A former friend of OJ Simpson revealed he was appalled after hearing that the ex-NFL star was acquitted of double murder charges following the stabbings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1995.
During an appearance in the 2020 documentary “O.J. and Nicole: An American Tragedy,” former LAPD officer Ron Shipp expressed the shock he felt towards "The Trial of the Century" and its outcome, saying: “I truly believed he was going to be found guilty. I really did.”
On June 12, 1994, Nicole and Ron were both found stabbed to death outside the former’s condominium. Simpson, who died on Thursday following a battle with prostate cancer at 76 years old, was immediately considered a prime suspect.
Many were surprised when Shipp, who’d previously been close with Simpson for 26 years, took the stand against his old friend in 1995. He alleged that the ex-running back had “dreams” of killing Brown and was therefore hesitant to take a polygraph test.
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Shipp additionally claimed that Nicole showed him multiple pictures of injuries she’d sustained in beatings from Simpson while the two were married. “She knew I taught domestic violence. She told me it happened on several occasions,” he told Vanity Fair in 2016.
“She showed me pictures of past batteries that [her sister] Denise had taken. I came back the following night to bring back pamphlets to read to her. Everything that I said about the batterers, she said, ‘Wow, that’s O.J. This is what he does. This is how he is.’”
Nicole wrote about Simpson’s abuse in a secret diary, recounting at least 60 occasions where he physically assaulted and threatened her. The writings — which were found in a safe deposit box alongside photos of her mangled face and apology letters from her ex-husband — were not used as evidence in trial because the judge deemed them hearsay.
Simpson was acquitted of the double murder on October 3, 1995, much to the surprise of Shipp. “When the verdict came out, all I can remember is watching TV and there was a bunch of women that were actually living in a domestic violence shelter and when they said ‘not guilty,’ they all cheered,” he said in the documentary.
Ron Shipp was shocked after O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the double murder (Greg Doherty/Getty Images)Shipp was not the only friend of Simpson’s to voice their concerns surrounding his innocent verdict. Back in 2008, longtime sports agent and memorabilia dealer Mike Gilbert alleged that Simpson confessed to the killings during a private conversation.
In the tell-all book “How I helped O.J. Get Away With Murder: The Shocking Inside Story of Violence, Loyalty, Regret and Remorse” published in 2008, Gilbert discussed a private meeting he had with Simpson at his Brentwood home.
While under the influence of drugs, alcohol and a sleeping pill, Simpson shared that his ex-wife was holding a knife when he came to her home the night of June 12. He allegedly mumbled to Gilbert, “If she hadn't opened that door with a knife in her hand ... she'd still be alive.
“Nothing more needed to be said,” Gilbert wrote. "O.J. had confessed to me. There's no doubt in my mind.”
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