In June 1994, American football star O.J. Simpson went on the run after the Los Angeles Police Department ordered him to hand himself in following the brutal murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson.
Prior to fleeing in a televised high-speed car chase - which reportedly was viewed at the time by as many as 95 million Americans - the father-of-five passed a harrowing hand-written note to close friend and prolific lawyer Robert Kardashian, which was later read in a press conference.
Despite many listeners initially concerned that the emotional letter might be O.J.'s final goodbye, the sportsman was eventually apprehended by officers, and the months that ensued would see a murder trial take place that would later be dubbed the 'most publicised' in history.
Such is the tale being told in the chilling new instalment of American Manhunt - a true-crime series, the first of which focused on the Boston Marathon bomber - which landed on Netflix earlier today (29 Jan).
Advert
The four-part documentary sees a number of individuals who were involved in and directly affected by the notorious case interviewed - some giving new interviews, according to Netflix Tudum - and provides some never-before-heard details about the trial.
Who was Nicole Brown Simpson?
In 1979, waitress Nicole Brown was working at Beverly Hills private club when first met former NFL running-back O.J. Simpson, with the pair striking up what the sportsman's ex-agent describes in the documentary as a 'very intense' relationship.
In the years after the pair tied the knot (in 1985) and welcomed two children together, according to documentary, the police were regularly called to the couple's home amid reports of domestic disturbances.
Advert
Nicole's sister Denise told People Magazine of the abuse she'd allegedly endured at O.J.'s hand in May: "I thought they were isolated incidences. The next day Nicole would be back, like, 'Oh, everything’s okay. We talked about it. It was my fault'."
Friend of the couple Ron Shipp also claims in the documentary that Nicole also showed him several images throughout her marriage of instances where O.J. had reportedly assaulted her physically.
In May 1994, the couple were said to have split permanently following several months on-off.
Double homicide
The following month, however, Nicole's severely mutilated body was discovered by neighbours in the grounds of her Brentwood property - inside which she and O.J.'s two children were sleeping upstairs.
Advert
The body of 25-year-old local restaurant server Ron Goldman was also found at the property - he'd stopped by earlier that evening to drop off a pair of Nicole's mother's glasses that had been left at the eatery.
In the days that followed, police collated several pieces of evidence - both at the scene of the crimes, and at O.J.'s home, a four-minute drive away - which pointed to the suspicion that the NFL star was behind the murders.
Amongst the mass of evidence found was a single glove on O.J.'s grounds which matched that of one found close to Nicole's body, as well as both Nicole and Ron Goldman's blood in the sportsman's car and a knife box on his bed.
Despite denying any involvement, investigating officers later recommended that O.J. be charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and he was ordered to hand himself in.
Advert
Instead, he went on the run after handing Kardashian - father of the reality TV sisters - a letter to be read to press, which was interpreted by many at the time to be his 'suicide note'.
At the time, O.J. had been hiding inside the back of a vehicle being driven by close friend A.C. Cowlings, reportedly with a gun to his head.
O.J.'s 'suicide note'
After being called to the podium at LAPD Headquarters, holding the note in his hand, Kardashian firstly emphasised, 'This letter was written by O.J. today', before going on to read several extracts of what was dubbed at the time as his 'suicide note'.
Advert
"To whom it may concern: First, understand I had nothing to do with Nicole's murder," the letter said. "I loved her. Always have and always will. If we had a problem, it's because I loved her so much."
Kardashian went on to read: "Recently, we came to the understanding that, for now, we were not right for each other - at least for now."
According to the Simpson Trial Transcripts, though cut out in the documentary, O.J. added in the note: "Despite our love we were different, and that's why we mutually agreed to go our separate ways.
"It was tough splitting for a second time, but we both knew it was for the best. Inside I had no doubt that in the future, we would be close as friends or more."
Kardashian can be seeing going on to read in the documentary: "[Unlike what has been written in the press,] Nicole and I had a great relationship for most of our lives together. Like all long-term relationships, we had a few downs and ups."
The archives add that O.J. then penned: "I took the heat New Year's 1989 because that's what I was supposed to do. I did not plead no contest for any other reason but to protect our privacy and was advised it would end the press hype.
"I don't want to belabor knocking the press, but I can't believe what is being said. Most of it is totally made up."
Kardashian goes on reads in the second episode of the series: "To the press, [I know you have a job to do], but as a last wish, please, please, please leave my children in peace.
"Their lives will be tough enough."
According to the records, O.J. then went on to thank 'all my friends', mentioning several by name and claiming he wished they'd 'spent more time together'.
He also mentioned his first wife Marguerite Whitley - to whom he was married between 1967-79 - claiming the two 'had some fun'.
Kardashian then reads in the documentary, 'I think of my life and feel I've done most of the right things', with archives claiming O.J. added: "What the outcome, people will look and point. I can't take that."
"I can't subject my children to that," he continued. "This way they can move on and go on with their lives. Please, if I've done anything worthwhile in my life. Let my kids live in peace from you (press).
"I've had a good life. I'm proud of how I lived. My mama taught me to do un to other. I treated people the way I wanted to be treated. I've always tried to be up and helpful so why is this happening?"
Addressing the family of Ron Goldman directly, he claimed he knows 'how much it hurts', adding: "Nicole and I had a good life together. All this press talk about a rocky relationship was no more than what every long-term relationship experiences.
"All her friends will confirm that I have been totally loving and understanding of what she's been going through. At times I have felt like a battered husband or boyfriend but I loved her, make that clear to everyone. And I would take whatever it took to make it work.
"Don't feel sorry for me. I've had a great life, great friends."
Reading the end of the note, Kardashian concluded: "Please think of the real O.J. and not this lost person. Thanks for making my life special. I hope I helped yours. Peace and love, O.J."
The trial
After O.J. was subsequently apprehended, prosecutors from Los Angeles district attorney’s office argued in court that he was responsible for Nicole and Ron's murders, using previous instances of domestic violence as support for their assertions.
His team of defence lawyers countered their argument, however, claiming that investigating authorities had either mishandled or 'planted' the evidence they were using.
On top of this, they alleged that the charges against the athlete were racially motivated, using transcripts of responding detective Mark Fuhrman being explicitly racist against the African-American community in another case to support their claim.
The defence team also demonstrated that the gloves found at the crime scene and O.J.'s property can't have been worn by the star as they couldn't possibly fit onto his hands.
The verdict
As told in the new documentary, the devastating eight month trial ended with a jury finding O.J. not guilty for the murders of Brown Simpson and Goldman, and in October 1995, he was acquitted.
Two years later, however, he was found liable for their deaths in a civil trial, and ordered to pay millions of dollars.
In 2008, he was sentenced to 33 years behind bars in a separate case for robbing a sports memorabilia dealer at gunpoint in Vegas, but was granted parole in 2017.
In April 2024, at the age of 76, Simpson died of cancer.
Topics: OJ Simpson, Celebrity, US News, News, World News, Netflix, Documentaries, TV And Film, Crime, True Crime
Rhianna Benson