CNN O.J. Simpson Trial

Larry
King

Simpson makes surprise call to 'Larry King Live'

Cochran addresses Shapiro's race card comments

October 5, 1995
Web posted at: 1:30 a.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- After more than a year of silence, O.J. Simpson spoke out about his murder trial for the first time Wednesday night. He made a surprise call to CNN's "Larry King Live" to clear up what he called misconceptions about the case. Defense attorney Johnnie Cochran was King's guest.

Transcript of Simpson's call

Simpson responded specifically to a caller who asked about the shadowy figure seen in Simpson's driveway the night of the murders. "Let me say that was, to me, that's one of the problems, one of the problems I'm having ... with people who have followed this trial. They have not listened to the evidence." (255K AIFF sound or 255K WAV sound)

Simpson said it was prosecutor Marcia Clark who said a person was seen running across the driveway, rather than Allan Park.

Park, a limousine driver, picked up Simpson at his house on Rockingham and drove him to the Los Angeles airport the night of the murders. During the trial, Park testified that he saw a shadowy figure outside the house while he was waiting to pick up Simpson.

"Allan Park said fifteen feet, roughly, from my front door, which it was me, walking out of my front door, dropping my bags and going back in," Simpson said. "Never on the driveway, never coming down the driveway, never crossing a driveway. That is the testimony, and throughout the case it's been this misrepresentation, time and time again," Simpson said.

He went on to slam the "experts" who commented on the daily proceedings on television. "People come home from work and they hear the pundits elaborating on these misrepresentations. Listen to what the witness says. Listen to what their testimony is, and not what Marcia Clark told you. Not what (prosecutor Christopher) Darden told you. That has been the big problem," Simpson said. (162K AIFF sound or 162K WAV sound)

"So Miss -- I didn't get your name -- there was no shadowy figure coming down the driveway and going across the driveway. That's what Marcia Clark told you. That's not what Allan Park told you."

Simpson also criticized prosecutors and the media, saying they distorted the evidence presented in court. "I think my basic anger, and this is the last thing I'm going to say before I leave, my basic anger is these misconceptions. My basic anger is people I've heard say, 'I followed the case.' I've heard experts say, 'This was the testimony today.' And that wasn't the testimony today." (340K AIFF sound or 340K WAV sound)

Simpson thanked Cochran for listening to him and believing in him.

Earlier Thursday, Simpson visited with his two small children for the first time since his arrest in June 1994. Sydney and Justin Simpson met their father on a main roadway near Simpson's Brentwood home, then left with him in a car.

When King tried to ask him how the reunion went, Simpson cut him off and said, "It's been great. Thank you. I appreciate how fair you've been."

Before the call from Simpson, King addressed Shapiro's statements made to Barbara Walters Tuesday night about Cochran playing the race card. Shapiro told Walters that he was offended by Cochran's comparison of former detective Mark Fuhrman to Hitler during the trial.

Johnnie
Cochran

King read from a conciliatory message Shapiro had left for Cochran. Shapiro had been unable to reach Cochran in person Wednesday, King said. "Yes, he disagreed with the race issue and he was upset about that and the comparison to the Holocaust," King said. "But he wants you to know that he agreed with 95 percent of the defense. He thinks that you did a terrific job and the defense team was right on top of things. He thinks O.J. Simpson did not commit this crime but that you didn't need the Fuhrman, the race issue, the Holocaust in that whole thing." (340K AIFF sound or 340K WAV sound)

Cochran responded that he was fond of Shapiro and enjoyed working with him, and did not want to escalate the verbal battle. "The one problem that I would like for him to be aware of ... Bob Shapiro had started talking about Fuhrman planting the glove long before I ever came on the case. And, in fact, we never played any race card. What we did was pursue the credibility card." (289K AIFF sound or 289K WAV sound)


Other Simpson stories

  • Hodgman: `We proved who the real killer was'
  • Juror: 'O.J. Simpson didn't do it'
  • Race gap widens in wake of Simpson trial
  • Simpson makes first public statement

    The Verdict

    The Reaction

    What's Next



    [Imagemap]
    | CONTENTS | SEARCH | CNN HOME PAGE | MAIN O.J. SIMPSON TRIAL PAGE |

    Copyright © 1995 Cable News Network, Inc.
    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.