Mr. Simpson is present in court with his legal team including Mr. Shapiro, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Sheck, Mr. Bailey, and Mr. Douglas.
The prosecution is represented by Ms. Clark, Mr. Darden, and Mr. Hodgman.
Jury is not initially present as preliminary remarks are made by the judge.
Judge's Initial Remarks
Judge informs counsel of his intention to explain the previous day's delay to the jury due to an incident involving a television camera inadvertently photographing a juror.
The judge reassures that measures have been taken to prevent future occurrences.
Intention to inspect jury facilities announced.
Defense Opening Statement (Mr. Cochran)
Introduction
Mr. Cochran addresses the jury, outlining the purpose of an opening statement as a preview of evidence, not evidence itself.
Emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind and the jurors' role in seeking justice and truth.
Key Points of Defense
Timeline and Alibi for Mr. Simpson:
Mr. Simpson had a busy schedule and an alibi for the time of the murders.
Witness testimony will challenge the prosecution's timeline, suggesting alternative events and times.
Mr. Simpson was involved in family activities, including attending his daughter’s recital.
Character and Motive:
Defense argues against the portrayal of Mr. Simpson as having a motive based on domestic violence.
Emphasizes Mr. Simpson's charitable actions and strong family relationships.
Defense challenges the prosecution's narrative of Mr. Simpson being controlling or abusive.
Witnesses and Evidence:
Defense plans to present witnesses who contradict the prosecution's timeline and descriptions of events.
Questions raised about the integrity of the crime scene evidence collection.
The role of Detective Mark Furman and his involvement questioned.
Expert testimony from Dr. Lenore Walker expected to counter claims of domestic violence.
Evidence and Witnesses to Be Presented
Several witnesses will testify about their observations, challenging the prosecution’s timeline.
Notable figures include:
A neighbor who reportedly heard Mr. Simpson’s voice at key times.
Witnesses who did not see signs of a crime at 10:25 PM.
Witnesses who observed other suspicious individuals in the area.
Critique of Prosecution's Case
Defense criticizes the prosecution's reliance on timelines based on insufficient evidence like a dog's whimper.
Argues against the portrayal of Mr. Simpson’s marriage and character attack as irrelevant to the murder charges.
Court Procedures
Jury reminded by the judge that attorney statements are not evidence.
Judge discusses procedural issues like juror visibility and logistic considerations.
Conclusion
Defense emphasizes the need to avoid a rush to judgment and to consider all evidence fairly.
Opening statement sets the tone for challenging the prosecution's narrative and highlighting potential flaws in their case.