CUTTING TO THE CHASE

In a significant concession today, O.J.'s attorneys dropped their effort to block the use of potentially-crucial DNA evidence in the case, waiving all of their previous objections. The move means that opening statements in the Simpson trial may begin within two weeks. Hearings to consider the admissibility of the evidence had been expected to last up to six weeks.TIME Los Angeles correspondent Pat Colesays that given Judge Lance Ito's tendency to be unsympathetic to O.J.'s defense motions: "They probably figured that he was going to allow it anyway, so why not cut to the chase? O.J. Simpson's money might be getting short."