Trial of the Century

Introduction

Having read Dr . Frank Schmalleger 's Trial of the Century : People of the State of California Vs . Orenthal James Simpson , it is logical to conclude that the evidence presented by the prosecution was capable of proving Simpson 's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt . In other words , the prosecution had the evidence with which to discharge the burden of proof . However , the manner in which the evidence was presented by the prosecution and challenged by the defense attorneys created reasonable doubts about the integrity of the evidence collected as well as the

br credibility of key prosecution witnesses (Schmalleger ) As a result the jury was entitled to give Mr . Simpson the benefit of that doubt as they did since the prosecution ultimately failed to discharge the burden of proof

Analysis

The evidence against OJ Simpson was primarily circumstantial in that it was not direct evidence , but evidence from which a reasonable inference of guilt could be established (People v Bretagna , supra People v Roldan , 211 A .D .2d 366 (1st Dept . 1995

For instance , the shoe print evidence of a size 12 Bruno Magli shoe found at the crime scene and the bloody shoe print of a Bruno Magli shoe found on the carpet of Simpson 's Bronco is not direct evidence that he was at the crime scene at the time of the double homicide , but is evidence upon which a reasonable inference can be drawn that he was at the scene since he wore a size 12 shoe (Schmalleger

There was a lot of similar evidence which will be discussed in detail later on presented at the trial . However , the defense attorneys whose approach to the case was on a far more articulate level than the prosecuting attorneys were able to challenge the witnesses presenting the evidence by cross-examination in such a way as to create doubt about either the witnesses ' credibility or the authenticity of the evidence and the testimony

Opening Statements

Both Christopher Darden and Marcia Clarke made the prosecution 's opening statements in Simpson 's criminal trial . Darden 's approach was confined to a portrayal of Simpson as a jealous husband full of rage . He claimed that Simpson killed Nicole Brown Simpson because he couldn 't have her ' and described Simpson as an extremely controlling and possessive man ' who was fuelled by an obsessive love (Schmalleger Darden promised the jury that the prosecution would hear about a 17 year pattern of physical and emotional abuse that would ultimately end with murder . Marcia Clarke 's confined her remarks in her opening statement to the physical evidence . She promised the jury that they would hear of a bloody trail that originated at Bundy Drive , the crime scene and led to Simpson 's Bronco and his home (Schmalleger

The highlight of defense attorneys opening statements came from Johnnie Cochran who charged that the prosecution 's case was no more than a rush to judgment and an obsession to win at any costs (Schmalleger Cochran also told the jury that...