Did OJ Simpson write If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer?
BEFORE he was acquitted, OJ Simpson’s trial was watched by many around the world.
The book If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer has been popular ever since it was released. Here’s what we know.
What is If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer about?
If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer follows a supposedly hypothetical description of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
Nicole and Ron were found stabbed to death on June 12 1994.
The pair received stab wounds to the head, neck, and body on the walkway of Nicole’s house.
Their bodies were found by police shortly after midnight.
OJ Simpson was then tried for murder but was acquitted after nine months.
Simpson’s double murder trial began on January 24, 1995, and was dominated by media coverage.
Dozens of news outlets and reporters covered the trial which was eventually dubbed the “trial of the century.”
Did OJ Simpson write If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer?
Screenwriter Pablo Fenjves wrote the book which he said was based on extensive discussions with Simpson.
However, Simpson’s former manager, Norman Pardo, claimed that Simpson was not involved in writing the book.
The Goldmans published a new edition of the book in 2007, which included essays written by members of the Goldman family, a member of the Goldman family legal team, and O.J.’s ghostwriter.
How much money did OJ Simpson make off the book?
It has been reported that Simpson accepted $600,000 to say he had written the book and to conduct an interview.
OJ Simpson told the Associated Press that any profit from books written about him was “blood money”.
He claimed that he only agreed to Did I Do It: Confessions of the Killer to pay his bills and help his children financially.
When did OJ Simpson die?
It was announced on Thursday April 11, 2024 that Simpson had died at the age of 76.
His family made public that he had passed away on Wednesday after being diagnosed with cancer.
OJ Simpson's Trial Timeline
A look at why The People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson is regarded as the murder trial of the century.
On June 12, 1994, OJ Simpson’s estranged wife Nicole Brown Simpson, 35, and her friend Ronald Goldman, 25, were stabbed to death outside her Los Angeles condo.
Their bodies were found two days later.
On June 17, Simpson was charged with their murders and arrested following a livestreamed car chase.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges on July 22.
By November 3, an initial jury of twelve was selected.
They would be sequestered for 265 days throughout the proceedings.
Simpson wished for a speedy trial, and his team worked tirelessly on their defense before opening statements began on January 24.
Prosecutors painted Simpson as a savage killer who lashed out at his wife in a murderous rage because he couldn’t control her.
They said a bloody glove was recovered at the crime scene, and that blood spatters were seen on Simpson’s white Ford Bronco.
Meanwhile, the defense accused Mark Fuhrman, a Los Angeles Police Department detective who was working the case, of racism.
They claimed Fuhrman used racist language to describe Black people and tried to paint him as an illegitimate witness.
Three days after the opening statements, Simpson released his tell-all book I Want to Tell You where he spoke out about the deaths and accusations.
On February 3, Nicole’s sister Denise Brown testified that Simpson was abusive, claiming he called Nicole a “fat pig” when she was pregnant.
On June 15, Simpson tried on bloody gloves that were found at the scene of the crime and demonstrated that they did not seem to fit in a dramatic court scene.
On October 3, the jury found Simpson not guilty of two counts of murder.
In 1997, Simpson was found liable for Nicole and Goldman’s deaths in a civil suit filed by the victims’ families.
It was said that he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren in Las Vegas.
The statement said: “On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
“During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”
In February, it was rumoured that OJ was in a hospice, however, he denied this
Simpson tweeted: “Hospice?! Hospice?! You talking about Hospice?”
He added: “No, I’m not in any hospice. I don’t know who put that out there, but whoever put that out there, I guess, it’s like the Donald said, ‘You can’t trust the media.’
“All is well.”