OJ Simpson's defence lawyer has recalled the "terrible blunder" made by the prosecution at his sensational trial. 

The former American NFL and actor star died yesterday, following a diagnosis some years ago of prostate cancer. 

In 1995, he was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in a trial whose every twist and turn gripped the attention of the world. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, attorney Alan Dershowitz said he was “saddened” to learn of his former client’s death - but knew others would shed few tears.  

“He will always have a mixed legacy,” he said. 

“Many people think he was guilty - as his lawyer, I can’t comment on that. 

“I can only say the police believed he was guilty and then they tried to frame him by enhancing the evidence. 

“They created a bloody sock by pouring the blood of OJ Simpson and his alleged victim from a test tube onto the sock, making it seem as if the sock had gotten the blood [on it while] at the crime scene. 

“We were able to prove, however, that the blood had a chemical which is not found in the human body but is used to prevent coagulation in test tubes.” 

Mr Dershowitz said that once they had proved the police had tampered with the evidence, they had planted enough doubt in the minds of jurors’ that they felt unable to trust what prosecutors were telling them.

'If it doesn't fit, you must acquit'

Another key moment was when they asked Simpson to try on a pair of blood-stained gloves. 

It turned out they did not fit him - something Mr Dershowitz describes as a “terrible blunder”. 

“They could have had him try on the glove outside of the hearing to see if it fit but they were so arrogant they didn’t do that,” he said. 

“They did it in front of a jury and it absolutely backfired and it became an important moment in the case.” 

Simpson’s acquittal proved hugely controversial among the public at large and Mr Dershowitz said people’s views tended to “reflect the deep racial divisions in America”. 

“Many African Americans were pleased with the verdict and many whites were displeased with the verdict,” he said. 

“They saw the evidence differently; many African Americans focused on the police misconduct - which they had experienced personally. 

“Others focused on the abuse of women - which they had experienced personally.” 

Civil case

Following Simpson’s acquittal, he was found responsible for the deaths of Ms Brown and Mr Goldman in a civil case. 

In 2008, he was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to 33 years in prison; he was released in 2017.

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