A murder trial in the 1990s made him world famous. OJ Simpson died at the age of 76.
Anyone who lived through the 1990s can probably remember the OJ Simpson murder trial. Simpson was a talented NFL football player, successful as a running back for the Buffalo Bills. He was a Hollywood actor, starring in blockbusters like “The Towering Inferno” and comedies like “The Naked Gun.” And in 1995 he had to defend himself against murder charges. The trial was broadcast live on television and was a spectacle watched around the world.
In 1994, Simpson’s ex-wife and her boyfriend were found dead, Simpson was suspected and charged with murder. First, he engaged in a live-television chase with the police that attracted an audience of millions – and then an eleven-month battle with the justice system over his innocence that became the focal point of the debate about discrimination in the United States.
„If I Did It“
Simpson was acquitted, but was found responsible for her death in a later civil case and was sentenced to pay compensation of $33.5 million (around €30.85 million). A Simpsons book about the case, which had the provocative title “If I Did It”, caused a stir in the noughties.
Because of another incident, Simpson ended up in prison. In 2008, he was sentenced to 33 years in prison in the US state of Nevada for armed robbery and assault. In a hotel room in Las Vegas, he and his accomplices pressured two collectors of fan items into handing over personal memorabilia. He was released from prison after nine years.
Since then, amateur golfer Simpson has lived a life away from the public eye in Las Vegas. He sometimes spoke out in public – but he no longer wanted to talk about the murders and the trial. In February it was revealed that he was suffering from prostate cancer. OJ Simpson died at the age of 76. (ed.)
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