Simpson’s Answers ‘Very Good For Us,’ Goldman Says Questioning ‘Dramatically Different’ After O.J.’S TV Interview

The questioning of O.J. Simpson was “dramatically different” a day after he appeared on his first TV interview since his acquittal, the father of a murder victim said.

A visibly pleased Fred Goldman said Thursday that the fourth day of Simpson’s deposition was “very good for us.”

“I think we could probably describe today best as dramatically different from any other day,” said Goldman, who was keeping the details to himself - as usual.

Simpson spent 474 days in jail before his acquittal in the stabbing deaths of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, but he didn’t escape the wrath of the victims’ families, who filed wrongful-death lawsuits that require him to undergo the kind of questioning he avoided during trial.

Goldman’s attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, who has asked all the questions so far, said the first round of the grilling probably will continue for another week.

“It’s a difficult process for everyone,” he said. “It’s not easy material to cover. We’re doing our best to get to the core of everything that this man has got to say.”

Simpson’s lawyers have skirted reporters coming and going each day.

The atmosphere in Petrocelli’s office Thursday reflected the fallout from Simpson’s interview on Black Entertainment Television, said John Q. Kelly, a lawyer for Nicole Simpson’s estate.

It already had been tense in the pressure-filled deposition room, but “after he made unpleasant comments about these families, there’s not much interaction,” Kelly said.

Simpson blamed the Goldmans and Browns for failing to encourage a search for the real killer, accused Nicole Simpson’s sisters of “being untrue to the memory of Nicole” and targeted Denise in particular, saying, “I am just as innocent as Denise Brown, who is having love affairs.”

“He made totally unsolicited, unresponsive comments, very derogatory, toward Denise Brown,” Kelly said.

Simpson also said he would be willing to turn the whole civil case over to a jury right now - with just a partial deposition from him and the full text of an earlier deposition by his former girlfriend Paula Barbieri.

“So would I,” Goldman snapped on Thursday, barely containing his anger.

Their exchange - rhetoric, not a real offer for an immediate trial - means both sides claim the deposition is going well for them.

However, this is just the first round of questioning. Another round, following next month’s release of Simpson’s videotape, will concentrate on finances and questions that arise after plaintiffs’ attorneys see the video.

Goldman said he didn’t watch Simpson’s interview, but he responded sharply to Simpson’s assertion that he is upset at Goldman and the Browns for their failure to pressure authorities to keep investigating the murders.

“My son’s gone,” Goldman said. What’s he got to be angry about?