In my last blog post I discussed the FX drama series ‘The People vs. OJ Simpson’, part of the American Crime Story anthology. I wrote about what a fantastic drama it was – one that made great viewing. But as the series ends, something I realised when watching the last episode was that I had failed to see the consequences of the trial from the victims’ perspectives.
Having enjoyed the series like so many other people, it is easy to forget what really happened. After all, this was a double homicide trial. While the trial revolved around Simpson and race, the victims cannot be forgotten. Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson both lost their lives in June 1994, meaning a life full of hurt would follow for the families of the victims.
One particular scene made me realise. After the ‘not guilty’ verdict had been delivered, along with the post-trial press conference, it was the end of the ‘trial of the century’ and the start of the next chapter in every person’s life. The show depicted a scene seeing the Goldman family making a lonely walk in to their car, isolated and defeated. It is hard to imagine what they felt at that time. Having just seen the murder of their family member unsolved after a long trial, the pain must have been unbearable. What made it worse was the fact that the decision was met with mass celebrations and hysteria, with many celebrating the verdict as a major human rights victory.
As mentioned, it is difficult to comprehend what the family felt at this time. I am sure over twenty years on the wound hasn’t healed – surely it never can, nothing can replace losing someone. A particularly poignant scene is the final part of this sequence and is the last addition to the anthology from the Goldman family – the sister of Ron asks – “what are we going to do now?” There is no telling after such a crushing defeat, what the family were meant to do.
That is why it is so crucial to remember in the midst of this excellent drama, that there was a real-life story behind it. In what is a move that is highly commendable – the Goldman family didn’t stop there and continued to campaign for Ron. In 1999, OJ Simpson was found liable for their deaths, being ordered to pay $33M in damages, though the Goldman family received less than $500k, for numerous reasons.
Over twenty years on and the Goldman family would have had to re-live the entire episode. For the vast majority of people, it was an insight into one of the recent incredible events in history. But for others, including the Goldman’s, it was a moment where a nightmare was relived – something that should never, and will never, be forgotten going forward.
/MF/
(‘075’)
Millicent Faith 