He neglected not to murder her. Classic case.

I see future work for you in the American legal system sir.

I'm obviously a bit dense this morning but completely miss the Greg Louganis connection – sorry, can you explain?

I meant it to mean that OJ's descent from grace was like an long and complicated and fascinating dive rather than a clumsy fall. And to stretch the metaphor further at…

I know Greg – competed against him in fact (not that I'm taking any offense, I hasten to add – mostly cos I don't get it).

But that's negligence. I can see that being different from murder.

He neglected not to murder her. Classic case.

But that's negligence. I can see that being different from murder.

I was too quick in my analogy.... what if the vehicle manufacturer wasnt just negligent in not discovering an obvious flaw.... but actually knew about it and suppressed it... (tobacco companies?)

It would be easy to morally equate that…

But if your relatives die in a car that failed from not just poor, but negligent design... you cant sue Ford or whoever for murder.... but they can be found responsible for "wrongful death".

But that's negligence. I can see that being different from murder.

It's not like he was…

Simpson is the Greg Louganis of grace-falling.

I loved this sentence, absolutely loved it. And then the ruining-things bit of my brain went 'wait a minute, OJ Simpson is gay?'

Ha! When I wrote it I did briefly wonder if anyone would think that

So yes, it's somewhat nonsensical to be able to be tried for both... but if he…

The civil case was not "murder" but "wrongful death".

Which amounts to the same thing, surely. I doubt that the parents OJ's wife, if asked how they lost their daughter, would respond that she "wrongfully died".

The reason it was possible for (sane) juries to come to conflicting conclusions based on essentially the same evidence was because the level of proof required in the criminal and civil cases is not the same..... The criminal level of proof…

The civil case seems crazy to me. How you can pursue a civil case for largely the same thing that a person has been found not guilty of, I don't know.

Not to mention the idea that you can be tried in a civil court for murder. Although I guess…

I'm not overly familiar with sentencing at all, and American sentencing in particular.... but 15 years seems rather high, no?

I think Graeme should have the last word on this bit, but:

Simpson got a 15-year sentence for the armed kidnapping, which by Nevada law means he'll be eligible for…

How the jury found that civil case proved. Weird.

I'm not overly familiar with sentencing at all, and American sentencing in particular.... but 15 years seems rather high, no?
Despite the judge making a specific statement that it wasnt the case, you cant help but think there might be some extra time added to make up for what was…

Simpson is the Greg Louganis of grace-falling.

I loved this sentence, absolutely loved it. And then the ruining-things bit of my brain went 'wait a minute, OJ Simpson is gay?'

Despite the judge making a specific statement that it wasnt the case, you cant help but think there might be some extra time added to make up for what was…

This idea that sporting celebrities are ALWAYS in the public eye. It really gets to me when people [such as a particular workmate] state time and again that sport…

Some, such as John Madden, feel OJ brought the game down and so should be ... um... unducted(?)

Deducted, surely?

OJ. i.e. you 'got away with it'.

there's that actor who got to be an actor because he was a cool football player

I only remember him in the Loaded Gun movies though. But his acting CV is pretty lengthy.

But for me, I really don't think my over-riding memory of OJ will be his fall. It probably will be his acting, and through his acting, his place in sport (as in 'there's that actor who got to be an actor because he was a cool…

totally read that as indicted.

Heh.

I didn't mention it but there have actually been calls for OJ to be removed from the Hall of Fame, as players are inducted not just for playing ability but also for their "contribution to the game". Some, such as John Madden, feel OJ…

he was the second highest on the all-time rushing list and was inducted into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

totally read that as indicted.