Soundly dismissing the conventional wisdom about the jury, Knox says in “The Private Diary of an O.J. Juror” that he thinks Simpson is guilty of the murders of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman. More to the point, he thinks the current jurors will convict Simpson. And in a fascinating dissection of what must be history’s most dysfunctional jury, Knox says it was indeed a hotbed of racial animosity-but not in the way people think. Knox, an African-American, says virtually all of the problems stemmed from some blacks harassing other blacks–and whites. He especially strikes out at Jeanette Harris, the dismissed juror who blamed the panel’s racial divisions on white sheriff deputies and some white jurors. Calling her “manipulative, even malevolent,” he writes: “I never saw any deliberate racial attacks by white jurors or deputies against any black jurors . . . The white people who were on that jury bent over backwards to be friendly.” Responds Harris: “He’s just trying to sell his book. Everything I said I still stand by.”
The book will be published next week by Dove Books, but NEWSWEEK obtained a copy and spoke to Knox. Despite its gossipy title, the book is surprisingly thoughtful. Still, Knox leaves room for some assertions titillating enough for even this soap opera. Among them: a clique of four older African-American women, led by Harris, ostracized another black woman, Tracy Hampton (who was hospitalized a day after she was dismissed from the jury), because, he suspects, she was attractive and “sounded white.”
Knox told NEWSWEEK: “She was perceived as being uppity by the other female black jurors.” Knox also writes that the same group shunned a black juror who is a lesbian and whose lover would visit on family days. Knox says he felt racial animosity from other African-American jurors because he and his wife have adopted a white baby boy.
Knox acknowledges that some African-Americans will undoubtedly assail him. But he also gives a reasoned explanation for why so many blacks are protective of Simpson. “The deeply held belief in our community is that black men who rise high are eventually brought down by the white establishment.” As a result, he concludes in his book, “black people are reluctant to look closely at the evidence because it’s too painful to contemplate that O.J. is guilty.”
That said, Knox is confident the jury-containing nine blacks and more of a “family” now–is capable of convicting Simpson based on the evidence. He doesn’t think the panel will buy the defense’s elaborate frame-up theory. It’s a “little farfetched,” he told NEWSWEEK. Knox claims the jury is digesting these points in spite of the prosecutors. Referring to Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden, he said in the interview: “They have an excellent case, but they have stumbled over their own feet on many occasions.”
Or hands, as the case may be. Two weeks ago, in a disastrous move for the state, Simpson tried on the infamous bloody gloves before the jury and they fit poorly. This week, maybe the last before the state rests, prosecutors will ask to show the jury old photos and video of O.J. wearing gloves that they will suggest are the same bloody ones later found. If this gambit doesn’t work, prosecutors can rest their case knowing that they managed to win over at least one ex-juror, for what that’s worth.
The Chris and Marcia show is winding down – and winding down and winding down. “We’re ready to rest,” says Chris Darden. Who isn’t?
Lawyer Peter Neufeld trips up math whiz Bruce Weir, but soon it’ll be the defense’s turn to “put up or shut up.” Will we be hearing about Colombian drug lords?
Wisely agrees to release transcripts of juror dismissals. Better that than any more jurors. But be prepared for a feeding frenzy from the fourth estate.
