this is bbc news, the headlines... the former nfl star oj simpson has died aged 76, after a battle with cancer. israel warns it's prepared after iran vows punishment for the killing of its commanders in syria. russian missiles and drones hit power facilities in russian missiles and drones hit powerfacilities in ukraine. also coming up: it's time to roll out the red carpet — the bafta gaming awards take place tonight in london. the family of the american football 0j the family of the american football oj simpson say that he has died, he succumbed to cancer, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. he was once one of america's top

football players but was later accused of the murder of his wife nicole brown simpson. his televised trial was followed around the world. he was acquitted but later found liable for her killing in a civil case. the family posted... that is a statement on x, formerly twitter, from oj simpson's family. ed gordon was the firstjournalist to interview him after that huge, i prefer trial that divided many in america are partly along racial grounds, and he has recently spoken to our colleagues on cbs news. i am literall at to our colleagues on cbs news. i am literally at an — to our colleagues on cbs news. i am literally at an airport, _ to our colleagues on cbs news. i am

literally at an airport, i _ to our colleagues on cbs news. i —n literally at an airport, i just to our colleagues on cbs news. i —n literally at an airport, ijust got literally at an airport, i just got off the plane and checked my phone, i got all kinds of calls and text, and it is a bit surreal. we all can go at any moment. this great start, the greatest running back of all time in the nfl, than to become a pitchman, a movie star, and then the tragedy that befell the goldman family and what has become of him, i think, that, as you know, how divided this country was, based on that trial. it is extraordinary. i was, based on that trial. it is extraordinary.— was, based on that trial. it is extraordinary. was, based on that trial. it is extraordina . , . extraordinary. i remember when that came in, extraordinary. i remember when that came in. he — extraordinary. i remember when that came in, he still— extraordinary. i remember when that came in, he still proved _ extraordinary. i remember when that came in, he still proved to _ extraordinary. i remember when that came in, he still proved to be - extraordinary. i remember when that came in, he still proved to be a - came in, he still proved to be a very— came in, he still proved to be a very divisive character. at the time it seemed — very divisive character. at the time it seemed to be divided among racial lines _ it seemed to be divided among racial lines i_ it seemed to be divided among racial lines. i rememberthere was celebration in the street from some members _ celebration in the street from some members of the black community, and a lot of— members of the black community, and a lot of people were in shock when the verdict — a lot of people were in shock when the verdict came in he was acquitted. what do you remember

about_ acquitted. what do you remember about that — acquitted. what do you remember about that site? | acquitted. what do you remember about that site?— about that site? i remember that specifically _ about that site? i remember that specifically and _ about that site? i remember that specifically and it _ about that site? i remember that specifically and it is _ about that site? i remember that specifically and it is important. about that site? i remember that i specifically and it is important for us to say that a lot of african americans had their doubts as to whether he was innocent or not, and much of the hearing was not so much about the oj simpson so much as it was for someone who, as misguided as this may sound at first glance, you have beaten the system, that african americans had for so many years been railroaded into jail that you finally have someone rich enough and powerful enough to, may be, and i underline that, evade the system, but it is an extraordinary time that we lived through. you think about white bronco and the chase and all that led up to his arrest. and i don't know that we would be able to even think about the proportion of it today simply because social media, think about this, had he been on the freeway, even though the

helicopter swallowed him, you would have had so many camera angles from ferns and everybody trying —— the ferns and everybody trying -- the helicopters ferns and everybody trying —— the helicopters followed him. he ferns and everybody trying -- the helicopters followed him.- helicopters followed him. he was ac uitted helicopters followed him. he was acquitted in _ helicopters followed him. he was acquitted in back _ helicopters followed him. he was acquitted in back chase, - helicopters followed him. he was acquitted in back chase, but - helicopters followed him. he was| acquitted in back chase, but there was forever— acquitted in back chase, but there was forever still a cloud over oj simpson — was forever still a cloud over oj simpson. and how do you think he navigated — simpson. and how do you think he navigated that? many times he would be walking the streets and people would _ be walking the streets and people would he — be walking the streets and people would be asking for his autograph and wanting a photograph, and there were others who saw him as a pariah. that is— were others who saw him as a pariah. that is a _ were others who saw him as a pariah. that is a great— were others who saw him as a pariah. that is a great question. before they could see anything, he would go to them, a disarming tactic on his part, so if he was afraid they were going to say something rude or vile, he would try to disarm them, because he was a charismatic person. he was bigger than life in

