OJ Simpson’s Close Friend Still Believes He is Innocent of Murder

One of OJ SimpsonHis friends still believe he is innocent of the 1994 murders of his former wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.

“I never believed he was involved. I never believed he was involved in the murder of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman.” Charlie Honest told exclusively Us weekly on Thursday, April 11, one day after Simpson died of complications from cancer at age 76. “I brought it up once and he had tears in his eyes. … I knew in my heart that he had nothing to do with it. … I just know it.”

Ehrlich was part of a group of men led by Simpson who entered a Las Vegas hotel room in September 2007 and took sports memorabilia from a sports dealer Bruce Fromong at gunpoint. Simpson was subsequently charged with armed robbery and kidnapping. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison in 2008 and was released from prison in 2017.

Ehrlich’s charges were reduced to attempted accessory after the fact to robbery and attempted burglary after he agreed to testify at Simpson’s trial, and he was sentenced to probation.

Ehrlich noted that he had been “very close” to him before [O.J.] and his family” and “spent Christmas” and holidays at his home, but that changed.

“After the situation in Las Vegas, I no longer had any contact [O.J.]“said Ehrlich Us. “I never had any bad feelings towards him. Time passed and it is what it is and life goes on, what will you say? I know he didn’t want me to be in a bad situation when we went to the hotel room. He knew I didn’t know they were bringing weapons. It was a debacle. Unfortunately, it happened the way it did. Even when things went badly for me and him, I never had any bad feelings towards him.”

Although Simpson was found liable in February 1997 for the wrongful death and assault against Goldman and the assault against Brown – he was infamously acquitted of the crimes at his 1995 criminal trial – Ehrlich does not believe Simpson was violent or capable of murder.

Related: Key players in OJ Simpson murder trial: Where are they now?

MYUNG J. CHUN-/POOL/AFP via Getty Images NFL star OJ Simpson was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman after a sensational trial in the 1990s. The litigation was one of the most infamous criminal trials in American history and a defining moment of the 1990s. Brown Simpson […]

“I never saw him angry and I never saw him yell or inappropriately or angry in any way. And there are pictures of his wife Nicole everywhere in his house,” Ehrlich said. “Someone who could do something so terrible and terrible wouldn’t want to remember his wife. He had pictures of her, her and the children with him everywhere. He would mention to me how much he loved her so the media could say whatever they wanted. I wasn’t there, I don’t know, but knowing him, definitely not. There are murderers [still] out there.”

Simpson was directly involved in the 1994 murders after pleading no contest to domestic violence charges against Brown in 1989. He was fined and placed on probation.

Simpson and Brown shared daughter Sydney, now 38, and Justin, now 35. Simpson also shared three children with his first wife, Margaret Whitley: Daughter Arnelle, 55, son Jason, 53, and daughter Aaren, who died a month before her 2nd birthday in 1979 after drowning in the family swimming pool.

Related: OJ Simpson’s Family Guide: All About His 5 Children, Former Spouses

The late OJ Simpson was a father to five children, whom he shared with his two former spouses. The former athlete married his first wife, Marguerite Whitley, in 1967. Before their separation in 1979, the two had three children together: Arnelle, Jason and Aaren. Simpson married Nicole Brown Simpson […]

Simpson’s family announced his death in a statement shared via X on Thursday.

“On April 10, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren,” the statement said. “During this time of transition, his family asks that you respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”

Goldman’s father, Fred Goldmanresponded to the news in a statement shared with Us.

“The only thing I have to say today is another reminder of how long Ron has been gone and how long we’ve missed him,” Fred said. “The only thing that really matters today are the victims.”