THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 5, 1994 TAG: 9411050664
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FROM WIRE REPORTS
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
They are predominantly women and African American.
The jurors who will decide O.J. Simpson's fate on murder charges generally hold blue-collar jobs, are not college-educated and know little about DNA evidence.
They range in age from 22 to 52. Half are single, four are married and two are divorced.
The former NFL star is charged in the June 12 fatal stabbings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. None of the panelists' names is being disclosed by the court.
But written jury questionnaires and oral questioning provide a glimpse of who the jurors are and how they feel about issues that could prove key to the case of People vs. O.J. Simpson.
Only one of the jurors, a 38-year-old African-American woman from the Los Angeles-area city of Inglewood, said she believed racial discrimination against African Americans in Southern California is a ``very serious'' problem.
It is not a group of enthusiastic football fans. Only five of the 12 jurors said they have watched Simpson play football. Of the eight women on the panel, only two - both African American - said they had ever watched him play.
Four of the jurors said they have been victims of crime and only two said they have had experience with domestic violence.
Seven of the jurors said they have dated someone of another race. MEMO: CLOSER LOOK AT JURORS
Here is a look at the jury that will decide O.J. Simpson's fate:
A 52-year-old American Indian/Caucasian man who teaches high school
technical and vocational classes. He said that when he was 7, he saw,
``My dad hit my mom once - I was scared.''
A 25-year-old black woman who is a flight attendant. Single, her
brother is an officer with the California Highway Patrol. She said she
saw Simpson in the films ``Roots'' and ``Naked Gun'' and ``he seemed
like he would have a good sense of humor.''
A 50-year-old divorced black woman who works for Los Angeles County
as a supervisor in an accounting office. She said she respects him ``as
an individual based on his past accomplishments'' and had a ``sick
feeling'' in her stomach when she heard he was a suspect in the
slayings.
A 32-year-old half Latino, half black single man who delivers soft
drinks. He said Simpson was ``a great football player.'' His first
reaction to hearing that Simpson was a suspect: ``How could a man who
had it all be a suspect?''
A 37-year-old married black woman in private business. She said she
had ``no feelings toward Mr. Simpson'' and described the June 17
slow-speed chase, which ended in Simpson's arrest, as ``stupid.''
A 48-year-old single black man who has worked for the Hertz Corp. for
25 years. He said he ``just didn't believe'' that Simpson was charged
with the murders.
A 38-year-old married black woman who works with at-risk youth and
has referred domestic violence victims to other agencies.
A 38-year-old single black woman who described her occupation as an
environmental health specialist. She thinks that Nicole Simpson was ``a
victim of a vicious crime'' and that the public reaction to the freeway
chase was ``bizarre.''
A 52-year-old divorced black woman who works as a clerk. She
described Simpson as ``only human.''
A 38-year-old single Latina woman employed as a letter carrier. She
said she suffered verbal and mental abuse from an ex-boyfriend. She
described Nicole Simpson as ``Very pretty. A lost life.''
A 22-year-old white single woman who handles insurance claims. She
said she was shocked when she heard Simpson was a suspect in the
murders. She thinks that Nicole Simpson ``appeared to be a good mother
to her children and the wife of a celebrity.''
A 46-year-old married black man who works as a courier. He said he
thought Nicole Brown Simpson was ``desperate'' when she made a 911 call
for police help when Simpson broke through her door in October 1993.
Originally he said he thought Simpson had to prove his innocence but
later changed his mind. His brother works for the San Francisco 49ers, a
team that Simpson once played for.
- Newsday
ILLUSTRATION: Color graphic by KRT
by CNB