Geekman's World: "Killing my wife for fun and profit" by OJ Simpson

It never ceases to amaze me what our sick and disturbed society is capable of inflicting on itself. Remember OJ Simpson? Well, what if I told you he was now promoting a Fox TV special and a book that is basically: "If I had murdered my wife and friend... which I totally didn't... but IF I did, here's how I would have done it and gotten away with it", would you believe me? Well, it's true.

I remember in the nineties the more cynical of us joked that we were but a decade away from the publication of "Killing your wife for fun and profit" by OJ Simpson. Somehow, the joke isn't quite as funny anymore.

The dead giveaway is how the title is printed...the if in a different colour. Even the publisher thinks he did it.

He is SAYING he did it. The "if" is for the placation of the incredibly naive only. Really, if we lived in a sensible society, the police would pour over this book and have him in jail before you could say "tonight on COPS". However, we live with such a thing as autrefois acquit, more commonly known as double jeopardy. Meaning you can't be tried for a crime of which you've already been declared innocent.

I agree that Mr. Simpson has clearly gotten away with murder, but I do like the autrefois acquit rule. It's one of those checks and balances that is designed to protect individuals from excesses in law enforcement.

Notably, in our country, the prosecution can appeal aquitals and seek new trials or (rarely) have convictions substituted for acquitals. Neither of these provisions is considered double jeopardy; I submit that rules like these would probably have resulted in a conviction (eventually) of mr. moneypants down south.

The American rules seem more convoluted, not to mention the fact that they are one of the constitutional amendments. If you want to retry someone, you have to prove that the first trial was in some way inherently flawed. Until then, Mr. Moneybags can thumb his nose at everyone.

Fox has decided that the public pressure was too much, and has CANCELLED both the show and the book. Justice, finally?

I saw something to that effect while reading the Metro over someone's shoulder this morning. I'll consider it justice when Amazon pulls his book.