So the charge count against O. J. Simpson is up to eleven and he could spend the rest of his life in prison; but am I the only one who suspects that the long distance phone lines betwixt California and Nevada have been buzzing?
I sometimes wonder if I am the only person in the world who holds to the fact that he was found not guilty of murder and despite what anyone thinks he is therefore not guilty. I know all of the arguments, I have heard them ad nauseum but I have to ask; if any of us (mere mortals) were in the same position as he was with the same resources as he had would any of us acted differently? I have my own opinions as to his guilt or innocence but at the conclusion of the (so called) “Trial of the Century” he was found not guilty by a jury of his peers.
I remember watching this trial in London (where it completely filled the prime time news hours) and the thing I most remember about it was the repulsive sight of Ron Goldman giving a press conference rabidly declaring the guilt of the defendant as the jury was in the process of deliberating the verdict.
As I watched I soon realised that there is much to recommend the “sub judice” laws in other countries including England. For those not familiar; after charges are made and until a verdict and sentencing are reached nobody is allowed to discuss the case.
Instinctively I reacted with disgust to the sight of this man clearly trying to influence either the verdict or the possible sentence and that (I have to say) has affected my opinion of not only Goldman but O.J. Simpson ever since.
In that moment (in my eyes) Goldman made O. J. a victim and himself a persecutor.
How Goldman must be rubbing his hands with glee at Simpson’s latest predicament but I don’t see his happiness lasting.
The case against Simpson seems to be badly flawed; not one of the witness’s is what would be known as an “upstanding citizen” and no two stories seem to match.
Simpson can at least take some comfort from the fact that at least (even in Las Vegas) the balance of the evidence must be more than 51% against him and from the smirk on his face as he was bundled into the police car he’s betting on it!
T.T.F.N.