True, the state is not seeking the death penalty. But Simpson is a man who spent his life running free like the wind and now he sits in a 9-by-7-foot cell. If he is convicted of any crime, Cochran will argue, his life will be over.
And, meanwhile, the real killer, he will say, goes free.
"They've got every police agency in the U.S. working on this case," Cochran told reporters after he left court on Friday. "But they're only looking in one direction."
Who should they be looking for?
"I can't tell you now," Cochran said. "But I will. I will."
*
At her last meal at Mezzaluna, Nicole told her family she had reached a turning point in her life.
Three days before, she had put her condominium up for lease. It was time to get more than two miles away from O. J. Simpson.
In the narrow restaurant, where, behind the huge windows, the patrons are on display like gems in a glass case, Nicole turned to Denise.
"Everything is going to change," Nicole told her sister. "And we're going to be happy."
TV COVERAGE OF THE O. J. SIMPSON TRIAL
Proceedings in the O. J. Simpson trial begin at noon EST with a hearing to discuss various issues, including whether his ex-wife, Marquerite Simpson Thomas, will testify. Opening statements are scheduled for 1 p.m. EST but could be delayed by the hearing.
Cable television's Court TV and E! Entertainment Television will offer gavel-to-gavel coverage. CNN will offer extensive, live coverage.
Fox plans to air a continuous feed from the courtroom's pool cameras for its broadcast affiliates to use at their discretion.
ABC, CBS and NBC will revert to regular daytime schedules after covering the beginning of today's opening statements.
ABC, CBS and NBC will then opt for "O. J. minutes" or brief hourly or periodic trial updates. They also will have control rooms able to jump instantly into live coverage and have pledged to provide live coverage of the trial's major developments, key testimony, closing arguments and verdict.
Columnist Roger Simmon will report from time to time on the O.J. Simpson trail.