many instances. so, he would try to speak first, and many instances. so, he would try to speakfirst, and he many instances. so, he would try to speak first, and he was, many instances. so, he would try to speakfirst, and he was, and some people will rail at this, but he was charming at times, so he laid on that charm, to disarm people. charming is not what the goldman family— charming is not what the goldman family feels about him. the goldman family— family feels about him. the goldman family or— family feels about him. the goldman family or the simpson family, and i was always— family or the simpson family, and i was always thinking about them during _ was always thinking about them during times like this. yes, was always thinking about them during times like this.— was always thinking about them during times like this. yes, and it is hard to put _ during times like this. yes, and it is hard to put your _ during times like this. yes, and it is hard to put your arms - during times like this. yes, and it is hard to put your arms around i is hard to put your arms around this, it did not bring any of those people back, it did not ease the pain of those families who still today grieve the loss of those two people. today grieve the loss of those two eo - le. �* , people. and even right up until the end, he people. and even right up until the end. he always _ people. and even right up until the end, he always maintained - people. and even right up until the end, he always maintained that. people. and even right up until the end, he always maintained that he| end, he always maintained that he was innocent. he end, he always maintained that he was innocent.— end, he always maintained that he was innocent. he did maintain that, as ou was innocent. he did maintain that, as you say. — was innocent. he did maintain that, as you say. until— was innocent. he did maintain that, as you say, until the _ was innocent. he did maintain that, as you say, until the day _ was innocent. he did maintain that, as you say, until the day he - as you say, until the day he passed away. he was quick to suggest that he always was, in his words, searching for the killer, there were

those who would suggest he never did that party did maintain he had absolutely nothing to do with it. and, as hard as that is to believe for many people, and you think about this, gail, oras long for many people, and you think about this, gail, or as long as after those gruesome murders, he remained up those gruesome murders, he remained up until he died, the face of a murderer, for many, even today there are comedians who would use him as the but of a joke. so it was something that stuck to him, until his last days. share something that stuck to him, until his last days-— his last days. are correspondent tom bateman is in — his last days. are correspondent tom bateman is in washington. _ his last days. are correspondent tom bateman is in washington. already, l bateman is in washington. already, of course, there is reaction online and on social media. whether people now remember his name for that trial is what is going to be interesting. the racial divisions as people watched that were really striking at

the time. ~ ,,., , ., the time. absolutely. it was interesting _ the time. absolutely. it was interesting listening - the time. absolutely. it was interesting listening to - the time. absolutely. it was interesting listening to ed i the time. absolutely. it was - interesting listening to ed gordon about the way in which, this was somebody who, before that moment, that critical moment in 1994 would have been remembered as a heroic cultural and sporting figure in america, in the 60s and 70s as a running back, nfl star, university of california, who had electrified sporting audiences with his skill on the football field, then transitioning into this incredible on—screen career. i was flicking through his filmography earlier. there are dozens of movies and shows that he appeared in, best remembered in the late 80s for the naked gun series of movies, and that was in the years before everything changed, that moment in 1994, when he was

arrested, accused of stabbing to death his former wife and her friend, in a case that would absolutely grip america. because not only did you have these incredibly dramatic televised moments, of the car chase, a few days after the murder, where the police had pursued him, but then a trial that became a sensation, both in the way that, the numbers that were watching, but also all of the elements here, because you had this huge, high—profile star, a black man accused of murdering his former wife, in a trial that would divide americans in many ways, along both racial lines and also the lines of, here was somebody who unlike many people in this position, was able to pay for start lawyers, to defend him. —— start lawyers, to defend him. —— star lawyers. and those crucial

