‘Trial of the Century’ still divides opinion

O.J. Simpson, the former American professional football player and defendant in the famous “Trial of the Century”, died of cancer at the age of 76 on Wednesday.

Charged with the murder of his former wife, who was killed in June 1994, Simpson assembled a team of top-notch lawyers to mount a defense. Nine out of the 12-member jury were African Americans, and ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty. When the verdict was finally read out, up to 140 million Americans, including then US president Bill Clinton, watched the live broadcast on TV.

Despite Simpson’s acquittal in the criminal trial, he was still ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages in a subsequent civil lawsuit. This judgment greatly reduced his wealth.

Perhaps more noteworthy are the ripple effects from the murder case. After his acquittal, some believed it demonstrated the victory of procedural justice, while others argued that it was a failure of judicial fairness. Prosecutors and police personnel involved in the case always believed that Simpson was the killer.

Moreover, following the Simpson verdict, many African Americans celebrated, believing that Simpson was a victim of police paranoia and biased enforcement. In contrast, many white Americans were shocked by his acquittal.

The Simpson case may continue to be shrouded in mystery and become a footnote in history, but the litigation disputes and opposing opinions it sparked among different ethnic groups in the United States can still be clearly seen in other cases today.