THE O.J. SIMPSON MURDER TRIAL

UCLA law professor Peter Arenella and Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson offer their take on the Simpson trial. Joining them is defense attorney Albert De Blanc Jr., who will rotate with other experts as the case moves forward. Today’s topic: deadly scenarios.

PETER ARENELLA On the prosecution: It took a gruesome picture of his death for Ronald Goldman to come alive for the Simpson jury. No longer is he ‘the other’ victim. Instead, the jury learned from the coroner that he struggled valiantly for his life, even as it ebbed away. The photographs’ dramatic impact forced Judge Lance A. Ito to bring the court’s day to an early end. But Brian Kelberg’s point was made: Someone of superior strength and size overwhelmed Goldman.

PETER ARENELLA

On the defense: Now we know why the defense fought so hard to keep these photos from the jury. Their relevance concerning the cause, manner and time of death provide the legal reason for their admission. But there are less dramatic and inflammatory ways of communicating such information. The real purpose of these photos is to prevent the jury from forgetting the victims’ pain by graphically illustrating it. Here the medium is the message.

LAURIE LEVENSON

On the prosecution: The jury received two startling images: Nicole Brown Simpson being stomped to the ground by a foot in her back and Goldman having his neck slashed at repeatedly before the killer stabbed him in the stomach and chest. Nicole didn’t have a chance to resist, but Goldman tried. Now all his family can do is weep silently as the coroner describes how a hypothetical man matching Simpson’s size could have quickly committed the murders.

LAURIE LEVENSON

On the defense: The defense may be wondering if they did themselves any favor by noting possible problems in Dr. Irwin Golden’s autopsy reports before the trial began. The prosecution has used that warning to launch a preemptive attack on defense complaints. The defense also has to worry about the emotional effect of the testimony on the jury. This usually stoic group of jurors has shown that the coroner’s testimony can affect them dramatically.

ALBERT DE BLANC JR.

On the prosecution: Kelberg has done very well in describing Goldman’s fatal wounds and, most importantly, Dr. Lakshmanan testified that his review of the autopsy protocol was an ‘independent’ examination of the results on both victims. That has the effect of two coroners reaching the same opinion. It also was a surprise benefit when the judge allowed a hypothetical to include O.J. Simpson’s physical description. The measure of Kelberg’s success was the jury’s early exit.

ALBERT DE BLANC JR.

On the defense: All they can do is avoid sliding under the table. Simpson remains shielded from the glare of the jury by a battery of lawyers. Certainly, this is the hardest time for the defense. It remains to be seen what Robert Shapiro can do with this powerful testimony, if he elects to cross-examine Dr. Lakshmanan. Everyone who is familiar with this case must now know what Shapiro was talking about when he tried to shield the jurors from the impact of these photographs.

Compiled by TIM RUTTEN / Los Angeles Times