elements in the case itself where the prosecution was outlining a set of circumstances, where they were saying that he had slain his former wife out of a range ofjealousy, stabbed her to death, then presented this evidence crucially around the gloves, he was asked to put on the gloves, he was asked to put on the gloves to see, did they fit, and that moment became the iconic image of the oj simpson trial, where he was made to put on the gloves, holding up his hands, in this televised trial, did they fit? and it was his defence lawyer in his closing statements you said, if the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit. and he was acquitted. and here was a trial where once again some have said that this was a case of a white police force trying to flame —— frame oj simpson along racial lines,

so a sensational, gripping trial and it absolutely change the image of oj simpson from his former stardom, and then he was acquitted. it was even later when a civil case found him responsible for the murders and years later than that in 2007 when he was convicted for armed robbery and sentenced to 30 years in jail, and sentenced to 30 years in jail, and then we had that statement as you mention from his family, a very short statement that says, our father, orenthaljames simpson succumbed to cancer surrounded by his children and grandchildren, during this time can you respect the family wishes for privacy, so that is the statement that we have. the closing moments in the life of the 76—year—old, as he was, when he died

of cancer, after this extremely eventful life that will be remembered for many different reasons. , . ~ ., reasons. indeed, we will be back to talk about that _ reasons. indeed, we will be back to talk about that lawyer, _ reasons. indeed, we will be back to talk about that lawyer, part - reasons. indeed, we will be back to talk about that lawyer, part of - reasons. indeed, we will be back to talk about that lawyer, part of his l talk about that lawyer, part of his legal team was a mr kardashian, the name ring a bell to younger viewers, i am sure. and we will talk about the details of this case and extraordinary life of oj simpson who, his family has said, has died of cancer at the age 76. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

this is bbc news. bringing you some breaking news this hour, of the death of oj simpson, the former us football star, of course, he was then acquitted and found liable for then acquitted and found liable for the murder of his ex—wife. oj simpson's family announced the news on x, formerly twitter,. the

statement said... we arejoined by we are joined by tom bateman, we arejoined by tom bateman, in washington for us. i was just looking back at the details of the case. we remember watching that car chase, this two hour car chase, as 0j chase, this two hour car chase, as oj simpson fled, because he had initially agreed to hand himself in to police after the death of his ex—wife, but it was televised by helicopter and then the trial. and of course, televised trials, we see them in the us much more than we do here, but this, for some reason, this case absolutely grip the united

states viewing public in particular. it was of course his celebrity status that, in the lead up to this, as i was saying before, he was someone who would have been remembered in a completely different way before 1994, he had absolutely made his name as a footballing hero, as a film star in america, and then suddenly the announcement that he had fled the police over those allegations that he was responsible for the murder of his former wife and a friend in a stabbing attack at their home, and that very gripping police chase, which set the tone for a trial that was to be televised and for all of the reasons i was talking about, continued what was prominent becoming infinitely, for oj simpson

—— becoming infamy. then all of the twists and turns in the trial itself. and then over the years, there continue to be a sort of sense of division about the way that the trial had been conducted, but also the racial division over his acquittal. and later, he was found responsible for the murders in a civil trial. we heard ed gordon a bit earlier. one of the first journalists, the first i think, to interview him after the trial. mentioning the family of the victims, and some response from fred goldman, ron goldman's father, speaking in the past few minutes saying that the death of oj simpson is "no great loss". it is a further reminder of ron goldman being gone, for fred goldman. and we heard ed

goldman —— ed gordon talking about the families of the call brown simpson and ron goldman and the thoughts of many being with them at this moment. this was a very public event, the trial itself, —— nicole brown simpson. and those families will have to be soaking up this news as well. at that particular time. so i would imagine that a lot more reaction will come in during the day. and it was notjust the american and international watching public, very high—profile time —— people at the time talked about being grip by this. bill clinton was set up broken off from the oval office to go into the corridors of the white house to watch the moment of the jury being put back into the room, to see what the verdict was. this absolutely grip the

