OJ Simpson & Nicole Brown Simpson: The Divorce, the Murder, and the Trial That Divided America
She divorced him after years of documented abuse — two years later, she was dead
Key Facts
What Happened
OJ Simpson, the NFL legend and Hollywood actor, married Nicole Brown in 1985. Behind the glamorous facade was a pattern of severe domestic violence. On New Year's Day 1989, police responded to a 911 call from Nicole who reported that OJ had beaten her. She had a split lip, a black eye, and a handprint on her neck. OJ pleaded no contest to spousal battery and was sentenced to community service and counseling — no jail time. Nicole filed for divorce in February 1992, citing irreconcilable differences. The settlement gave her a $433,750 lump sum, $10,000 per month in child support, and title to a rental property.
Despite the divorce, OJ and Nicole maintained a complicated relationship, co-parenting their two children, Sydney (born 1985) and Justin (born 1988). Nicole's friends later reported that she feared OJ would kill her. She had called police at least eight times during their marriage. On June 12, 1994 — less than two years after the divorce was finalized — Nicole Brown Simpson, age 35, and her friend Ron Goldman, 25, were found stabbed to death outside Nicole's Brentwood condominium.
What followed was the most watched criminal trial in American history. After a nine-month trial and less than four hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted OJ Simpson on October 3, 1995. But in the subsequent civil trial, which allowed different evidentiary standards — including Nicole's diary entries documenting abuse and photos of OJ wearing Bruno Magli shoes matching prints at the crime scene — the jury found Simpson liable for the deaths and awarded $33.5 million in damages to the Goldman and Brown families.
In a bitter irony, OJ was awarded full custody of Sydney and Justin in 1996, despite the civil verdict. The Brown family fought a five-year custody battle but lost. OJ moved the children to Miami in 2000. Then in 2007, OJ was arrested in Las Vegas for armed robbery and kidnapping in a botched attempt to recover sports memorabilia. He was convicted on all 12 counts on October 3, 2008 — exactly 13 years to the day after his murder acquittal — and sentenced to 9 to 33 years in prison. He was paroled in 2017 and died of cancer in April 2024.
Legal Breakdown: Domestic Violence Allegations
When the System Fails Domestic Violence Victims
Nicole Brown Simpson called 911 at least eight times. OJ's 1989 battery conviction resulted in zero jail time — just community service and counseling. The system treated domestic violence as a private dispute rather than the serious crime it is. Since 1994, California and many other states have significantly strengthened DV laws, including mandatory arrest policies and longer protective order durations. But Nicole's case remains the defining example of how the justice system can fail victims who cry for help.
Criminal vs. Civil Standards of Proof
The Simpson case exposed a critical legal distinction to millions of Americans: criminal trials require proof 'beyond a reasonable doubt,' while civil trials require only a 'preponderance of evidence' (more likely than not). This is why a person can be acquitted criminally but found liable civilly for the same act. If you are a DV survivor and the criminal system fails you, a civil lawsuit for damages remains an option.
Custody After Violence: A System Contradiction
Despite being found civilly liable for Nicole's death, OJ Simpson was awarded full custody of their two children. This exposed a devastating gap in family law: civil liability findings in one court did not automatically affect custody determinations in another. Since then, many states have enacted presumptions against custody for parents with DV histories, but the Simpson case remains a cautionary tale about the disconnect between courts.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Document every incident of domestic violence — police reports, photos, medical records, journal entries. Nicole's diary was crucial evidence in the civil trial even though she was no longer alive to testify.
- →A restraining order is a legal document, not a physical shield. Safety planning — including a go-bag, safe locations, and trusted contacts — is essential for DV survivors leaving a relationship.
- →If the criminal justice system fails to protect you, civil remedies (restraining orders, lawsuits, custody modifications) remain available. Consult a DV advocate.
- →If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For DV support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.