Can you really call it a coincidence?
Thirteen years to the day after being acquitted of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman in one of the most publicized trials of the 20th century, O.J. Simpson was found guilty of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint.
Late yesterday a jury found the former football star guilty on all 12 counts, including kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges stemming from Simpson’s decision to storm into a Las Vegas hotel room with a couple of associates–guns drawn–in an effort to seize several game balls, plaques and photos that the Hall of Famer insisted belonged to him. According to news reports, Simpson could now spend the rest of his life in prison for the crimes.
His attorney immediately told reporters that he would appeal. But that’s no surprise. Some of the more shocking revelations that transpired yesterday included Simpson’s sister, Carmelita Durio, weeping and wailing, then collapsing as her brother was handcuffed and removed from the courtroom by marshals. Reporters also described Simpson’s daughter Arnelle on the scene as emotionally distraught when her father was taken away.
In the meantime, reports say Simpson grimaced as the court clerk read the jury’s verdict. No surprise there; at least according to some in the courtroom. Many people considered the four-week trial “justice delayed” after Simpson was cleared in 1995 of murdering his ex-wife and her friend (he was later found liable for their deaths in a civil case).
In a revealing interview the Associated Press did with Simpson prior to last night’s verdict the sports celeb implied that he expected that a jury would find him guilty.
Simpson also added that he was, “afraid that I won’t get to go to my kids’ college graduations after I managed to get them through college.”
I wonder what the Brown and Goldman families have to say about that narcissistic remark? I suspect they wouldn’t be the least bit surprised, though I am curious to hear if they too believe that last night’s outcome is really “justice delayed.” I have a feeling they wouldn’t use that phrase to describe what just transpired, as justice will never really be served in their case given that there is nothing that can bring their dead children back.
What do you make of the verdict?