Scenes From A Bad Marriage

The O.J. Simpson trial confronts the crucial legal issue whether past abuse can be a prologue to murder

WITH OPENING ARGUMENTS IN THE trial of O.J. Simpson set to begin at last, the biggest challenge for the prosecution isn't the missing murder weapon or the reliability of DNA evidence or the makeup of the jury. It's the defendant's smile. Whatever damage has been done in recent months to Simpson's image as the world's most genial jock, it will still be hard to make jurors put aside the old impressions of him. Unless they can imagine O.J. in a murderous rage, it won't matter even if the state offers them DNA blood tests with his autograph on every drop.

That...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!