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O.J. sister-in-law mocks defense claim that he's innocent

2008-06-26

The Boston Herald

October 6, 1994 Thursday

BYLINE: HELEN KENNEDY

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 8

LENGTH: 452 words

A member of Nicole Brown Simpson's family questioned O.J. Simpson's innocence for the first time yesterday, as Simpson's lawyers continued fighting to throw evidence out of the case.

"If O.J. is so innocent, why are they trying to suppress all the evidence?" sister Denise Brown asked reporters after yesterday's court session.

"He's 100 percent innocent?" she said mockingly. "Keep the evidence then."

Simpson's team battled to throw out all items seized from Simpson's Bronco after it was burglarized in a police tow yard June 15. Superior Court Judge Lance A. Ito will rule on the matter today.

Simpson's team yesterday again accused police detectives of lying about why they entered Simpson's home June 13.

"What was presented at the preliminary hearing was a well-orchestrated tissue of lies," said defense attorney Gerald Uelmen.

The detectives have testified that they jumped the gate of Simpson's estate after repeated calls to the house went unanswered.

But Uelmen brandished a security company transcript showing police were "at the front door" before any phone calls were made to the house.

Prosecutor Marcia Clark dismissed the claim, saying the employees at the security office actually meant the outside gate.

In an odd development, Simpson attorney Johnnie Cochran questioned Detective Tom Lange about his seizure of a pair of Reebok sneakers from Simpson's closet.

Lange said Simpson was present when he took the shoes.

Cochran then asked if Simpson "lifted up a wad of money" from a pile of clothes while he and Lange were alone in the closet.

"No," said Lange, and shook his head.

During the brief exchange, Simpson smiled broadly, leaned forward and looked more animated than he has in any court appearance so far.

When Lange denied seeing any money, Simpson grinned, shook his head and clearly mouthed to Shapiro: "I showed it to him."

The defense then tried to introduce evidence from an earlier police misconduct trial that would show that Detective Mark Fuhrman - who found key evidence against Simpson - is a racist and a liar.

Clark said because one of Simpson's investigators worked on that earlier trial, Simpson's lawyers should have brought up the issue at the preliminary hearing.

The investigator, Zvonko "Bill" Pavelic, worked for Joseph Britten, who sued several officers, including Fuhrman, on charges of police brutality and racism.

Simpson's team offered to put Pavelic on the stand to testify that he only worked on Britten's case in a limited capacity.

Ito decided to postpone the issue until next week.

As Pavelic has a reputation for flamboyant outspokenness, the clash promises to be dramatic.

"I warn counsel that I will call the city attorney, who will impeach Mr. Pavelic," Clark said firmly.

LOAD-DATE: March 16, 2007

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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