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."

[pam1sadge]

All I can say is THANK GOD.

[observer2020]

The murderer is finally going to jail. Let''s hope he gets an up close and personal meeting with Bubba. It''s a complete shame that the money he had was able to buy him a not guilty verdict 13 years ago--shows how BAD our judicial system is. It''s all on the wheel, though--what comes around, goes around...too bad it took so long. His karma is so bad something bad was bound to happen.

[ann3332]

yes im glad that justice was done. but there one thing with is with the Goldmans. i dont agreee when they say they help to put OJ away. it was the jury and what the evidence that put him away.and I hope this sega is finally over because I had enough of hearing about this.I am concerned about sidney and Justin and what they have to deal with.Not only they lost their mother but now there are facing loosing their father.and yes OJ is the blame for that

[mellie1957]

I would be doing exactly what the Goldman''s have done if it was my loved one. I have the utmost respect for the Goldman''s in that they have kept Ron''s memory alive. I''ve never doubted OJ''s guilt in the murders. And, I don''t think it''s about the money they would get from the civil suit.

[wizardg1]

You racist people honestly believe a person as stupid as O.J. could kill two people and get away with it???

You are the same fools who would support Bush as a President of your Lilly white country and support a war against people of color and call it helping.

You''re the same racist fools who can reverse anything negative aimed at you, like discrimination to "reversed discrimination".

When will all you sickos realize that while you''re hurting others you''re also hurting yourselves?

[rlj63]

Racist? What does behavior have to do with racism?

[ann3332]

This has mothing to do with racism and im getting sick ad tire of people usig that all the time. It sometime is but not all the time. For ome thimg im mot racist I have married a black persom and ilove him.i this case oj whether he was black or white if he committed a crime he should pay for f the crime. This thimg with racism it has to stop.

[gaye5]

claytonantho, if you have often seen the system go against your people for generations, and you dont really know all the details on the trial, I can understand the blacks thinking that it is just another injustice, so we must not judge them..

I am thrilled that he is put away and hopefully he will feel the same torment his wife and friend went through as he killed them.. and hopefully that torment will never go away, the inmates will see to that.
Can anyone tell me what happened to his children, and did they see what happened???

[valentin73]

All my respect to the Goldman Family, but what about the Simpson Family, why are they low=profiled. Nicole was a beautiful woman, Ron did not deserve to die. Both Families should continue their fight. Fred and Kim , you are not alone, we are your extended Goldman Family............

[seafang]

Well wizardg1, you are like a child standing in the corner facing the walls, who believes he is invisible because he can''t see anyone.

Back in the LA trial Simpson truly was tried by a jury of his peers; and like him they were too ignorant to realize that the DNA evidence was like a laser beam pointing at him hiding in the corner thinking he was invisible. Well ignorance is not a disease; we are all born with it; but stupidity has to be taught, and you, and others like you seem to be only too eager to teach stupidity to others.

Your racist label doesn''t work any more; we have all heard the Reverend Jeremiah Wright''s Sunday sermons to his faithful followers, including him who would be our next President, is enough people are stupid enopugh to believe his string pulled puppet antics. Don''t you ever ask yourself, just what kind of people they are who make Barack Obama dance on the end of strings. You can bet one thing neither he nor them gives a *** about either you; or me.

[ladyephesus1]

According to Jesus Christ, there is no color.

[gaye5]

wizardg1, I have done my best here to try and bring a balance, but what you have said has made me angry.. It appears that with your type of thinking there can never be peace between races. There will always be bigots in ALL races, all we have to do is avoid such people and realise that most people are good.
In our modern society we have so many ways to prove that someone is guilty or not..and because of this it can be as much proof as someone seeing it happen.
Perhaps you dont understand science and how we can now tell from DNA and many other things as to what has acturally happened.. There is very little chance to beat the system now..

[Meg003]

Simpson got off on the murder charge because he is a celebrity. Robert Blake and Claudine Longet also got away with murder. Celebrities are not held to the same standards as ordinary people. The money and charisma, and in some cases, the physical attributes, get celebrities special treatment in the courts and almost everywhere else.

[catlady1412]

I don''t think anybody wanted to believe OJ killed Nicole and Ron. It is too bad the jurors were not immersed in information about DNA then like everyone is now. It was upsetting to think someone like OJ who had it all could do such a thing. He could have been remembered as a hero but for one stupid and selfish act, now he will be remembered a murderer. What an idiot!

[cmp271]

The gloves didn''t fit because the blood on them made them shrink!! How stupid was the jury 13 years ago???

OJ belongs in jail. What would he do next? Rob Rich stadium in Buffalo?

[dixxson-2009]

It is not about whether O J committed this crime or the First. It''s about whether or not this Nation can ever be racially Just.
Any Human in this Country already knows the so called Justice System is a Disgrace.
And trying to criticize China"
Where would O J be had he been White?
What if his wife had been Black?
Then where would all these "Racist" Be?
This is Racism''s finest hour since the Lynchings of "The Scottsboro Boys"
Those who have destroyed America and are
destroying the Planet can best be analyzed
by comparing them to their Peers".
All American, Mass Murderes, Thrill Killers, Serial Rapist, Pedophiles, Cannibals and Ghouls, Necrophiliacs".
THEY JUST DON''T FEEL WELL" Unless they are Plying their Trade".

[blackyowe]

Ron Goldman and his family are the real victims of this. Nicole knew she was playing with fire with OJ but poor Ron he was just a good guy. The other big looser in all this is our justice system which failed us all that day it let this cold blooded murderer get away with this crime. Myself I have never gotten over how this could happen in America. The evidence was so overwhelming

[airboatboy1]

Gaye5- I think his children have now taken over the task of looking for the real killer. You''ll probably see them on a golf course real soon.

[usclimey]

The first trial was a perfect storm. The jury was blinded by science and baffled with ***. The judge was starstruck. The police were incompetent. The DA''s were cocky. And the defence was high-priced and devious. Under those circumstances nobody could have gotten a conviction.

Justice has been done now - provided the appeal does not uncover judicial error.

[thevicar1]

There will probably NEVER come a time in the vengeance-filled, hate-driven lives of the holocaust victim Goldmans that will find satisfaction enough from anothers suffering.

Do you think they will stop, and be happy?

Its doubtful that seeing only ONE PERSONS life destroyed by their bile, vile, hatred will satisfy them for long.

[drrc1]

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

[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.

[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?

[jamesetling4]

Revenge is a dish best served chilled.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.