Neiman declined to reveal many details of the discovery of the knife, repeatedly citing the fact that there is an open homicide investigation in progress.
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But he added that whatever evidence is found, Simpson probably can not be tried again for the murders under America’s double jeopardy rules.
The former NFL and USC football star was acquitted of murder in the slayings of ex-wife Nicole Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman.
Los Angeles police are investigating whether a knife purportedly found on property once owned by O.J. Simpson is a piece of evidence or if the story of its discovery was “bogus from the get-go”, a police captain said on Friday.
“I would think that an LAPD officer, if this story is accurate as we are being told, would know that any time you come into contact with evidence that you should and shall submit that to investigators”, Neiman said.
The retired officer was in uniform while working across the street as security detail for a movie set, according to LAPD Capt. Andy Neiman. The officer – whom Neiman says worked in the LAPD Traffic Division and retired in the late 1990s – then kept possession of it until the last month, when he turned it over to LAPD investigators.
It was not clear to whom the knife belonged. Detectives believe the weapon was possibly recovered during the demolition of the property.
OJ Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman were found stabbed to death at the home on 12 June 1994.
“According to him, he thought the case was closed, since the case was no longer being prosecuted”, Neiman said. As opposed to turning the weapon in to evidence, the officer made a decision to keep the knife for himself. Quickly identified as a suspect, O.J. Simpson surrendered to police four days later at his Brentwood mansion after a surreal slow-speed highway chase that was televised to millions on television.
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Simpson, 68, is now serving a prison sentence in Nevada for the 2007 armed robbery and kidnap of a sports memorabilia dealer.
