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 Gigi Gordon, who will rotate with other experts as the case moves forward. Today’s topic: Things get flaky.

PETER ARENELLA

On the defense: “A measure of the damage Robert Huizenga has done to the defense is how Robert Shapiro closed his redirect: emphasizing the doctor’s lack of expertise in forensic pathology and arthritis. So much for his conclusion that Simpson’s finger was more likely cut by glass than a knife. Nor did the defense’s rush-to-judgment theme fare well with the police witness whose apathetic and terse responses suggested he wouldn’t rush to anything but his retirement.”

On the prosecution: “The O.J. exercise videotape was not particularly damaging because the modest physical routines still elicited complaints from O.J. about his knees. But O.J.’s joke--’You can always blame it [hitting your wife] on working out’--helped peel away his charming public persona, if the jury heard it. In the context of the video, the remark showed O.J.’s poor taste. In the context of the murders, prosecutors hope the jury will draw a more chilling inference.”

LAURIE LEVENSON

On the defense: “Tarzan’s grandfather seems to be in amazingly good shape. A bit of reality crept into the defense case, when jurors saw the videotape of O.J. exercising. He may no longer be a Heisman candidate, but he’s no cripple. Perhaps to deflect from Huizenga’s damaging testimony, Johnnie Cochran spent an interminable amount of time on Styrofoam cups, handcuffs and dandruff.”

On the prosecution: “Brian Kelberg did all there was to do with Huizenga. He showed his bias and confronted him with a videotape of O.J. bragging about his amazing recovery from arthritis. He also used the opportunity to remind the defense that wife-beating is no joking matter. Christopher Darden then did a great job at rebutting the rush-to-judgment theory by reminding jurors of the special treatment O.J. received.”

GIGI GORDON

On the defense: “The defense managed to repeat their theme that the presence of another woman in O.J.’s life meant he had no motive. Prosecutors also may have helped remind jurors of Simspon’s celebrity and humanity by playing the videos. And, as with the gloves, the hat doesn’t fit. Cochran has baited the hook for the tow truck driver to bite. And if he does, it will further the defense’s strongest themes: conspiracy and contamination.”

On the prosecution: “Defense to the rescue. Kelberg successfully turned Huizenga into a prosecution witness and managed to refute the defense contention that O.J. was too infirm to kill. By the time Kelberg was done, Huizenga looked sincere but uninformed. Personally, I’d go to Kelberg for my checkups. Darden turned Officer Thompson’s testimony to the prosecution’s benefit by showing that Simpson got star treatment.”

Compiled by TIM RUTTEN / Los Angeles Times