OJ Simpson Trial Juror Says Not Guilty Verdict was "Payback" for Rodney King

Juror in the OJ Simpson murder trial says the verdict was "payback" for Rodney King.

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A juror in the OJ Simpson murder trial admits the "not guilty" verdict was payback for Rodney King in ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary OJ: Made in America. The documentary is the latest medium to examine the OJ Simpson case after FX's widely popular The People v. O.J. Simpson.

An excerpt from OJ: Made in America featuring the aforementioned juror aired on public radio show "Fresh Air" this week. The juror, Carrie Bess, was first asked if there were jurors that voted to acquit OJ Simpson because of Rodney King abd said, "Yes." Bess then said she was one of the jurors who voted to acquit for that reason.

Here's the exchange below:

Interviewer: Do you think there are members of the jury that voted to acquit OJ because of Rodney King?

Bess: Yes.

Interviewer: You do?

Bess: Yes.

Interviewer: How many of you do you think felt that way?

Bess: Oh, probably 90 percent of them.

Interviewer: 90 percent. Did you feel that way?

Bess: Yes.

Interviewer: That was payback.

Bess: Uh-huh.

Interviewer: Do you think that’s right? (At this point Bess holds up her hands.)

In 1991, a reportedly drunk King led Los Angeles police on a high-speed car chase that ended in him pulling over and stepping out of his car. It was then that four police officers were caught on camera beating King with batons and tazing him. The officers were put on trial for police brutality and were acquitted giving way to the 1992 L.A. riots where 55 people died. Two years later OJ Simpson went on trial for murder.

The conclusion to the five-part OJ: Made in America, which will have Bess' comments, airs Saturday.

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