The families of OJ Simpson’s alleged victims are set to pursue his estate for more than $100 million after the death of the ex-American football player.
Simpson, a US megastar who launched a successful film career after retiring from sport, died in Las Vegas on Thursday at the age of 76 after succumbing to prostate cancer.
In 1994, Simpson went from national hero to a figure mired in controversy and notoriety in the wake of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.
Accused of the killings, he was ultimately acquitted by a jury of the murders after a 1995 case dubbed the ‘trial of the century’.
However, two years later Simpson was found liable for the deaths in a civil case and ordered to pay $33.5 million to the grieving families.
The families have received just $132,000 in compensation from Simpson over the years, and have endured years of frustration while attempting to track down more of his millions. They estimate the debt has now spiralled with interest to more than $100 million.
David Cook, a lawyer for Mr Goldman’s father Fred, said they will continue to pursue the money, even after Simpson’s death.
"He died without penance”, he said. “We don't know what he has, where it is or who is in control. We will pick up where we are and keep going with it.”
Reacting to news of the death, Mr Goldman said it is a “further reminder of the loss of my son Ron”.
“His death is a reminder that Ron and Nicole were murdered by him.”
In a statement alongside Mr Goldman’s sister Kim, the family added that the death means “the hope for true accountability has ended”.
Simpson, nicknamed “The Juice” during his glittering sporting career, was regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time, with 11 seasons at the Buffalo Bills and a 1973 NFL award as Most Valuable Player.Simpson moved into film and broadcasting, and starred in all three instalments of the Naked Gun film series.
He had two children with Nicole during a seven-year marriage, after meeting her when she was working as a waitress in Beverly Hills. But their marriage ended in divorce, amid allegations of domestic abuse.
She was found murdered outside her home in the Brentwood district of Los Angeles on June 13, 1994, having been stabbed in the neck. Mr Goodman, her friend, had also been stabbed to death.
As the criminal case honed in on Simpson, he led police on a lengthy car chase which captured on camera and broadcast live around the world.
Simpson’s murder trial polarised America. He maintained his innocence throughout, but went on to release the bizarre memoir “It I did it”, which presented a “fictionalised” account of how the murders may have happened.
In 2008 Simpson was jailed for 33 years for armed robbery after breaking into a Los Angeles hotel room to seize at gunpoint memorabilia from his NFL career. He was set free from prison nine years later.
The families of the murder victims have continue to pursue Simpson through the courts over the years, seeking access to his film and sporting pensions and seizing control of the memoir to stop him profiting from the book."Is there money to be had? Hopefully”, said Mr Cook.
“Do I know exactly what it is? No, but we'll figure that out soon. Ron Goldman is gone, murdered. We have to fight on for him.”
