The Dark Side of Celebrity: O.J. Simpson's Long History of Wife Battering Exposed

A disturbing account of O.J. Simpson's long history of physical violence against his former wife, Nicole Simpson, has surfaced as he faces a double murder charge. The revelations have sparked a nationwide effort to counter the largely ignored but widespread crime of wife battering, which affects an estimated 4 million American women each year. The case has highlighted the need for stricter laws and tougher action to address domestic violence, with legislative efforts underway to ensure the system no longer turns a blind eye to abuse.

Key Takeaways:

O.J. Simpson has a long history of physical violence against his former wife, Nicole Simpson, with eight reported incidents of violence and screams at her home, resulting in her pleading for police to take him in.
Simpson was not arrested on any of those occasions, once telling officers it was a "family matter," and was later fined $700, sentenced to community service, and ordered to attend counseling after a particularly severe battering in 1989.
Despite their divorce in 1992, the couple continued to see each other, and Simpson's lawyers argued that his charity appearances and phone counseling sessions should substitute for community service.
Nearly 3,000 American women are killed by their partners each year, and 4 million women are battered annually, or approximately one every 15 seconds.
The case has triggered a national effort to address domestic violence, with bills being proposed to require police to arrest anyone suspected of inflicting serious harm on a spouse and to reduce violence in the home and on the streets.
Demonstrators in Washington called for the speedy passage of the Violence Against Women bill, and officials in New York state are working on a bill requiring police to arrest anyone suspected of inflicting serious harm on a spouse.
O.J. Simpson's alibi for the time of the murders has been compromised as a friend reported that Simpson was not at home at the time, leading police to search storage lockers at Chicago airport where he went shortly after the murders.

Statistics:

4 million American women are battered each year, or approximately one every 15 seconds (Lucy Friedman, victim support specialist).
3,000 American women are killed by their partners each year.
The Simpson case has highlighted the need for stricter laws and tougher action to address domestic violence.
A bill requiring police to arrest anyone suspected of inflicting serious harm on a spouse is being proposed in New York state.

Sources:

THE NEW YORK POST
Lucy Friedman, victim support specialist
Hilda Solis, member of the California state assembly
Pat Schroeder, congresswoman