two days later on June 23, the jury was dismissed because there was so much media coverage on this case and they did not want the jury to be influenced by it. The new jury was also likely to be influenced by the media. A week long hearing took place and finally a California court superior judge ruled that there was enough evidence to try OJ Simpson for the murders of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman. At his second court appearance, on July 23, Simpson pleaded in a confident and defiant tone: "Absolutely, one hundred percent, not guilty."(Jones 4) Leading the murder investigation was veteran LAPD detective Tom Lange. What followed in 1995 were 134 days of televised testimony in a very public criminal trial. Many people in the trial became celebrities due to this exposure, including Judge Lance Ito. This court case was so famous that when a poll was done it showed that 74% of Americans could identify Kato Kaelin but only 25% knew who the Vice President was. (Jones 8) Another poll that showed results that 91% of the television viewing audience watched it and 142 million people listened on radio and watched television as the verdict was delivered.
On June 12, 1994, the butchered bodies of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were found on the front walkway of Simpson 's condominium in Brentwood, an upscale section of Los Angeles. Within days, Brown 's ex-husband, O.J. Simpson, was considered the prime suspect in the murder of both (Bates). Although young at the time, I vividly remember watching one of the slowest cop chases, in the aftermath, involving Simpsons’ white Ford Bronco. Now why would an individual who is claiming to be innocent, flee in his vehicle with a gun in hand and also having possession of an apparent goodbye note? The Constitution states: “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation” (Rutherford Institute). It is fully understood that the intent is meant to protect the rights of people in the case that the government is trying to overreach their
After a lengthy two hundred and fifty-two-day trial “not guilty” were the words that left the world in shock. O.J Simpson was your typical golden boy. He had it all, the nice car, the football career, and his kids. Unfortunately, this all came to an end when two bodies came to be spotted deceased in Nicole Browns front yard and was a gruesome sight. O. J’s ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman both found with brutal stab marks. Unfortunately, all his glory days now brought to an end, he went from playing on the field to begging for his freedom when becoming the main suspect of their murders. Since this trial has not only altered the way Americans viewed celebrities, but it also racially divided society,
My opinion about this case is that O.J. Simpson is guilty. The defence tries to say there was all this conspiracy to frame O.J. but I don't think they proved any of this happened. The defence said Furhman was a racist but this does not prove that Simpson didn't commit the crime. They say the blood samples were contaminated but I don't think every single one was. The prosecution proved he was an abuser and I think something finally snapped inside him and he killed Nicole and Goldman. The gloves the killer wore were the same type O.J. wears. When they say O.J. tried on the gloves and they didn't fit I think he tightened his hand up so the gloves would be hard to put on. The shoeprints at the crime scene were the same style and size he wears. Bloody clothes or a murder weapon have never been found but neither has the missing laundry bags from O.J.'s hotel room. I have to wonder why O.J. lead the police on a big chase if he is so darn innocent. My opinion is that O.J. Simpson would have been found guilty a long time ago if it wasn't for all the publicity surrounding the case and the fact that he's famous.
...tes, working in the library, and even giving his body to science to help fight for a cure for malaria during World War II. Parole was given to In 1958 not 35 years after he was put in jail for life plus 99 years he was released as a free man and spent the rest of his life in Puerto Rico. Richard Loeb’s neck was slashed by a razor by an inmate for asking to have sexual relations with that inmate. The releasement of an inmate that has done this heinous of a crime after such short time would never happen today and would not be allowed to happen. Through time our nations thoughts on crimes have deepened and we have become more aware of people and peoples potential to do harm. Each time this case will be looked at through time will change and will also change depending on the person but no matter what we will know that people will always be curious of what is happening.
Fairchild, H. & Cowan, G (1997). Journal of Social Issues. The O.J. Simpson Trial: Challenges to Science and Society.