O.J. . . . VIOLENT HISTORY?

Prosecutors in the O.J. Simpson trial pleaded with Judge Lance Ito to admit evidence that Simpson had often beaten his ex-wife Nicole during their 17-year relationship. Outside the courtroom, meanwhile, lawyers on both sides dealt with fall-out from yesterday's sensational revelations. This morning the District Attorney's office withdrew some items from consideration in this evidenciary hearing, including passages from Nicole Simpsons' journal and a statement allegedly made by Simpson that if he caught any of his ex-wife's boyfriends driving his cars, he would "cut their (expletive) heads off." TIME Los Angeles correspondent Jim Willwerth, who is covering the trial, says, "A lot of extremely dramatic and very substantial incidents of violence and abuse are left. This move did not weaken the prosecution case at all."