The LAPD have confirmed a knife was found on OJ Simpson's estate, but believe he "couldn't be charged" again for the murder of his former wife.
Speaking in a live news conference today, an officer confirmed a knife was found on the estate in the late 1990s by a former LAPD officer - who was either retired at the time, or retired shortly after.
They told reporters: "Within the last month, the LAPD became aware of an item that was allegedly recovered by a citizen at the Rockingham Estate property, possibly during the demolition of the site."
However, when asked if this would be a case of double jeopardy - meaning Simpson could not be charged again in the murder case - the officer admitted he believed that the former star "could not be charged again".
He said: "It is my belief that double jeopardy would be in place here. We could not charge Mr Simpson, because he has already been aquitted."
Speaking about the item found, police confirmed it was a "knife", but could not describe it any further.
They added: "My understanding is that it's a knife, not a machete."
And they confirmed it was handed to the former LAPD officer, believed to have been retired or close to retirement at the time, in the late 90s, when they were working as a motor officer.
The officer is believed to have been off duty at the time, and they added: "I do not know if he was retired when he received this item, or if he was still an LAPD officer and retired after - we are looking into that."
The case has remained open over the last decade, as the LAPD said in the conference: "Unless there's an arrest or conviction to prove we have closed the case, the cases remain open, thats where we are with this case."
The investigation will continue, with forensic tests underway on the knife.
They will then test for any DNA or hair samples.
Asked his own response to the news, the officer admitted: "I was really surprised, I would think an LAPD officer would know that any time you come into contact with evidence, you should and shall submit that to investigators.
"We are looking into that, but i was quite shocked."
The LAPD will look at both administrative and criminal charges, but as the officer is now retired, they admitted it's unlikely there will be administrative charges.
We need to determine if this is evidence, and if not, we need to prove one way or other that it's not.
OJ's ex wife Nicole Simpson and her friend, 25-year-old waiter Ronald Goldman, were stabbed to death on June 12th, 1994.
The mother-of-two died after being stabbed several times in the head and neck. Their bodies were discovered outside her house in the early hours of June 13.
A jury found Simpson not guilty after the eight-month trial that ended at the beginning of October, 1995.
The Roving Reporter G .
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