The world of sports is in mourning again. This Thursday, April 11, the news broke of the death of O. J. Simpson, one of the great stars of the NFL, at the age of 76 after a long fight against cancer. Those in charge of communicating the news of the death were his own relatives through social networks.
''On April 10, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you respect his wishes for privacy and grace. The Simpson family,'' they wrote on the social network X.
The former soccer player, who was also a film actor and television presenter, starred in one of the most high-profile and scandalous trials in the United States in the 1990s. The NFL star was charged in 1994 with the double murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and Ronald Goldman, a friend of Brown.
The events occurred on June 12, 1994 when O.J. Simpson went to his ex-wife's house, in the luxurious neighborhood of Brentwood, in the city of Los Angeles. At one point during the night, Brown heard a loud knock on the door of the house and quickly went to check what was happening. When he opened the door, the former soccer player brutally murdered her. According to the version given by the prosecutor in the judicial process, the actor grabbed her and stabbed her before she could call for help.
Moments later, Nicole Brown's friend, Ronald Goldman, appeared at the home to return an object. The former player, who was not expecting Goldman's visit, hit the man by surprise and stabbed him in the neck and chest several times. After the brutal murder, a neighbor, who was walking his dog, saw a pool of blood on the ground and immediately called the authorities.
The trial took place in January 1995. During the procedure, the prosecutor stated that the police had found at the crime scene fingerprints compatible with the shoes worn by the former American football player and a bloody glove, whose partner was found in the home. of Simpson.
For its part, the former athlete's defense tried to dismantle the prosecutor's version, discrediting the work that the police officer in charge of the case had done, whom he also accused of being racist. In addition, Simpson's lawyers argued that the evidence provided had been manipulated. All evidence pointed to O.J. Simpson had ended the life of her ex-wife and her friend. However, the jury found the NFL star not guilty of first-degree murder charges.
The relatives of the victims did not consider the case lost and decided to take it through civil means. Months later, Simpson was convicted of the double murder and had to compensate the victims' relatives with more than $33 million, although they did not receive even a third of the amount.
