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LAPD Corruption Charges Shed New Light on Simpson Case

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: The allegations about corruption within the Los Angeles police department have raised new questions about the O.J. Simpson case.

CNN's Charles Feldman put some of those questions to Simpson himself.

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CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the verdict heard around the world.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the jury in the (inaudible) action find the defendant, Orenthal James Simpson, not guilty of the crime of murder.

FELDMAN: Even though a jury acquitted Simpson on murder charges, many found it hard to believe that officers of the L.A.P.D. would have planted evidence to frame him. But now, the L.A.P.D. is embroiled in a corruption scandal in which cops are accused of planting evidence and even shooting unarmed suspects.

(on camera): Do you see, Mr. Simpson, a connection between your own case and the current LAPD corruption scandal?

O.J. SIMPSON: I never assumed that it was as widespread as shooting a guy and paralyzing a guy. I would have never envisioned that. I do believe that if my trial were to take place today, that the average citizen, who may have thought that I got away with murder, would look at the evidence of planting a little closer.

FELDMAN (voice-over): Some of Simpson's former defense team even suggests that the Simpson case was an early indicator of the corruption scandal yet to come.

ALAN DERSHOWITZ, SIMPSON DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It became very clear to me and other members of the defense team in the Simpson case that there was a high likelihood that evidence had been planted and tampered with in that case.

VINCENT BUGLIOSI, LEGAL ANALYST: Alan knows there was no frame- up in the O.J. Simpson case. And even if he makes the argument, which he's made sometimes, that, although there may not have been a frame- up, and although Simpson may have been guilty, the police still planted some evidence, that's nonsense.

FELDMAN: As for Simpson, five years after the verdict:

(on camera): Where are you in your life? Where are you spiritually? Where are you psychologically? What are you doing now?

SIMPSON: Strangely enough, in most elements of my life, I find that I'm a little more satisfied with how I'm living my life on a day- to-day basis.

FELDMAN (voice-over): Simpson now resides in Florida. He is appealing a civil jury's verdict, which found him financially, although not criminally, liable for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

Charles Feldman, CNN, Los Angeles.

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