Goldmans: We Helped Push O.J. To Slammer

Father, Sister Of Ron Goldman, Slain Along With Simpson's Ex-Wife, React To O.J.'s Conviction In Case 13 Years Later

(CBS)  Fred and Kim Goldman say they feel they played a role in putting O.J. Simpson on a path that could put him behind bars for the rest of his life.

The father and sister of Ron Goldman spoke with co-anchor Harry Smith on The Early Show Monday.

On Friday, 13 years to the day Simpson after was acquitted in the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and a friend of hers, Ron Goldman, a jury in Las Vegas convicted Simpson on kidnapping and robbery charges in a case involving sports memorabilia. Simpson faces a possible life term when he's sentenced in December.

Fred Goldman told Smith Monday the verdict Friday caught him by surprise. He "thought that the jury was out for the weekend. And (I) got a phone call from Kim saying there's going to be a verdict. And I went into shock. And every emotion under the sun, you know, palpitations and what is going to happen, is it going to be a repeat of 13 years ago?"

"I was thinking," Kim Goldman said, " 'I can't have two not guilty verdicts in my lifetime on the same day.' We really tried to reserve judgment and opinion about what was going to happen, and I don't know how successful we were. ... We didn't want to allow ourselves to get back in that place again. We've been disappointed before and just didn't think it was possible and, you know, you don't want to put your faith back in a system that disappointed you so many years ago, so we just tried to maintain a level head and, as I said, I don't know how successful we were. I was a basket case and my dad was just stone cold quiet. It was weird."

"He's been very arrogant in the way that he carries himself," Kim continued, "and, you know, especially when he wrote the book last year that we were successful in taking away from him. You know, my dad and I firmly believe that our actions over the last decade-plus drove him to sort of act out in this way, and I think the book put him right over the edge."

Simpson still owes the Goldmans and the Brown family most of a $33 million civil judgment for the wrongful deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in 1994.

The Goldmans were able to obtain the rights to Simpson's controversial book, "If I Did It," which details how the murders would have happened had he committed them.

"We made a promise to ourselves and to Ron then that we'd never walk away," Fred said to Smith, "we'd never back off, we'd never give up and, as Kim said, you know, I think strange terminology to use, but the nail to put him away, I think, was our taking the book away from him. It took away his opportunity to glorify himself. He expected to make a lot more money on it than he got."

"He was using that as entertainment, definitely," Kim added. "He was mocking everybody with publishing that book, and the fact that we were able to take it away and use it as a confession, I don't think he was expecting that. He's been able to escape our hands for years, and we finally nailed him, and look what happened."

"We turned it on him," Fred remarked.

Kim said it still hasn't sunk in: "I feel like I'm going to wake up and something's is going to be different. It has hit me yet."

"I haven't been able to wrap my arms around it," Fred agreed, " because, for all of these years, it's been one focus and, all of a sudden, things have changed, and, you know, other than knowing that the likelihood (is) he's going to go away for a lot of years, I haven't been able to get my emotions around it yet. I'm thrilled on the one hand, but then I keep thinking, 'Well, in December, they're going to sentence him, and then we'll really find out."

"Then we have to suffer through the appeals process, you know?" Kim pointed out. "I mean, but, I just was thinking, 'He's in jail. Wow! He's not coming out!' "

"The pictures of him getting shackled in court," Fred concluded, "(were) a beautiful sight. And also, you know what? It's been 13 years. That's going to be his unlucky number and maybe our lucky number in the future. But then, on Dec. 5, I'd like to see a birthday present, and that is my birthday present -- that he goes away for the rest of his life, because my birthday is the next day."

[airboatboy1]

Regardless of race, he got away with murder and then got convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping. He just happened to be black and stupid.

[misssuzq]

OJ will appeal, at the tax payer''s cost, but at least he is semi-rotting in jail for this crime for a while.

The Goldman''s have it hard, seeing OJ out and about mocking the legal system and how it failed their son so many years ago.

If you look back when the verdict was read, it appears that Mr. Kardashian thought OJ was guilty, too, even though he was his friend and sitting at OJ''s table in court.

[petro49l]

O.J. suffered a severe brain injury while playing football. He is a paranoid schizophrenic. His Surgeon should operate and perform a modified frontal lobotomy. Afterwards, O.J. will be treated with Haldol and Thorazine to restore his sense of reality. The Judge should order treatment.

[trapbreaker]

O.J. played golf just about every day. The 8x12 cell he has now, with a bed, sink, and toilet in it is going to make it tough to swing a driver in there. His game is bound to suffer for the next 20 years or so.

[cepe10-2009]

I wish they would tar and feather Fred Goldman - he is the ultimate gold digging flake and a worthless excuse for a human being.

[thevicar1]

Are the whereabouts of Fred Goldman known for the night Nicole was killed? ------------------------------------------------------ Posted by drrc1


He said he was with Kato, in the guest house.

[jamesetling4]

Revenge is a dish best served chilled.

[mydiatribe]

Everytime O.J. was photographed with that SMUG SMILE, usually on a golf course in some exotic vacationland, he was irritating law enforcement. Like it or not he was a poster child fpr the BIG ONE that got away.
Hubris can be SELF DEFEATING by design?

[lostocean-2009]

This trial has nothing to do with race or color, it has to do with ARMED ROBBERY, which in the state of Nevada''s the max punishment is a life sentence. He is also charged with kidnapping, because he held those individuals against their will. Too bad OJ doesn''t have the money at this point to hire a team of high profile attorneys. So this time around a FAIR trial will be dealt, is that racist??? or for once fair.

[drrc1]

Are the whereabouts of Fred Goldman known for the night Nicole was killed?