At the trial prosecutors sought to depict the former football star as a wife batterer, introducing several incidents in which he supposedly abused Nicole. The most shocking evidence, at least to observers outside the courtroom, were pictures of Nicole’s badly bruised face. But Simpson, in the deposition given last month, insisted he “never” hit or choked Nicole. He said that the bruises on her face were caused when he tried to fend off his wife’s attacks on him during arguments. In another explanation, he said the bruises could have resulted from Nicole’s habit of “picking” at her facial blemishes. Simpson suggested that Nicole concocted the incidents to void their prenuptial agreement.
A source close to the plaintiffs described Simpson as chatty during breaks but “subdued and even submissive” during questioning. Well coached, he kept many of his answers brief. Still, the plaintiffs no doubt welcomed Simpson’s spin on the abuse incidents; they think they have evidence to prove him a liar. And, while Simpson’s deposition is continuing, a source close to the plaintiffs told NEWSWEEK they were heartened when Simpson could offer no corroboration of his whereabouts at the time of the murders: he said he was home alone.
