OJ Simpson dead aged 76 after cancer battle

OJ Simpson, the former American footballer who was controversially cleared of double murder, has died this morning. He rose to the highest of highs as a sporting icon and Hollywood star, then fell to the lowest of lows, finding himself at the centre of the trial of the century. More from US correspondent Alison Petrowski One thing we had, it was the car chase that changed everything. I think I just saw OJ Simpson on the 5 Freeway is heading is heading north. For two hours in June of 1994, America stopped and watched one of their most decorated athletes on the run. This is ACI have OJ in the car, OK? Right now we all we all chase, but you gotta tell the police to just back off. He’s still alive ’cause he got a gun through his head. Oranthal James Simpson was wanted for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. This slow speed chase, a stunning fall from grace. The Football Hall of Famer became the fugitive and then a high profile defendant in a case dubbed the Trial of the Century with rolling TV coverage, a critical piece of evidence, a pair of bloodied gloves found at the crime scene. If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit. The gloves were too small and Simpson walked away a free man. We, the jury and the above entitled action, find the defendant, Orenthal James Simpson, not guilty of the crime of murder, but his life slid from there. In 1997, he was found liable for their murders in a civil suit. In 2006, he sold a book manuscript titled If I Did It and posed A hypothetical account of the murders he denied. The next year he was arrested after he and other men invaded a hotel room of sports memorabilia dealers and stole a trove of collectibles. He claimed he was taking back stolen possessions. How do you plead, Mr. Simpson? Not guilty, but a jury convicted him on all counts of robbery and kidnapping. He served the minimum nine years in a Nevada state prison before walking free in 2017. I’ve done my time. I I’d just like to get back to my family and friends for more. US correspondent Alison Petrowski joins us from Los Angeles. Ali, good morning. He was a divisive figure. How is America reacting to news of his death? Well, Soph, I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone in America that didn’t have an opinion about OJ Simpson. 93 million people tuned in to watch that car chase live, as it happened through greater Los Angeles, 150 million Americans tuned in as that verdict was handed down at the Los Angeles Los Angeles Superior Court. I think initially the reaction today, Sophie was surprised because while people knew about OJ Simpson’s diagnosis, he had been public about it for a couple of months. He’d been saying that he felt remarkably well, posting videos saying that he believed he was beating this thing. But it appears in the last week his health had taken a turn and his family and friends made the trek to Las Vegas to say their goodbyes. Reaction very mixed. Today, Sophie, we’ve had the NFL Hall of Fame pronouncing him as one of the greats of the game. But meanwhile Gloria Allred, who was one of the representatives of Nicole Brown Simpson’s family during that trial. She says his death is a reminder of a failed system. Simpson’s death reminds us that the legal system failed battered women, and especially Nicole. And if there had been real consequences the first time, perhaps he wouldn’t have been so emboldened as to go and kill the mother of his children, Caitlyn Jenner. Equally blunt but a little bit more succinct. Sophie, she simply said good riddance. And As for the other victim’s family members? Fred Goldman, the father of Ron Goldman. He released a statement saying the only thing that I have to say today is that this is a further reminder of the loss of my son Ron. So OJ Simpson died still owing those victims families more than $100 million. Ali Petrowski with the latest. Thank you.