It’s estimated that 95 million people, more than 50 per cent of Americans, watched the verdict of the OJ Simpson trial on October 3, 1995.
The NFL player and actor was tried on two counts of murder, for the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman.
The case received more coverage than the Bosnian War and the Oklahoma City bombing, combined. The story sat on the front page of the Los Angeles Times for more than 300 days after the murders took place, making it one of the most publicised events in US history.
Nineteen years later, another trial was broadcast around the world.
South African Oscar Pistorius, one of only ten athletes to ever compete in both the Paralympic Games and Olympics Games, was tried for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
The 29-year-old was shot dead in Pistorius’ apartment on Valentine’s Day, 2013.
Pistorius’ trial was televised around the world, with a channel titled ‘The Oscar Pistorius Trial’, dedicated to coverage in South Africa.
It became the most successful pay-TV channel in South African history.
And then this week, Australia had Cardinal Pell.
The George Pell sentencing was broadcast live, across all networks. People stopped on the street to watch the footage streamed through their phones. Entire offices huddled around a television or computer screen. Cafes fell silent, as everyone turned to listen to what they knew would be a historic decision.
Chief Judge Peter Kidd spoke for 70 minutes about the considerations that went into sentencing the highest ranking Catholic in Australia, and the third highest in the world.
The news eclipsed every other story, and has dominated headlines since we learned of his conviction.
OJ Simpson. Oscar Pistorius. George Pell.
Once an NFL star.
Once an Olympian.
Once Pope Francis’ right hand man.
Three powerful men, all on trial.
Rich (Pell by his connection to the Vatican). Famous. Seemingly untouchable.
Three men who perhaps thought they floated above the system, horrified by the fact they were now answerable to it. Their trials offered some cultural reassurance; perhaps power doesn’t always guarantee you freedom.
We watched, mouths slightly agape, as three figures of uncontested authority were stripped of their medals and trophies and garments.
We were reminded that a man (or a woman) is not their title or a status, but a product of their actions.
The trials were like a glimpse into an alternate universe, where everything was suddenly upside down – a fall from grace we didn’t see coming.
The thread that ties all three cases together?
They were men who thought they ruled the world.
And perhaps we just wanted to watch the moment they realised they didn’t.
Top Comments
The thing those 3 men have incommon is they are all extremely ARROGANT.
Except OJ was found not guilty. A desperately bad miscarriage of justice, due in large part to the incompetence of the prosecution, that was righted when he was found guilty of stealing his own memorabilia.
Pistorius had the ‘right’ disgraceful judge in his corner, if not his pocket, in Thikozile Masipa who seemed hell bent on letting him get away with murder. Thankfully, she was overruled by far more learned minds and commonsense.
Pell, unfortunately, crossed paths with a man of seemingly true honour and integrity in Chief Judge Peter Kidd. Thank you, for delivering what justice you could on this earth. As for when Pell meets up with his god, he hasn’t got a hope in the place that awaits him.
Michael Jackson is the same. Found not guilty when we know now he was guilty all along, and probably more evil and scheming than Pell.
We know nothing of the sort. Jackson was subjected to a full and thorough (and humiliating) investigation which turned up nothing. The police were trying to get anything on him but failed.
To compare the reprehensible actions of the repulsive Pell and diminish them by attaching them to unsubstantiated allegations is not serving victims of this type of crime in any way.
We do know that. Many things were turned up and seized from Jackson's ranch. And just because he wasn't convicted, doesn't mean he wasn't guilty. We now know he was after the documentary. And, hello, OJ Simpson?
To excuse one paedophile simply because he was a famous singer, and condemn another as a priest makes no sense, makes you look like a hypocrite, and is an insult to victims. Wake up!
Actually, on second thoughts, I now truly believe Jackson was much worse than Pell. Much, much worse! Because Jackson dragged children on tour, made them think they were special, only to dump them each year for a newer, younger model. Pell abused his victims once each. Jackson groomed the parents and the boys (never girls, and only boys of a certain age frame - which is classic textbook paedophile), made them so dependent on him, told them no one would understand their love, lavished gifts on them, told them they would go to jail, and upgraded to a newer boy each year or whenever the boy started going through puberty. The boys had no idea what they had done wrong to be suddenly cast aside. So, even if he wasn't a sexual abuser, which sure as the Pope is Catholic, he was, Jackson was an abuser and manipulator of children. He still abused them emotionally and psychologically. He facked with a child's personal boundaries, spent hours on the phone with them at a time, was with them almost every day, abused them each night, took them on tour, then unceremoniously DUMPED THEM! What he did was absolute evil. Jackson is a macabre, evil, manipulative and cruel freak. A monster in the truest of all senses. On every level. Pell is has nothing on him!
Oh, and you might want to know that video footage has been found that backs up one of Safechuck's testimonies. He said he and Jackson were 'married', wrote little vows, and exchanged rings. He said that he and Jackson would look at rings for jewellery stores, only they had to pretend they were buying them for other people, not each other.
Well, guess what? A news anchor who watched the documentary thought it sounded familiar. He hunted through their tv station's archives. And guess what he found? TV FOOTAGE OF JACKSON AND SAFECHUCK SHOPPING FOR RINGS. Complete with interviews from people who were there and saw them.
It PROVES SAFECHUCK TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT THE RINGS. It is clear evidence and proof, that he was telling the TRUTH! https://www.news.com.au/ent...
Lastly, anyone who sees this will see a macabre monster laughing about the accusations against him. No one accused of something so heinous and horrific as sexually molesting a child, especially one who proclaims to love children (well, only one gender) would be devastated by the accusation, not giggling maniacally. He treats it as a joke and looks so smug, so cold, so creepy. His eyes were absolutely cold, dead and soulless. His demeanour smug and dismissive, right down to the yawn. He did it. Whats more, he knew darn well that he would get away with it. And he did. He makes Pell almost lookly like a kindly saint. https://www.youtube.com/wat...