international watching public, as well as the politicians of the time. i am seen online that simpson actually posted online just a couple of months ago, some video saying that his health was good, he had been dealing with some issues but he would be back on a golf course soon, he was being treated by —— for prostate cancer, but he had been seen looking pretty fragile in recent months. and of course, just talking about the legal team that was part of this televised trial. robert kardashian was part of that team. his family, then, of course, going on to huge claim for themselves. and the question of the division in the way that the trial was seen at the time by the public to stop polling suggesting, this racial split in whether people thought that oj simpson was guilty or innocent. there was so much now

that grip the public and made it a huge talking point at the time. you are absolutely _ huge talking point at the time. ym. are absolutely right to talk about the kardashians, and there have been quite a few dramatisations of the trial since then and the role of robert kardashian features prominently because of the way that his family then shot to fame in different ways after that. it put the kardashian name into the american cultural mindset. and in terms of the legal teams on both sides, you had this stand—off and the way in which you had one, the prosecution, trying to portray simpson as a jilted lover, and out ofjealousy, he had killed his wife, and the defence trying to portray a white police force that was framing a black man. so, the highly emotive

nature of the way in which they were killed and then the racial element that was being brought into the case itself, made for this extremely sensational and highly sensational and controversial trial. criminal defence lawyers werejohnnie cochran, alan dershowitz, who then became very prominent as well, stephanie bailey, and then after the trial itself, the noise continued around whether these sort of very high—profile moments were a good idea or not, particularly making simpson where the gloves, and the prosecution realised afterwards that that was a very big mistake. tam that was a very big mistake. tom bateman, thank _ that was a very big mistake. tom bateman, thank you _ that was a very big mistake. tom bateman, thank you very - that was a very big mistake. tom bateman, thank you very much indeed, as we bring you more news of the death of oj simpson announced on x by his family. you are watching bbc

news. some of our global audiences have opted away from us. we have had a brief reaction statement from the father of one of the victims after the announcement of this news, saying that this is no great loss. that is right. fred goldman, the father of ron goldman who was killed along with nicole brown, in the stabbings, talking to nbc news, on the phone, saying that the death of 0j the phone, saying that the death of oj simpson is in his words, no great loss. he went on, as a father with one being gone all these years, no great loss, and a further reminder that rome is no longer with us. at the end, it was several years later that the families had brought this civil case instead, but it didn't stop the sense of controversy over

this, the highly contested nature that seem to crystallise racial divisions in america because it was a predominantly whitejury divisions in america because it was a predominantly white jury that found oj simpson responsible for the killing. so that element of things never really went away, but of course the families at this moment, they are having to absorb this news after all of these years, in a case in which somebody who had before that time been a cultural, sporting and an icon of film in america, so his life would be remembered in very different ways, but that moment, of the trial in 1994, would have course be the key event that everyone would always remember most. the residents now, in always remember most. the residents now. in terms — always remember most. the residents now. in terms of— always remember most. the residents now, in terms of the _ always remember most. the residents now, in terms of the deeply _ now, in terms of the deeply difficult communaljustice system difficult communal justice system and difficult communaljustice system and the racial divisions with it,

the lack of trust from so many communities, even giving the outcome in the civil trial later, those racial divisions and the problem is that the united states still has are very evident. these are questions that were raised then, albeit with this new celebrity at the centre of this new celebrity at the centre of this trial, and a huge amount of money and global interest, but the fundamental questions, some of the fundamental questions, some of the fundamental questions, some of the fundamental questions raised by the case, are still pervasive. flit fundamental questions raised by the case, are still pervasive.— case, are still pervasive. of course the are. case, are still pervasive. of course they are- and _ case, are still pervasive. of course they are. and in _ case, are still pervasive. of course they are. and in recent _ case, are still pervasive. of course they are. and in recent years - case, are still pervasive. of course they are. and in recent years we . they are. and in recent years we have seen that shooting right back into prominence, in ways that, back then, could never have been imagined because, although this was all televised, what has opened much more of a door into the realities of the criminaljustice of a door into the realities of the criminal justice system of a door into the realities of the criminaljustice system and the ways that police actions affect america

