Nicole Brown’s sister reacts to O.J. Simpson being granted parole
23 years ago, Tanya Brown lost her older sister, Nicole Brown, O.J. Simpson’s ex-wife.
Brown and her 25-year-old friend, Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death outside of her condominium on the morning of June 12, 1994.
Despite what prosecutors called a “mountain” of evidence, a jury found Simpson not guilty after an eight-month trial that ended on Oct. 3, 1995.
In 1997, a civil jury in Santa Monica found Simpson liable for the double slaying and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages to the families of Brown and Goldman.
Today, Simpson was granted parole after serving nearly nine years in prison in Nevada for an armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas.
Watch: O.J. Simpson granted parole, Coachella Valley residents react
CBS Local 2’s Brooke Beare spoke with Tanya Brown Thursday evening from San Clemente to see what the parole of O.J. Simpson meant to her family.
Brooke: A lot of people feel like his sentencing, and his time served in Nevada was karmic payback for what happened to your sister.
Tanya: I believe in karma. Always do the right thing. We all make mistakes, but somewhere down the line, you have karma knocking at your door.
Brooke: Were you watching this parole board hearing today?
Tanya: It brought me back to 23 years ago– I was sitting there with sweaty hands, the visceral feeling in the gut. The belly is talking to you… and when it was read, you know, I kind of turned my t.v. off and started my workday again.
Brooke: Do you feel like (OJ) is a danger to society anymore?
Tanya: You know, who’s to say? I’ve met people and have worked with people that have been to prison and have come out better and stronger people because they got healing and a reality check in prison, and I’ve also met people who choose to live inside the system. Because maybe it’s easier and safer for them…hopefully (OJ) learns how to control his temper, and when he learns to control his temper less damage is done.
Brooke: He expressed remorse today in the courtroom. Do you believe him?
Tanya: That’s the first thing that was coming in to my mind. He says sorry to everybody else but we never heard a sorry. So for this case, yeah, he was sorry…What I caught was, ok, these people got an I’m sorry, but we’ve never gotten one.
Brooke: Do you think that would help?
Tanya: Uh, no. It’s a moot point, I think at this point. He’s a free man, and I think it’s easier for me, personally just to not fight it. To let it be, and if he’s going to make movie deals, and book deals, it’s like, big deal, my life doesn’t revolve around him.
