Many feel a sense of jubilance and celebration today (Friday) in hearing the words of Las Vegas, Nevada Judge Jackie Glass giving her sentencing order to O. J. Simpson. The Nevada Division of Parole and Probation recommended a minimum sentence of 18 years for the 12 felony counts he was convicted of.
More than thirteen years ago, O. J. Simpson got away with the 1994 murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman when acquitted for the crimes in criminal court, but was then held responsible for their horrific deaths in civil court.
Watching the L.A. criminal trial, I was so disappointed when he was acquitted, even sick to my stomach that day. But following his acquittal on criminal double murder charges, I said one day he would do something wrong that would send him to jail. He was so arrogant, so sure of himself, until this trip to Las Vegas and his “stupidity” as he called it. I think most of us laughed at his court room speech today about how sorry he was–and stupid, and how he had been visiting Vegas since 1959–and had never been in trouble.
Judge Glass commented about the violence of his act, and also said, “it was much more than stupidity.” 15 years, maybe parole after nine years, and could be locked away for 33 years. Not bad. He’s not going to have a very good time in prison. The Judge also commented he was arrogant and ignorant.
She gave him about what I thought he would get. Good for her in following the law and good for the jury in bringing back a reasonable and just verdict for the criminal acts O. J. and his group committed in Vegas.
NBC/MSNBC’s Dan Abrams, who followed the Simpson case years back in Los Angeles, mentioned today how O. J. all these years “had publically mocked the Goldman family, again, again, and again.” When asked in so many words if O. J. “would fade away,” Abrams said, “The O. J. Simpson that we’ve seen today, the O. J. Simpson with the swagger is gone forever.”
I have to admit it was nice to see O. J. looking weary and defeated. Yeah, more than nice.
It was great to see Fred Goldman looking better than I’ve ever seen him over these years. I imagine these last few months of knowing O. J. Simpson was in jail and had little if any hope of getting out, and would surely be going to prison, finally gave Fred Goldman, his wife, Ron’s sister, Kim Goldman, and the rest of the family a sense of peace that justice has been accomplished in the name of their son and brother, Ron Goldman, and Nicole Brown. They may never receive any of the money, more than thirty-three million, owned their family and the Brown’s, but I hope for them, it no longer matters now that Ron’s killer is in prison.
Today Fred Goldman was asked by a reporter if this brought closure and Goldman answered, “There is never closure. Ron is always gone–what we have is satisfaction that this monster is now where he belongs, behind bars.”
I wish the Goldman’s peace knowing their stand for Ron all these years now has results. But isn’t it so ironic that O. J. had done something with many of those items years back in an effort to keep the Goldman’s from getting any monetary value from his things. He has said more than once, he would not give the Goldman’s a dime. Funny isn’t it, that his efforts to scam the Goldman’s led him to serious criminal acts to recover his items....but oh, O. J. said he thought he “was confronting friends” and didn’t know he “was doing anything wrong.” Yeah, sure.
A little bit of Karma that didn’t have to wait until another life-time.
~ Linda
1 comment:
I think OJ thought he was immune to justice. He could just walk in and out of any situation untouched. I hope they don't put him in some plush prison. He needs to spend those years in the worst prison we can afford.
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