Plaintiffs Confront Simpson With Allegations Of Domestic Violence
SANTA MONICA, Nov. 22 (Noon) -- O.J. Simpson, testifying at his civil trial here Friday morning, answered questions about his relationship with Nicole Brown Simpson and denied ever hitting her. Plaintiffs lead attorney Daniel Petrocelli, began his examination of Simpson by focusing on the history of their relationship, before turning to specific altercations between the two.
The first question: "When you first met Nicole she was 18 years old, right?"
A crowd of about 100 onlookers and protesters greeted Simpson when he arrived shortly before 9:00 a.m. Whistles, cheers, and boos erupted from the crowd as Simpson got out of his car and entered the courthouse. The former football star's supporters chanted: "Go Juice, go," while his detractors shouted, "Murderer." Close to 200 people lined up for a chance to win one of 16 courtroom seats reserved for the public. The court hands out the seats via lottery.
Petrocelli's questions have not been very contentious, and Simpson has maintained his calm throughout the examination. Simpson has had some trouble answering questions with a simple yes or no. Several of his comments have been stricken from the record for being non-responsive to the question.
The plaintiffs opening questions went through the chronology of Simpson's relationship with his ex-wife. Petrocelli tried to suggest that Simpson was much older and more worldly than Nicole, and that they had a passionate, but troubled relationship.
"During that time there were some good times and bad times?" Petrocelli asked.
"Mostly good," Simpson replied. He added later: "Yes, we had problems in our relationship, but I don't think it was mostly a problem relationship."
Petrocelli next turned to specific domestic violence incidents, focusing mainly on the 1989 episode when Simpson pleaded no contest to spousal battery charges. Simpson said he never hit Nicole, although he admitted the two "wrassled." Petrocelli showed photographs the police took of a battered and bruised Nicole Brown Simpson, and asked O.J. Simpson to explain exactly how he caused specific injuries on her face. Simpson said he did not know, but that he felt "totally responsible for every injury she had."
Said Simpson: "I did not punch her or slap her -- it didn't happen."
The plaintiffs also asked Simpson detailed questions about the incident when he smashed the window of her Mercedes and an altercation at Nicole Brown Simpson's Gretna Green home. The altercation occurred after Simpson spied on Nicole Brown Simpson through her window and watching her performing oral sex on a boyfriend. Simpson said he watched for about 10 seconds and was "pretty stunned."
Petrocelli then asked about the couple's attempt reconciliation and eventual brake up.
"She was incessably [sic] pursuing me," Simpson said. "I think everyone, including her family, knows it was her pursuing me."
The couple broke off their reconciliation on May 10, 1994, Simpson said, and he began to date Paula Barbieri almost immediately. But Petrocelli pointed out that Simpson purchased Nicole an expensive emerald bracelet on May 19 for her birthday. He also asked Simpson about notes Nicole made shortly before her death that say the two ended their relationship an May 22.
"I think Nicole may have accepted it then," Simpson said.
In court during the morning session were: Kim and Fred Goldman; Lou and Juditha Brown; Denise Brown; Sharon Rufo, Ronald Goldman's mother, and Simpson's sister Shirley Baker and her husband. Inside the audio trailer were Simpson authors: Jeffrey Toobin and Vincent Bugliosi, as well as Simpson criminal lawyer Robert Shapiro, who is working as a CBS news commentator.
-Robert Schmidt
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