is the advent of the mobile phone and everything being filmed, but some of the fundamentals that played into this haven't gone away. when you look at the issue of the way that the justice can be pursued you look at the issue of the way that thejustice can be pursued in america and the way in which the ability to pay for expensive lawyers still is seen as a factor in continuing to discriminate against black communities, when there is an accusation of a crime being carried out. that is something that absolutely hasn't gone away and still plays into so many elements in the criminaljustice system in america and that is why the oj simpson case, it seemed to be something that, he had cheated the system because here was a very rich, well—known, wealthy black american, who was able to pay for star lawyers, to represent him. and that is why you put all of these characteristics to the poor, that were unusual, that added another

layer to it. then you have people watching this case who felt that, many people looking at the way the evidence was outlined, clearly felt that oj simpson was guilty, and then the acquittal, in their view played more into the way that this had crystallise racial divisions, so, for many reasons, around race and wealth and the justice system in america, this brought so many issues to the fore, and as you absolutely rightly say, issues that have clearly not gone away, and continue to aggravate in this country. by, lot to aggravate in this country. a lot of complexities _ to aggravate in this country. a lot of complexities in _ to aggravate in this country. a lot of complexities in this _ to aggravate in this country. a lot of complexities in this case - to aggravate in this country. a lot of complexities in this case that one perhaps does not see elsewhere. reading up the background on this case, a reminder that oj simpson was eventually found responsible for the deaths of ron goldman and nicole brown simpson and ordered to pay the

families hundreds of millions of dollars, i'm not sure whether that was ever paid, but his death has been announced by his family, oj simpson. let's have a quick post now, and catch up with the weather. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello, there. the weather we've got over the next couple of days is really quite unusual for april. if we take a look at this anomaly chart, the redder the colours, the more unusual the heat is, and as you can see, we're towards the top end of this scale. how warm is it going to get? well, some places could see temperatures around 21 degrees celsius. for example, around greater london. temperatures for quite a few areas will be around six or seven degrees celsius above average for the time of year. and the reason we've got this mild flow of air is down to the jet stream pattern, which is bringing mild and quite humid air up from near the azores. now, it might be mild, but it's not necessarily sunny. the best of the sunshine today has been across the midlands, northwards across northern england into scotland. however, it stays pretty cloudy for southern and western wales, southern parts of england with occasional spots of drizzle

around, particularly towards coastal areas. and for northern ireland, some thicker cloud is on the way. outbreaks of rain here to end the day. the rain probably turning quite heavy. but whether you've got cloud or the sunshine doesn't really make that much of a difference for the temperatures. it's very mild nationwide. now, overnight tonight, that rain in northern ireland moves northwards to reach the far north of england and across parts of scotland for a time as well. temperatures stay mild, 11, 12 degrees celsius. there will likely be some mist and fog patches around towards the end of the night. and so for some, it's going to be quite a grey start to the day on friday, perhaps a bit more rain for a time in northern ireland moving back towards scotland, this time across most southern regions of england and wales, you've probably got a better chance of the clouds thinning and breaking to give us some sunshine. and those temperatures still well above average for the time of year. 18 in aberdeen, we're up to 20 or 21 across parts of eastern england. saturday is something of a transition day. again, there'll be some mist and fog patches around.

we keep the mild air across southern and eastern parts of england, but to the north west of the uk we're getting some heavier outbreaks of rain moving in and the weather will be turning significantly cooler along with that rain for northern ireland and for scotland as well. and that's just the first day of the change because as we head through sunday and into next week, we've got a ridge of high pressure to the west of the uk that's going to send down a northwesterly flow of air across the country. that will reduce temperatures probably even a bit below average in places and will bring us a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers.

live from london — this is bbc news.

former nfl star, oj simpson, dies aged 76. his family said simpson "succumbed to his battle with cancer". former post office boss david smith apologises for celebrating the conviction of a pregnant sub postmistress, seema misra, who was eventuallyjailed. israel warns it's prepared after iran vows punishment for the killing of its commanders in syria. the uk prime minister has defended his record on the nhs, as new data show that key targets have been missed. russian missiles and drones destroy a large electricity plant near kyiv also coming up: it's time to roll out the red carpet. the bafta gaming awards take place tonight in london. welcome to verified live. the family of the american footballer oj simpson says he's died. oj simpson was once one of america's top football players but was later