USA: OJ SIMPSON TRIAL: PROSECUTION CLOSING ARGUMENT

(26 Sep 1995) English/Nat

One year after jury selection began in the OJ Simpson double murder trial, Prosecutor Marcia Clark began her closing argument, describing the "mountain of evidence" the prosecution has gathered against the former football great.

Clark, apologetically, commended jurors for their unselfish service on the panel and hurriedly distanced herself from the notorious Detective Mark Fuhrman.

SOUNDBITE:"Having said that Miss Clark is the prosecution on behalf of the people ready to proceed there opening argument?"
Clark: "Yes your honor we are."
Ito: "You may preceded."
Clark: "Good morning ladies and gentlemen."

SUPERCAPTION:
Judge Lance Ito
Marcia Clark, Prosecutor.

The beginning of the end for the eight month long murder trial of famed defendant OJ Simpson as Prosecutors begin their closing arguments Tuesday in Los Angeles.

The court was packed with family members of both victims and the defendant in attendance.

The prosecution has hinted they will spend at least two days restructuring their "mountain of evidence" case against the Simpson accused in the deaths of his ex-wife and Ronald Goldman.

Clark first..apologetically thanked jurors for dedicating nearly a year of their life in pursuit of justice.

SOUNDBITE: "I want to take the opportunity to thank you and I want to thank-you from the bottom of my heart you have been through so much you have made a tremendous sacrifice you haven't seen your children enough you haven't seen your family enough you haven't seen your loved ones enough and all this in the name of justice and the service of justice you dedication and unselfishness are truly beyond the pale no one can say that any jury has sacrificed more for the cause of justice than you have and I want you to know sincerely from my heart I appreciate it."
SUPERCAPTION: Marcia Clark, Prosecutor.

Clark then quickly distanced herself from Detective Mark Fuhrman-the discoverer of a bloody glove on Simpson's estate-and proven racist.

SOUNDBITE: "And let me come back to Mark Fuhrman did he lie when he testified about not using racial epithets in the last 10 years yes.....is he a racist yes..is he the worst LAPD has to offer yes do we wish this person was never hired by LAPD..yes should LAPD ever hired him no should such a person ever been a police officer no in fact do we wish that there was no such person on the planet yes."
SUPERCAPTION: Marcia Clark, Prosecutor.

Clark later said despite LAPD's mistakes and blunders her sides case has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt: Simpson butchered his ex-wife and Ron Goldman.

SOUNDBITE: "The question is the evidence that has been presented to you and relates to who killed Ron and Nicole what does that tell you does that convince you beyond a reasonable doubt no matter how much more qualified or how much better they could of done their job still in all did they present enough evidence to you did the evidence come to you in such a quantity and convincing force to convince you that this defendant committed these murders beyond a reasonable doubt ladies and gentlemen I submit to you that we have more than met our burden in this case."
SUPERCAPTION: Marcia Clark, Prosecutor.

Judge Lance Ito has extended the week's court hours in hoping to deliver the case to the jury on Friday.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...