Few murder trials in history have captivated the public quite like that of OJ Simpson, the former NFL star turned Hollywood actor, whose ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were brutally murdered outside her home in Los Angeles in 1994.

The highly publicised trial, dubbed the “Trial of the Century,” saw Simpson acquitted of the murders despite overwhelming circumstantial evidence. However, a new Netflix documentary, “American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson”, brings fresh revelations to light, particularly regarding a key moment in the trial—the infamous “murder glove” and the wild advice that may have helped Simpson walk free.

The Shocking Advice That Changed the Trial

A bombshell revelation in the documentary comes from Mike Gilbert, Simpson’s former agent, who disclosed that he advised Simpson to stop taking his arthritis medication before trying on the bloodstained gloves in court. The reasoning? Without the anti-inflammatory effects of the medication, Simpson’s hands would swell, making it nearly impossible for the gloves to fit—a pivotal moment that may have swayed the jury in his favour.

According to Gilbert, he told Simpson, “If you stop taking the medication, your hands will swell, and the gloves won’t fit. That will be the moment that saves you.”

In court, when prosecutors dramatically asked Simpson to try on the gloves, he struggled to put them on, prompting the now-famous phrase from his defense attorney Johnnie Cochran:

“If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”

This single moment cast doubt on the prosecution’s case, despite other overwhelming evidence linking Simpson to the crime.

OJ Simpson’s Cryptic Response to His Former Agent

Gilbert, who worked alongside Simpson for nearly two decades, also recalled an unsettling conversation in which he confronted Simpson about the events of that fateful night.

When asked directly if he committed the murders, Simpson responded in a cryptic and unsettling manner. Instead of outright denying it, he allegedly hinted that Nicole’s actions might have led to her fate, leaving Gilbert feeling deeply uneasy.

After this exchange, Gilbert eventually distanced himself from Simpson, saying he could no longer ignore the doubts surrounding his former client.

How The Evidence Stacked Against Simpson

Despite his acquittal in the criminal trial, Simpson was later found liable for the murders in a civil lawsuit brought by the Brown and Goldman families in 1997. The civil court jury awarded $33.5 million in damages to the families, effectively concluding that Simpson was responsible for the deaths.

Key pieces of evidence presented in the trials included:

• The bloodstained glove found at the crime scene, which contained DNA from Simpson, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman
• Bloody footprints matching Simpson’s shoes
• A cut on Simpson’s hand on the night of the murders
• Simpson’s erratic behaviour and infamous Bronco chase

Despite this, his defense team managed to introduce enough reasonable doubt that the jury in the criminal trial found him not guilty.

The Enduring Legacy of the Trial

The OJ Simpson case remains one of the most controversial and discussed trials in American legal history. The racial tensions, media frenzy, and legal theatrics surrounding the case set a precedent for future high-profile trials.

Even decades later, new theories and evidence continue to emerge, with some still convinced of Simpson’s innocence, while others see his acquittal as a failure of justice.

The Netflix documentary reignites discussions around one of the most pivotal legal cases of the 20th century, offering new insights into the shocking defense strategy that helped OJ Simpson walk free.

Conclusion: The Trial That Changed America

Whether you believe OJ Simpson was wrongfully accused or got away with murder, there’s no denying that his case changed the American legal landscape forever.

The infamous murder glove, the shocking courtroom theatrics, and the wild advice that may have sealed the verdict will forever be etched in history as one of the most pivotal moments in criminal law.

With new revelations from the Netflix documentary, the world once again revisits the mystery of OJ Simpson—a case that continues to divide opinions nearly three decades later.

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