Within the many years since Ron Goldman was fatally stabbed exterior his pal Nicole Brown Simpson’s Brentwood dwelling in 1994, Goldman’s household has been battling for what it sees as justice denied.
O.J. Simpson, as soon as an American soccer star, was charged with killing Goldman and his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson. However he was acquitted in 1995 in a drama-filled and extensively broadcast trial that enthralled the nation.
The Brown and Goldman households then introduced a civil swimsuit towards Simpson. In 1997, a jury in Santa Monica discovered him chargeable for the deaths, and he was ordered to pay the households greater than $30 million in damages. Simpson responded by giving up his Brentwood property and shifting to Florida, largely to evade paying the civil judgment. The Goldman household claimed in court docket data that Simpson paid solely a fraction of the judgment quantity.
On Thursday, they reacted to Simpson’s demise.
“The information of Ron’s killer passing away is a blended bag of difficult feelings and reminds us that the journey by grief just isn’t linear. For 3 many years we tirelessly pursued justice for Ron and Nicole, and regardless of a civil judgment and his confession in ‘If I Did It,’ the hope for true accountability has ended,” Ron’s sister Kim Goldman and father Fred Goldman wrote in a joint assertion.
David Prepare dinner, an legal professional for the Goldman household, stated Thursday that Simpson “died with out penance.”
For greater than twenty years, the Goldmans have chased down secret hordes of Simpson’s memorabilia; taken possession of “If I Did It,” the “fictional memoir” through which Simpson mentioned how he might need dedicated the slayings; and spoken out towards a prison justice system that they are saying ignores victims’ rights.
In a 2019 interview with The Occasions, Kim Goldman talked about her efforts to carry Simpson accountable.
She stated she doesn’t use his title. He’s merely “the killer,” the “murdering liar.”
“He doesn’t deserve extra,” she stated.
“It’s at all times, and most significantly, about remembering Ron and Nicole.”
It’s not clear how Simpson’s demise will have an effect on the debt nonetheless owed to the Goldman household from the civil judgment, which has ballooned to $114.2 million together with curiosity, Prepare dinner stated.
Simpson had paid simply over $132,000 of the overall legal responsibility, in accordance with a 2015 court docket doc.
Of their assertion, the Goldmans stated they’d “proceed to advocate for the rights of all victims and survivors, making certain our voices are heard each inside and past the courtroom. And regardless of his demise, the mission continues; there’s at all times extra to be executed.”
The demise of Simpson, whose journey from soccer legend to accused assassin captivated the nation, has triggered widespread dialogue of his legacy.
Kim Goldman, the sister of Ron Goldman.
(Los Angeles Occasions)
Simpson’s household stated on X that he was surrounded by his youngsters and grandchildren when he died on Wednesday. He was 76 and had been identified with prostate most cancers, in accordance with his social media.
“Throughout this time of transition, his household asks that you simply please respect their needs for privateness and style,” the X publish learn.
After the prison and civil trials, Simpson didn’t fall out of the general public highlight for lengthy. In 2007, the deliberate publication of “If I Did It,” triggered outrage. A yr later, he was convicted of armed theft, kidnapping, conspiracy and different costs stemming from his try and get well memorabilia he claimed was stolen from him. He served 9 years in jail.
Civil rights legal professional Carl Douglas, who was among the many “dream group” of legal professionals representing Simpson throughout his homicide trial, stated he was shocked to study of the demise of his former consumer, who at all times maintained he was harmless.
“He is without doubt one of the most well-known purchasers that I’ve ever represented in my 44 years as a lawyer, and I anticipate our names will ceaselessly be linked collectively not directly. My honest condolences exit to his 4 youngsters. Could he relaxation in peace,” Douglas stated.
Gloria Allred, a civil rights legal professional who represented the Brown household throughout Simpson’s homicide trial, provided condolences to Simpson’s youngsters, however stated she doesn’t mourn the person who she maintains killed Nicole Brown Simpson.
“I do mourn for Nicole Brown Simpson and her household. They need to be remembered. The system failed,” Allred stated throughout an interview on WABC-TV in New York.
Caitlyn Jenner, who was as soon as associates with Simpson and was previously married to Nicole Simpson’s finest pal, Kris Jenner, provided a chopping response to information of his demise, posting on X simply two phrases: “Good Riddance.”
Occasions information researcher Scott Wilson contributed to this report.
