USA: REACTION TO OJ SIMPSON CIVIL TRIAL VERDICT

(11 Feb 1997) English/Nat With the final verdict out in the four month long civil OJ Simpson trial, the gaging order has been lifted and all parties involved can now talk openly. Overall the reaction to the second phase of the civil case which dealt with punitive damages, was that justice has finally been served. Last week, a 12-member jury unanimously found O-J Simpson liable in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. They also awarded the families of the victims eight-point-five million dollars. On Monday, the jury completed its second round of deliberations and have ordered Simpson to pay an additional 25 million dollars. The almost all-white 12 member jury listened to the plea of the plaintiffs demanding that O-J Simpson pay up. The jury has ordered the ex-football star to pay in the form of 12 and a half million dollars per family - that’s 25 million dollars on top of the eight point five milli