The Testimony

Here are excerpts from O.J. Simpson’s testimony Monday during questioning by plaintiffs’ attorney Daniel Petrocelli.

PETROCELLI, suggesting that Simpson was lonely the night of the killings and repeatedly called Paula Barbieri for companionship:

The truth to the matter is you were desperate to get in touch with Paula because she had left you, true?

SIMPSON: False.

PETROCELLI: And you tried all day to get in touch with her, call after call after call?

SIMPSON: That’s not entirely true.

PETROCELLI: You blamed Nicole because your relationship with Paula was now almost up, true?

SIMPSON: I can’t answer that.

PETROCELLI: You blame Nicole because your relationship with Paula was over?

SIMPSON: No. I didn’t do that.

****

After Simpson failed to surrender to authorities as promised on June 17, 1994, he and Al Cowlings were in Cowlings’ car as police urged Simpson not to harm himself. Simpson spoke with Det. Tom Lange over the cellular phone that afternoon, and Petrocelli questioned Simpson about that conversation.

PETROCELLI: You never accused the person on the phone from the Los Angeles Police Department of planting evidence against you?

SIMPSON: Correct.

PETROCELLI: Or of framing you for a murder you didn’t commit?

SIMPSON: Correct.

PETROCELLI: And the reason is that you knew you committed those murders, Mr. Simpson.

SIMPSON: That’s incorrect.

PETROCELLI: And that is why you were going to kill yourself, because you knew you were going to spend the rest of your life in jail?

SIMPSON: No, that’s incorrect.

PETROCELLI: And you knew that because you confronted Nicole and you killed her?

SIMPSON: No, Mr. Petrocelli, that’s totally, absolutely incorrect.

****

PETROCELLI: You have no explanation for how blood matching your blood, DNA matching your DNA . . . was found in that Bronco?

SIMPSON: No explanation.

PETROCELLI: You have no explanation for how your blood was found in the Brono?

SIMPSON: No.

PETROCELLI: You have no explanation for how the blood of Nicole was found on the carpet on the driver’s side, do you?

SIMPSON: No.

PETROCELLI: You have no explanation for how the blood of Ron Goldman was found in your car?

SIMPSON: No.

PETROCELLI: You have no explanation for this jury?

SIMPSON: None.

****

More about the Simpson trial is available via the Internet. Articles and context can be obtained from the Los Angeles Times site:

https://www.latimes.com/home/news/state/reports/ojcivil

Trial transcripts can be purchased or viewed through links from the court reporters’ site:

https://www.internetcourt.com