O.J. Simpson dead at 76 after battle with cancer

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Accused assassin O.J. Simpson has died after a battle with most cancers.

Simpson died Wednesday, his household confirmed in an announcement posted to X.

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“On April tenth, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with most cancers,” they wrote on X on Thursday. “He was surrounded by his youngsters and grandchildren. Throughout this time of transition, his household asks that you simply please respect their needs for privateness and style.”

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Earlier this 12 months, studies surfaced that the NFL Corridor of Famer had been identified with prostate most cancers. Amid rumours that he had been admitted into hospice care, Simpson took to social media to guarantee followers he was doing wonderful.

“Hey X world, hospice? Hospice? You’re speaking about hospice? No, I’m not even within the hospital. I don’t know who put that on the market,” a jovial Simpson mentioned in a video posted to X in February. “In any occasion, I’m internet hosting a ton of associates for the Tremendous Bowl right here in Las Vegas, and all is effectively. So hey guys, take care, and have a great Tremendous Bowl weekend.”

However Simpson didn’t tackle the studies of his most cancers analysis in his video message.

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In his closing social media put up, which was shared on Tremendous Bowl Sunday on Feb. 11, Simpson thanked his followers for his or her assist.

“My well being is sweet,” he mentioned. “Clearly, I’m coping with some points, however hey I feel I’m nearly over it and I’ll be out on that golf course. Hopefully in a few weeks.”

Simpson predicted the San Francisco 49ers would beat the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 24-20. “That’s not hope. I’m basing that on the standard of the gamers which can be on the soccer area.”

The Chiefs ended up profitable the sport 31-20.

After reaching many accolades on the gridiron, together with being named a Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer, Heisman Trophy winner, 1973 MVP and Offensive Participant of the 12 months, six-time Professional Bowler and five-time All-Professional, Simpson discovered fame once more after he was accused of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her good friend Ronald Goldman in 1994.

Earlier than his arrest within the murders, Simpson was captured on dwell tv in a now-famous slow-speed chase that ended with him in handcuffs.

Simpson maintained his innocence and the circus that ensued turned referred to as the “trial of the century.”

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In one of many extra well-known courtroom scenes, Simpson was requested to attempt on a glove that was discovered on the homicide scene. It didn’t match and Jonnie Cochran, certainly one of Simpson’s legal professional’s, declared in courtroom: “If it doesn’t match, it’s essential to acquit.”

A jury declared the father-of-five not responsible in 1995, however Simpson was sued in civil courtroom by members of the Brown and Goldman households and was discovered liable within the deaths of Nicole and Ron. After being ordered to pay $33.5 million, Simpson left California and moved to Florida.

In a 2016 interview with Megyn Kelly, lawyer Robert Shapiro revealed what Simpson whispered to him after he was acquitted. “You informed me this could be the end result from the start. You had been proper,” Shapiro mentioned.

He additionally informed Kelly he knew the glove wouldn’t match Simpson’s hand earlier than prosecutors requested him to attempt it on.

“I attempted the glove on,” Shapiro informed Kelly (per The Hollywood Reporter). “It was a bit of bit vast in my palm and a bit of bit lengthy in my fingers. O.J. Simpson has huge arms, and I knew that the glove wouldn’t match him. No query about it. Wouldn’t even be shut.”

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Shapiro additionally mentioned the jury reached reached the suitable conclusion primarily based on the proof.

“There’s two varieties of justice that we cope with in America: There’s ethical justice and there’s authorized justice,” Shapiro mentioned when Kelly requested him if it was a “honest verdict.”

“When you have a look at it from an ethical standpoint, lots of people would say he completely did it. I deal in authorized justice, as you probably did as a lawyer, and that’s proof past an affordable doubt. And there’s no query in my thoughts that any honest juror who noticed that case from the start to the top would conclude there was affordable doubt.” 

After he was discovered harmless, Simpson blamed the media for portraying him as a killer.

“No, I didn’t commit these murders. I couldn’t kill anybody, and I don’t know of anybody who was concerned,” he insisted to Black Leisure Tv anchor Ed Gordon.

“I don’t assume most of America believes I did it,” Simpson added in an interview with the New York Instances per week after a jury decided he didn’t kill Brown and Goldman. “I’ve gotten hundreds of letters and telegrams from folks supporting me.”

On the day of his acquittal, he pledged to dedicate his life to discovering the killers. “When issues have settled a bit, I’ll pursue as my major objective in life the killer or killers who slaughtered Nicole and Mr. Goldman,” Simpson mentioned. “They’re on the market someplace. No matter it takes to determine them and convey them in, I’ll present in some way.”

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However the former footballer made little headway on that entrance, as a substitute pursuing a guide deal for a novel referred to as, If I Did It, which was billed as a hypothetical account of the killings.

“It helped me get out of debt and safe my homestead,” Simpson mentioned defending the guide deal.

However the Goldman household secured the rights to the guide and retitled it: If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.

In a while, Simpson was convicted of armed theft and different felonies in 2008 after he led 5 males he barely knew right into a confrontation with two sports activities memorabilia sellers in a Las Vegas lodge room over a decade later.

Simpson spent 9 years in a distant northern Nevada jail, earlier than his launch in 2017.

However he maintained he was solely attempting to get again gadgets he claimed had been rightfully his.

“I’ve mainly spent a conflict-free life, you understand,” Simpson mentioned.

After information of his loss of life, Caitlyn Jenner, who was once good associates with Simpson, informed TMZ, “Good riddance.”

In the meantime, Tom Lang, who was one of many lead detectives who investigated the homicide Nicole and Ron, added: “I’ve nothing to say, I merely don’t care.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com

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