Trial Highlights

Some of the key events Wednesday in the O.J. Simpson murder trial:

* SUMMARY: On behalf of the Simpson defense team, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. presented his opening statement to the jury, portraying his client as a benevolent, generous man and decrying the police investigation as characterized by sloppiness and tainted evidence. Cochran said the defense will offer witnesses to bolster Simpson’s alibi and will call nationally renowned experts in domestic abuse, criminology and DNA testing to undermine the prosecution’s theory of the case. Superior Court Judge Lance A. Ito relented on a threat to discontinue the television coverage of the case.

* SURPRISES: Cochran said tests of blood spots beneath Nicole Simpson’s fingernails and on one thigh indicate that they could not have come from either victim or from Simpson. He also said witnesses will cast doubt on the prosecution’s contention that the crime occurred about 10:15 p.m. and said Simpson suffers from severe arthritis that was flaring so badly on the day of the murders that he could not shuffle a deck of cards.

* COMING UP: Prosecutors, furious over late disclosures of some defense witnesses, demanded that Ito sanction the defense. Simpson’s lawyers admitted that they had failed to turn over some material promptly, and Ito asked the prosecution to tell him this morning what they would like him to do about it. The prosecution may seek a delay in the trial, but defense attorneys would undoubtedly oppose that.

“Now we’re hearing the truth.”

--Carmelita Durio, O.J. Simpson’s sister