O.J. Simpson: He’s Baaack -The iPINIONS Journal

Recall that it was not the nature of the murders, or even who was murdered, that kept us so riveted on coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial. Rather, it was the fact that O.J. was such a bona-fide celebrity … period.

Well, the level of celebrity it took O.J. decades to earn was conferred upon Casey in an instant, making it seem as though public interest in her legal fate is just as warranted. Frankly, this case perpetuates the perception that only the murders of cute little white girls (like Caylee, JonBenét Ramsey, and Madeleine McCann) are worthy of media coverage.

(“Casey Anthony Murder Case,” The iPINIONS Journal, June 10, 2011)

I cited the above on Friday to distinguish the gladiatorial and prurient lust that had so many people riveted on the Jodi Arias trial from the racial and cultural interest that had so many riveted on the O.J. Simpson trial(s). How coincidental, then, that O.J. was making news again on Monday with his Hail-Mary pleading for a new trial.

By way of background, here, from “Justice Delayed, but Not Denied for O.J. Simpson,” The iPINIONS Journal, October 4, 2008, is how he finally got (a little of) his comeuppance:

When he was arraigned [on armed burglary and kidnapping charges], one would’ve been hard-pressed to find a single legal pundit who thought O.J. would be convicted. Instead, they all insisted that – because O.J. was allegedly only stealing his own sports memorabilia back and his victims were disreputable con men – no jury would convict him.

But none of them bothered to advise that taking the law into one’s own hands is never a good idea, or that, just as it is illegal to rape a prostitute, it is equally so to rob a con man.

By contrast, here’s what I wrote back then, in “O.J.’s Surreal Deal Revealed: 1 Burglary for 2 Murders,” The iPINIONS Journal, September 17, 2007:

Wouldn’t it be ironic if O.J. were now convicted for burglary after getting away with double murder (committed June ’94, acquitted October ’95)? …

I predict he’ll be convicted and sentenced to at least 25 years in prison; notwithstanding his patently specious (no-intent) defense that he cannot be convicted of stealing his ‘own shit.’

This is just one more way in which his civil conviction for those murders is coming home to roost. Recall that he was ordered to turn over his sports memorabilia to help settle the $33 million judgment.

Pay no attention to his desperate attempt to feign a confident smile in this most recent mugshot. Because, if you look into his eyes, you could see it dawning on him that he’s about to pay for being not only a double murderer, but also a common thief!

In fact, O.J. got 33 years (presumably, in part, as payback for the $33 million civil judgment he has proudly refused to pay). It has been widely reported that he has been obsessed – from day one in prison – with proving that he was wrongly convicted. And so, after trying in vain to get his guilty verdict overturned on appeal, he’s now in court claiming that he deserves a new trial because his lawyer not only screwed up, but screwed him.

Specifically, he’s claiming on the one hand that his high-priced lawyer was incompetent; and on the other hand that this same lawyer deceived him by not telling him about a prosecution plea offer of just two years, which, in hindsight of course, seems more like a sweetheart deal than a plea bargain.

I have no doubt that the judge will summarily dismiss the former as a patently frivolous claim. But if O.J. could establish that his lawyer did not tell him about the plea deal, by compelling that lawyer to admit this on the stand, he would have a very good chance of not only getting a new trial, but actually getting out of prison based on the four years already served.

The problem is that his lawyer would be committing professional suicide if he makes such an admission; therefore, O.J. should prepare himself to spend many more years behind bars.

He is eligible for parole in five years. And, based on reports that he has been a model prisoner (e.g., using his celebrity to arbitrate disputes between gangs), he will likely be paroled on his first try.

Beyond this, the only thing noteworthy about O.J.’s reappearance this week is the way he looked when he made his first, highly anticipated entrance in court on Monday. For it became immediately apparent that he has defied the notion that prison food will turn even a glutton into a dieter.

It must have been humiliating enough that the shackles on his arms and feet forced him to shuffle rather than strut – as was his style. But that humiliation could only have been compounded by the 50 pounds he piled on in prison, which made his shuffle look more like a waddle. It would be one thing if it were all muscle – as one might’ve expected, but it’s clearly all fat.

Despite his pathetic appearance, however, O.J. still managed to exude the arrogance of an egocentric and unrepentant murderer … and thief. But, notwithstanding the real possibility of parole, I believe he should rot in jail: not for the 2008 theft – for which he is seeking a new trial, but for the 1994 murders – for which he got off scot-free.