The family of Ron Goldman, who was murdered alongside Nicole Brown 30 years ago, have broken their silence on OJ Simpson’s death.
Goldman, 25, and Brown, 35, were stabbed to death on June 12, 1994 outside Brown’s home in Brentwood, California.
Simpson, Brown’s ex-husband, was charged with and stood trial for the double murder in 1995 — in what became known as the “trial of the century” — but was eventually acquitted by the jury.
On Thursday (local time) Ron’s sister and father, Kim and Fred, released a statement sharing their “complicated” feelings about Simpson’s death.
“The news of Ron’s killer passing away is a mixed bag of complicated emotions and reminds us that the journey through grief is not linear,” it reads.
“For three decades, we have tirelessly pursued justice for Ron and Nicole, and despite a civil judgment and his confession in If I Did It, the hope for true accountability has ended.”
The pair promised to continue their advocacy for the rights of “victims and survivors” even though Simpson had died.
“Thank you for keeping our family and most importantly Ron, in our hearts for the last 30 years.”
Hours after news of Simpson’s death broke, Fred Goldman told NBC News that it was “no great loss to the world”, and a heavy reminder of how long his son had been gone.
Although Simpson had been acquitted of murder at trial, in 1997 a civil court found the disgraced NFL star liable for Brown and Goldman’s deaths and awarded their families $US33.5 million in damages — the equivalent of almost $AUD100 million today.
Caitlyn Jenner celebrates Simpson’s death
Caitlyn Jenner has bid a brutal two-word farewell to OJ Simpson after the disgraced football star died at the age of 76 this week.
Jenner, 74, posted to X — formerly Twitter — a short but scathing reaction to the news.
“Good Riddance #OJSimpson,” she wrote.
The former Olympian was married to Kris Jenner when her best friend Nicole Brown, OJ’s ex-wife, was murdered with Ron Goldman in Los Angeles in 1994.
Nicole and OJ had been divorced for two years but their family still reportedly holidayed with the Kardashian-Jenners.
Kris’ first husband Robert Kardashian led Simpson’s legal defence in what became known as “the trial of the century” — in which he was sensationally acquitted for the double murders.
In the 30 years since the trial, Caitlyn has been vocal about her belief that Simpson got away with murder.
In her 2017 autobiography The Secrets Of My Life, she blasted the former NFL star.
“He was the most narcissistic, egocentric, neediest a***ole in the world of sports I had ever seen, and I had seen a lot of them,” she wrote.
She spoke candidly about the trial when she appeared on the 2022 season of Big Brother VIP Australia, telling housemates it an “extraordinarily difficult time”.
“Obviously he did it, and he got away with it. And at one point he even told Nicole, ‘I’ll kill you and get away with it ‘cause I’m O.J. Simpson,” she said.
“And Nicole relayed that on to Kris at some point, and unfortunately she was right.”
OJ and Nicole’s children, Sydney and Justin, are yet to speak individually.
Simpson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, his first year of eligibility.
On Friday, Hall of fame president Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said: “O.J. Simpson was the first player to reach a rushing mark many thought could not be attained in a 14-game season when he topped 2,000 yards.”
“His on-field contributions will be preserved in the Hall’s archives in Canton, Ohio.”