The People V OJ Simpson: An American Crime Story on RTÉ One August 11th at 22.10
Series 1, Episode 10 – Final
Title: The Verdict
On the last day of proceedings, Simpson declines to take the stand, but makes a brief statement, saying that he maintains his innocence and yearns for the trial to be done with and to return to his family. In their closing arguments, Clark states that Fuhrman’s racist behaviour is no excuse to set a killer free, Darden claims that Simpson may have been a great football player but is still a raging murderer, and Cochran compares Fuhrman to Adolf Hitler and reminds them that the bloody gloves that did not fit on Simpson would not make it possible for him to commit the murders.
The jury deliberates for only four hours. In the first round of polling, ten of them vote “not guilty”, while two vote “guilty”. One of the two voting ‘guilty’ (a white woman) stands by the overwhelming evidence. However, most of the skeptic jurors believe that the evidence was not fully proven, even if Simpson did do it. Meanwhile, Cochran’s life has been threatened and he recruits guards from the Nation of Islam.
A prison guard implicitly spoils Simpson’s fate and tells him it was an honour having him and he was more mature than other inmates he has put up with. He asks him to sign a football for his son. The verdict is finally given: Simpson is found not guilty for the murders of Nicole and Ron, which causes both rejoice and shock around the country.
As the jury walks out, one of them gives Simpson a black power raised fist in defiance. Kardashian dodges the press and vomits in a bathroom sink. Clark, Darden and Garcetti appear at a press conference with the Browns and Goldmans. Cochran tries to make peace with Darden, offering to help bring him back into the black community, but Darden tells Cochran he never left the community, adding that Cochran did not produce a milestone in civil rights and that black people will continue to be subjected to mistreatment from the police.
Though saddened and angered by the injustice of the verdict, Clark and Darden swallow their bitter defeat and decide to move on with their lives. The Goldmans return to the parking garage, with Kim asking her father what happens next. Simpson finally returns to civilian life though he enters a society where he is perceived as a different person as he was before the trial with some (mainly his family) welcoming him home while others now forever viewing him as the true murderer.
During a welcome home party where Simpson announces his intent to find the true killer, Kardashian finally cuts his ties with him. Simpson eventually discovers those involved with his life before the crime and trial have all but disappeared.
His favourite restaurant refuses to reserve a table for him. In the final scene, a depressed and lonely Simpson stands in his backyard gazing up at the life-size statue of himself in his prime as a football star with cheering fans heard in the background which slowly fade away as the screen turns dark. The epilogue reveals what happened to the major players and ends with photos of Nicole and Ron.