ELDER: OJ Simpson’s juror believes the verdict was retaliation for Rodney King

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Regarding the double murder case against OJ Simpson, there was so much evidence that his guilt was clear.

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This evidence included, but was not limited to, blood at the crime scene; blood on and in Simpson’s white Bronco; a bloody glove found at the crime scene and a matching glove found at Simpson’s home; a knit cap, with hair similar to Simpson’s, found at the crime scene; footprints matching Simpson’s foot size found at the crime scene; blood found in Simpson’s home; blood found on socks in Simpson’s home; and the limousine driver, who was supposed to pick up Simpson on the night of the murder, buzzed Simpson’s intercom and got no answer.

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There was other evidence, including the infamous low-speed Bronco chase, that was not used against Simpson. Evidence was also not used because the prosecutor chose not to use it, the judge refused to allow it, or because certain things, such as taking and lowering a polygraph, were not allowed.

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One piece of evidence that was not used was the testimony of a witness named Jill Shively. On the night of June 12, 1994, Shively observed a white Bronco driving quickly and recklessly from the scene of the crime and around the time of the crime. The driver of the Bronco almost hit Shively’s car. When she heard about the murders, she called the police, described what happened, gave them the Bronco’s license plate number and identified the driver as Simpson.

You would consider this a crucial piece of evidence that places Simpson near the crime scene on the night of the murders. Why did the prosecution choose not to use this eyewitness? Shively sold her story to one of the tabloids for $5,000. Lead prosecutor Marcia Clark felt this affected Shively’s credibility and decided not to put her on the stand for cross-examination. Besides, the prosecutor reasoned, there was so much evidence pointing to Simpson’s guilt, why worry about a questionable witness?

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Simpson was questioned by police the day after the murders, without an attorney present. Detectives saw cuts on Simpson’s hands. Simpson claimed he suffered them “while rushing to get out of my house,” but in his pre-trial statement he claimed the cuts came from a glass he broke in anger upon hearing about his ex-husband’s death woman.
The jury consisted of eight blacks. Given the jury’s unwillingness to apply reason and common sense, none of the evidence really mattered. Years after the trial, one of the jurors, a black woman named Carrie Bess, admitted in an interview that she ignored the evidence.

Interviewer: Do you think there are members of the jury who voted to acquit OJ because of Rodney King?

Berry: Yes.

Interviewer: You do?

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Berry: Yes.

Interviewer: How many of you do you think felt that way?

Bess: Oh, probably 90% of them.

Interviewer: 90%. Did you feel that way?

Berry: Yes.

Interviewer: That was retaliation.

Bess: Uh-huh.

Interviewer: Do you think that is correct?

After that question, Bess simply raised her hands and shrugged.

During the trial, an inner-city New Jersey high school teacher wrote an article titled “Race, OJ, and My Kids.” It was published in a center-left magazine called The New Republic:

“No more than four of my 110 students (most of whom are black) think OJ Simpson is definitively guilty, and few are willing to admit the possibility that he is. This belief in Simpson is strongest among black girls…

“A student suggested that Ron Goldman killed Nicole before killing himself and then throwing away the knife. Another believes the dog did it. Shenia suggested that Al Cowlings, Simpson’s best friend, did it. Bryant believes the killer is OJ’s son. Philip blames ‘that (gay) guy who wants to marry OJ’; that would be Kato Kaelin, Simpson’s house guest. … “Jon, a bright student, had his own scenario: OJ was shaving and cut himself. Kato took the blood from the razor wound, brought it to the crime scene and dumped it.”

What else can anyone say but this? OJ Simpson has passed away. Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson could not be reached for comment.

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