Simpson trial begins, but with little fanfare

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Simpson wore a light brown suit and arrived in a black Chevrolet Suburban for opening statements in his wrongful death trial. He was acquitted last October in the June 1994 slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Nicole Simpson's estate and Goldman's family are suing Simpson for unspecified damages, claiming he is the killer.

"Good morning, murderer," one heckler yelled. A supporter countered, "We love you, O.J." About 150 reporters, photographers and camera crew members watched.

Simpson looked over his shoulder and shook his head.

Some who preceded Simpson into the small courtroom included Goldman's father, Fred, his wife, Patti, and daughter Kim, and Ms. Simpson's parents Louis and Juditha Brown and sister Denise.

Sixteen spectator seats in the courtroom were passed out to those in line before 7:15 a.m. All the seats were taken, but there was no great number of people turned away, either.

Opening statements were to begin today with lawyers spelling out for a mostly white jury just what the evidence will show during the trial, expected to last four months.

Superior Court Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki heard motions beginning at 9:10 a.m., about 40 minutes late. He must rule on a plaintiff request that jurors not be told about former Detective Mark Fuhrman's no-contest plea to perjury relating to his use of the word "nigger." Plaintiffs also want Fuhrman's criminal trial testimony ruled off-limits.

There also will be some new faces and some new evidence, led by a photograph purporting to show Simpson wearing the same style of rare Italian shoes as those worn by the killer.

Other differences:

* Simpson must testify. Since he can't be tried again on murder charges, he enjoys no Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

* No prosecutors. This time, it's lawyers for the relatives of Ms. Simpson and Goldman trying to build a case against Simpson.

* If it doesn't fit, there's no one to acquit. Simpson can't go to jail this time. The penalty if he loses is money.

* A heavier burden for the defense. Reasonable doubt won't do it this time for Simpson. The plaintiffs need only prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence. If the jurors think there's a better chance than not that Simpson was the killer, he loses. Also, the verdict doesn't have to be unanimous; a 9-3 margin suffices.

* A different jury makeup. The old jury had nine blacks; the new one has nine whites. Also, the entire affair has been moved from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica, a prosperous, mostly white seaside city.