Crime Scene
Who were the two murder victims?
Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
What plea did O.J. Simpson enter at the start of the trial?
Not guilty.
Who was the lead defence lawyer?
Johnnie Cochrane
Who was the lead prosecutor?
Marcia Clark
What sport made O.J. Simpson famous before the murders?
American football (NFL).
Where were the bodies found?
Outside Nicole's home in Brentwood, Los Angeles.
What major decision did Judge Lance Ito make about media coverage of the trial?
He allowed television cameras into the courtroom.
Which detective did the defence accuse of racism and dishonesty?
Mark Fuhrman
Why did Christopher Darden ask O.J. Simpson to try on the glove?
To prove that the glove belonged to O.J. Simpson, and therefore link him to the murders
Why did many Black Americans distrust the LAPD?
Because of a history of racism and police brutality.
What was in the envelope found at the scene?
A pair of glasses belonging to Nicole's mother.
Why was the jury sequestered during the trial?
To prevent outside influence from the media and public opinion.
What was the defence's main strategy?
To create reasonable doubt by attacking the credibility of the police and evidence.
What was the prosecution's main strategy?
To present the evidence found at the scene, including O.J. Simpson's DNA, which proved he was present at the murder.
Why did many Black Americans support O.J. Simpson during the trial?
Because many distrusted the LAPD and believed racism could have affected the investigation.
What injury on O.J. Simpson's body attracted police attention?
A cut on his left hand.
What legal standard did the prosecution have to meet to secure a conviction?
Beyond reasonable doubt
Why did the defence want to include Black women on the jury?
The defence's research found that Black women were most sympathetic with OJ due to their own experiences of racism and discrimination in society.
Why did the prosecution want to include Black women on the jury?
Marcia Clark had a history of winning over Black women on juries in previous murder trials she had worked on.
What court verdict sparked the Los Angeles Riots in 1992?
The acquittal of the police officers charged with beating Rodney King.
Why did investigators think there was only one attacker?
The crime scene showed evidence consistent with a single person's bloody footprints and movements.
What is a cross-examination in court and what is its purpose?
The questioning of a witness by the opposing party in a court trial. Its primary purpose is to test the truthfulness and accuracy of the testimony.
What alternative theory did the defence raise about the murders?
They suggested the killings may have been connected to drug dealers rather than O.J. Simpson.
Why did the prosecution decide not to call on some key witnesses to testify, including the woman who heard a row outside Nicole's address the night of the murder?
Some witnesses sold their stories to the media. The prosecution was worried that this would undermine the credibility of their testimony under cross-examination. The defence was likely to paint these witnesses as money-grabbers or liars.
What event was interrupted so television networks could broadcast the Bronco chase live?
The 1994 NBA Finals (Game 5 between the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets).