People v. O.J. Simpson (1995)

DNA Blood Evidence Report

Lab analysis linking blood at crime scene to O.J. Simpson with a statistical match of 1 in 170 million. Blood drops on the Bundy Drive walkway, the rear gate, and inside Simpson's Ford Bronco all matched his DNA profile. Defense challenged sample handling procedures: blood was collected by trainee criminalist Andrea Mazzola, stored in an unsealed evidence envelope, and transported in a hot van for hours before refrigeration. Defense alleged contamination in the LAPD lab, which lacked a clean room and where technicians did not change gloves between samples. The prosecution countered that degraded DNA produces no result, not a false match.

The Bloody Glove

A left-hand Aris Leather Light extra-large glove found at Simpson's Rockingham estate by Detective Mark Fuhrman, matching a right-hand glove found at the Bundy Drive crime scene. Both gloves were size XL, brown leather lined with cashmere — only 240 pairs of this model were sold, and Nicole Brown Simpson had purchased two pairs at Bloomingdale's in 1990. The glove tested positive for blood containing DNA from Simpson, Nicole Brown, and Ron Goldman. During the courtroom demonstration, the glove appeared not to fit Simpson's hand, leading to Johnnie Cochran's famous closing: "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." Prosecution argued the glove had shrunk from blood saturation and repeated freezing/unfreezing during evidence storage, and that Simpson was wearing latex gloves underneath during the demonstration.

LAPD Crime Scene Photographs

Over 1,800 photographs and video of the Bundy Drive crime scene documenting: the blood trail leading from the bodies toward the rear alley, the position of the victims, bloody shoe prints (identified as size 12 Bruno Magli — Simpson's shoe size), and evidence markers. Defense alleged some evidence was moved or staged, pointing to discrepancies between initial officer observations and later crime scene photos. Detective Philip Vannatter carried a vial of Simpson's reference blood sample back to the crime scene rather than booking it immediately — defense argued this created an opportunity for planting. Crime scene processing did not begin until hours after discovery due to the complex notification chain.

Detective Fuhrman's Testimony Transcript

Detective Mark Fuhrman, who found the Rockingham glove, testified under oath that he had not used the racial slur "n*****" in the past ten years. Defense subsequently obtained audio recordings (the "Fuhrman tapes") made by screenwriter Laura Hart McKinny in which Fuhrman used the slur 41 times and described planting evidence and brutalizing suspects. When recalled to the stand, Fuhrman invoked the Fifth Amendment when asked: "Did you plant or manufacture any evidence in this case?" The jury was instructed they could consider his credibility entirely impeached. Defense presented this as evidence of systemic LAPD racism and the possibility of evidence fabrication — arguing that if Fuhrman lied under oath about one thing, his discovery of the glove was equally suspect.

Blood Vial Evidence Log

When Simpson voluntarily provided a blood sample on June 13, 1994, nurse Thano Peratis initially testified that he drew approximately 8 mL. Defense obtained records showing only 6.5 mL could be accounted for in subsequent testing — suggesting 1.5 mL was missing. Defense argued this unaccounted blood was used to plant evidence at the crime scene and on the glove. Peratis later revised his estimate to 6-6.5 mL (recanting from a hospital bed via videotape), and the prosecution argued no blood was missing. Defense also noted that Detective Vannatter — rather than booking the blood sample immediately — carried it in his pocket for three hours before delivering it to the criminalist at the scene, an extraordinary breach of evidence handling protocol.