LAPD Testing Knife Found at Former OJ Simpson Residence
LEMON: A stunning announcement from Los Angeles police today. They're examining a knife that was allegedly found on O.J. Simpson's estate. It is a clue -- is it a clue, I should say to the 1994 murders of Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman? Joining me now to discuss this is forensic scientist Lawrence Kobilinsky, Jim Moret, the chief correspondent for Inside Edition, also Alex Ferrer, a former police officer and a former Florida Circuit Judge and the host of television's Judge Alex. Gentlemen, good to have you on. I never would have thought in a million years that we would be, you know, talking about this all these years later. So, Lawrence, to you first. You have followed the O.J. Simpson trial closely. Today, Los Angeles Police say investigators are examining this knife reportedly found years ago on the property that O.J. Simpson was living when he and his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman were killed in 1994. What could be learned from this knife all these years later?</s>LAWRENCE KOBILINSKY, FORENSIC SCIENTIST: Well, first of all, I hope that this is the murder weapon. Because if it is, it will answer a lot of question questions. We know that based on the pathology, the wounds on the victim that this knife had to have a single sharp edge not double edge, but a single sharp edge and that it is serrated. So, we know a little bit about that knife. Now, once they get into the laboratory they are going to have to document it, make measurements the length of the blade, the width of the blade, the length of the knife. They will then proceed to do some presumptive testing to see if blood is present. That is follow...</s>LEMON: Could blood be present all these years later? Could you find some sort of DNA all these years later?</s>KOBILINSKY: It could. DNA is a very resilient substance. The problem...</s>LEMON: Even if people have handled it?</s>KOBILINSKY: Well, that's not the issue. That's not the issue. The issue is that it could have been adjacent to soil. And for four years soil contains a component that degrades DNA. It's quite possible that DNA was there, blood was there, and the DNA was there. But we won't know that until its DNA tested. It could very well survive.</s>LEMON: Yes. But it will tell you if it's the kind of knife you said from the measurement...</s>KOBILINSKY: that's correct.</s>LEMON: ... that got serrated edge. OK. So, Jim Moret, a construction worker, let's go behind, let's tell the story. A construction worker reportedly found the knife on the property several years ago and gave it to an off-duty LAPD officer, who is now retired. That officer kept the knife for several years before turning it over to investigators. So, what can you tell us about this officer?</s>JIM MORET, INSIDE EDITION CHIEF CORRESPONDENT: Well, let's go back first. The construction worker was there because the house was torn down in 1998, it was sold to a new owner. The address was changed. So, that's why -- that's why the house was torn apart. And that would give rise to looking for something perhaps somebody saw something. This is what's amazing to me. The construction workers were told -- saw an off-duty LAPD officer, who was working on a movie shoot in the area. And the officer kept it, kept it for 18 years. That is one of the most startling revelations to me about this entire thing. One, could it be the knife, the knife that they've never been able to find? And, two, the idea that this is potentially evidence either inculpatory or exculpatory evidence and it was never turned over. And when you talk about a case where everybody was looking at how the LAPD collected and handled and tested evidence, and then you have potential evidence that's just kept as a memento of gruesome crime. That's the most troubling thing. The officer then has not been released, he supposedly retired in January I'm certainly LAPD is going to be examining this very, very closely.</s>LEMON: I want everyone to pay close attention, but especially you, Judge Alex. There was an LAPD press conference today. Let's listen.</s>ANDREW NEIMAN, LOS ANGELES POLICE: I would think that an LAPD officer if this story as accurate as we're being told, would know that any time you are -- you come into contact with evidence that you should and shall submit that to investigators. So, I don't know what the circumstances are, why that didn't happen or if that's entirely accurate or if this whole story is possibly bogus from the get go involving a variety of people. So, we're looking into that but I was quite shocked.</s>LEMON: So, Judge Alex, talk to me about this officer's conduct. If this is all -- if this verified, could he be charged with a crime?</s>ALEX FERRER, JUDGE ALEX SHOW HOST: Yes. Actually I think he could be charged with a crime if it turns out to a be knife that's related to the investigation. Because remember, this is still an open investigation. O.J. Simpson was acquitted. So, technically the investigation is still open. Regardless of whether it is the knife or it isn't the knife, the fact that the officer believe it was and so, he kept for 18 years and was looking to frame it and put the serial -- the case number of the O.J. Simpson case on the frame. So, clearly he thought it was evidence, is what is outrageous to me, that the officer knew he had evidence that could lead -- listen, I think most Americans believe that O.J. Simpson was the murderer but that hasn't been proven in any way, shape or form if anything he was acquitted. So, that knife could prove who the actual murderer is. It's described as a buck knife type of folding knife, which very easily could in the nooks and crannies retain the DNA and be instructive in leading to a conclusion of the case. So, the fact that the officer thought he was holding evidence to a crime and decided to keep it, under California law he definitely could be charged with concealing evidence, absolutely.</s>LEMON: So, even with -- even -- even if it's not the knife, you still think that he could be charged because of the possibility that it could have been the knife?</s>FERRER: No, I think it's not the knife, it's not evidence of a crime and he can't be charged. But it speaks to his character. I mean, he thought it was the knife, he believed there was a knife and he kept it. So, I think it's another unfortunately, dark mark on the record of LAPD. I tend to believe it's probably not the knife because I think LAPD scoured that property. I would expect they would. I know they made mistakes. But I think they probably scoured that probably. I think it was knife, be a knife that was left behind by like a gardener or something in the years that followed.</s>LEMON: All right. We shall see. We'll continue on. Stay with me, gentlemen. When we come right back, if the knife turns out to be genuine, what could it mean for O.J. Simpson and the murder case that's still open after more than 20 years.