Victims’ Kin Upset Over Simpson Book

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The New York Sun

LOS ANGELES — Victims’ relatives were lashing out yesterday at the planned publication of a book by O.J. Simpson, in which he discusses how he would have killed his ex-wife and her friend “if I did it,” and a TV interview on the same subject.

“He destroyed my son and took from my family Ron’s future and life. And for that I’ll hate him always and find him despicable,” Fred Goldman said in an interview broadcast on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

The book, “If I Did It,” is being published by ReganBooks, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, and goes on sale November 30. Fox, which like Harper Collins is owned by News Corp., is airing a two-part TV interview with Mr. Simpson on November 27 and 29.

Mr. Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of murder in the 1994 killings of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman, after a trial that became a source of national racial tension in America.

He was later found liable for the deaths in a wrongful-death suit filed by the Goldman family. But they say he hasn’t paid the $33.5 million judgment that resulted from the lawsuit.

Denise Brown, sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, accused publisher Judith Regan of “promoting the wrongdoing of criminals” and commercializing abuse.

“It’s unfortunate that Simpson has decided to awaken a nightmare that we have painfully endured and worked so hard to move beyond,” Ms. Brown said.

Regan refused to say what Mr. Simpson is being paid for the book, which is being offered at $16.47 in America, but she said he came to her with the idea.

“This is an historic case, and I consider this his confession,” Ms. Regan said in an interview.

In a brief promotional clip from the interview posted on Fox’s website, Mr. Simpson says, “I don’t think any two people could be murdered without everybody being covered in blood.”

Mr. Simpson did not return numerous calls asking for comment. Mr. Simpson’s own attorney, Yale Galanter, said he did not know about the book or the interview until this week.

Mr. Simpson and the families of the victims have wrangled over the wrongful-death lawsuit money in court for years.

The families could go after money from the sale of the book to pay off the judgment, but one legal analyst said there are ways to get around that requirement — such as having money not go directly to Mr. Simpson.

“Clever lawyering can get you a long way,”said Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor who has followed the case closely.

As explosive as the interview and book may be, the criminal justice system’s protection against double jeopardy means Mr. Simpson’s book should not expose him to any new criminal charges, she said.


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