New York Post

O.J. ATT’Y: IT’S A NO-BRAINER

- By MATTHEW SEDACCA and DANA KENNEDY

O.J. Simpson’s brain will be incinerate­d, not investigat­ed, The Post has learned.

The body of the killer and former NFL great is expected to be cremated Tuesday in Las Vegas — with no plans to donate his brain for research despite multiple requests from scientists, a rep for his estate told The Post.

His longtime attorney and executor Malcolm LaVergne said he’s signed off on all the paperwork for Simpson’s cremation, but the family gave a “hard no” to scientists asking to study Simpson’s brain to see if the ex-running back suffered from chronic traumatic encephalop­athy (CTE), a degenerati­ve brain disease afflicting many retired football players who suffered multiple concussion­s during their careers.

Violent behavior is a common symptom of CTE.

“With O.J. everything’s wild, but I’ve been getting calls from medical centers that are doing CTE testing asking me for O.J.’s brain . . . that is not happening,” LaVergne said.

“I may consult with the children on it, but I haven’t heard anything about it, so it’s just not going to happen. OJ wants all of his body cremated for his children to do what they see fit.”

Simpson died Thursday after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 76.

His four children still have to sign off on the cremation paperwork, said LaVergne, who noted he wants “consensus.”

A doctor also has signed off on the death certificat­e and paperwork for Simpson’s cremation, and additional paperwork is scheduled to be finalized on Monday, said the attorney.

“Tuesday is the predicted . . . day that he will actually be cremated.” LaVergne said. “That’s what O.J. wanted. Those are O.J.’s wishes, and that’s what the kids are telling me.”

Question remains . . .

He declined to discuss any of the Simpson children’s plans for what they will do with his ashes.

A staffer who answered the phone at the upscale Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas said Simpson’s body was at the Palm Southwest crematoriu­m.

“Right now there’s no specific plans for a funeral service,” La Vergne said. “There is however a possibilit­y that there will be a celebratio­n of life-type service at a later date and time which will be limited to Mr. Simpson’s close circle of friends and family.”

The Diocese of Orange in southern California, which manages Ascension Cemetery where Nicole Brown Simpson is buried, has “not been contacted by the Simpson family regarding any funeral or burial services at any of our Catholic cemeteries,” spokesman Bradley Zint said.

A spokespers­on at Golden Gate National Cemetery, where Simpson’s parents, Jimmy and Eunice Simpson, are buried, said O.J. would not be buried with his mother and father because he was not a military veteran and the cemetery is full.

LaVergne, meanwhile, has said he wants to make sure the family of Ron Goldman doesn’t get a penny from Simpson’s estate.

Goldman was a waiter and friend of Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson. Both were murdered at her home in Los Angeles on June 12, 1994.

Simpson was acquitted of the murders during his sensationa­l 1995 trial but was found liable for their deaths in a 1997 civil case, which resulted in him owing the Brown and Goldman families a $33.5 million judgment.

“It’s my hope that the Goldmans get zero, nothing,” LaVergne said.

“Them specifical­ly. And I will do everything in my capacity as the executor or personal representa­tive to try and ensure that they get nothing.”

 ?? ??
 ?? ??
 ?? ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States