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

oj simpson 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 was later found liable for her killing in a civil case. his family announced the news. he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. ed gordon was the first journalist to interview oj simpson after his acquittal and in the past few minutes. ed has been speaking to our colleagues on cbs news. i just got off the plane

and checked my phone. needless to say, i was getting all kind of calls and text and it is a bit surreal. i mean, we all can go at any moment, but to think about as you read who oj simpson was, this star running back arguably at his time, the greatest running back of all time in the nfl, then to become a pitchman and a movie star. and then, you know, the tragedy that befell the goldman family and what it's become. and so i think that, gale, as you know, how divided this country was based on that trial. it's extraordinary. and i still remember when that verdict came in, he still proved to be, i think, up until the end, a very divisive character. at the time, it seemed to be divided along racial lines. i remember there was a lot of celebration in the streets from some members of the black community. and a lot of people were just in shock when the verdict came in, when he was acquitted. what do you remember about that time? well, i remember that specifically. and i also think it's important for us to say, gail, that i think

a lot of african—americans had their doubts as to whether he was innocent or not. and much of the cheering was not necessarily for oj simpson as much as it was for someone who, as misguided as this may sound at first glance, had beat the system that african—americans had for so many years been railroaded into jail, that you finally had someone rich enough and powerful enough to maybe and i underline that, evade the system. but it's an extraordinary time that we lived through. you know, you think about the 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. gayle, had he been on the freeway, even though the helicopters followed him, you would have had so many camera angles from phones and everybody trying to be, you know, the reporter on the scene. it's just an extraordinary time. you know, he was acquitted in the in that case, but there was forever still a cloud over oj simpson. and how do you think he navigated that? because, you know, many times

he would still be walking in the streets. people were asking for his autograph, wanting to take you know, he was acquitted in the in that case, but there was forever still a cloud over oj simpson. and how do you think he navigated that? because, you know, many times he would still be walking in the streets. people were asking for his autograph, wanting to take a photo with him. and still there were others that saw him as a pariah. that's a great question, gayle. i had been with him on a number of occasions after the fact, and what he would do is when he would see someone looking at him, he would quickly go to them and say hello to them before they could say anything. it was a a disarming tactic on his part, if you will. so if he was afraid they were going to say something rude or vile, he would try to disarm them with because he was a charismatic person. he was bigger than life in many instances. and so he would try to speak first. and he was and some people will rail at this, but he was charming at times. and so he he leaned on that charm to disarm people.

yeah. charming is not what the goldman family feels about him or many members, certainly. no, no, no. the goldman family or the simpson family. and i was always thinking about them during times like this. yeah. and it's it's hard to really kind of put your arms around this. it didn't bring any of those people back. it didn't ease the pain of those families who still today grieve the loss of those two people. and he always had, even right up until the end, he always maintained that he was innocent. he did maintain that, as you say, until the day he passed away. and he was quick to suggest that he always was, in his words, searching for the killer. there were those who will suggest he never did that, but he 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, for as long

as it's been since those gruesome murders, oj simpson remained up until he died, the face of a murderer for many. even today, there will be comedians who will use him as the butt of a joke. and so it was it was something that stuck to him until his last days. ed gordon, journalist who had interviewed oj simpson. just to remind you of the news that come in, 0j remind you of the news that come in, oj simpson's family announcing that he has died of cancer aged 76. the family of ronald goldman has said it is no great loss. ron goldman and nicole brown since simpson were killed. not clear whether that money

was ever paid, but this is after an acquittal at the incredibly high trial where oj simpson always maintained his innocence. there was a very high—profile car chase as he tried to flee the police, and in the televised trial which was watched in the us. this huge football hero as he had been. this huge charismatic star. as we heard there, something of a split and how parts of the black community saw his guilt. but he was also hugely wealthy. he had robert kardashian as one of his lawyers, and this case really garnered a massive, massive attention. oj simpson was found liable for the deaths years later,

and then he was later convicted in 2008, ten years later, of a litany of charges of assault and kidnapping and sentenced to at least nine years with a maximum 33 years term. he was released and had been battling cancer. the pictures of the car chase, the pictures of the televised trial, were hugely watched around the world at the time. i spoke for a bit more background to tom bateman in washington. it isa it is a very short statement. it says he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. the

family asked that they are left in greats. that is the statement that we have. he died in hospital, he had cancerfor some time, but we have. he died in hospital, he had cancer for some time, but obviously a piece of news that will go back to those days of, you mentioned oj simpson being an nfl star, a running back, and iconic footballer who was remembered for all of that. but it will be the trial of 1994, his acquittal, after he was charged with the murders of his former wife nicole brown and herfriend ron goldman in 1994. one of the most televised trial in the history of the united states. along racial

lines, crystallising some of those divisions in america. his acquittal, so many people will remember him for. untilwe so many people will remember him for. until we hear more from the family and friends of oj simpson, we have that simple short statement at the moment. just have that simple short statement at the moment-— the moment. just seeing pictures of that car chase _ the moment. just seeing pictures of that car chase that _ the moment. just seeing pictures of that car chase that was _ the moment. just seeing pictures of that car chase that was televised. i that car chase that was televised. at the time, unlike anything that audiences had seen in terms of a criminal case. it’s audiences had seen in terms of a criminal case-— criminal case. it's absolutely ri . ht, criminal case. it's absolutely right. and — criminal case. it's absolutely right. and i— criminal case. it's absolutely right, and i think _ criminal case. it's absolutely right, and i think not - criminal case. it's absolutely right, and i think not only i criminal case. it's absolutely | right, and i think not only the time, but obviously since then, there have been so many dramatisations of the events that took place. it has become part of american history, of the late 20th century. in terms of events, both before and after. it was a usually significant moment. the fact that it was watched notjust significant moment. the fact that it was watched not just across the significant moment. the fact that it was watched notjust across the us, but i think many people over a

certain age will remember how it dominated international headlines. the fact that all of this was televised — we can see the pictures from the time — because it became notjust from the time — because it became not just an from the time — because it became notjust an issue what happened during the killing themselves, but also really the drama of the courtroom and whether or not oj simpson was going to be found guilty. afterwards, the way that it seemed to crystallise racial divisions in america, whether or not his acquittal play that role, is what made this such a hugely significant moment in american history. significant moment in american histo . �* significant moment in american histo .�* ., ., , history. and he was found not guilty in 1995, but — history. and he was found not guilty in 1995, but then _ history. and he was found not guilty in 1995, but then a _ history. and he was found not guilty in 1995, but then a civil _ history. and he was found not guilty in 1995, but then a civil court - history. and he was found not guilty in 1995, but then a civil courtjury i in 1995, but then a civil courtjury held oj simpson liable of the deaths from his ex—wife and herfriend. his

life then, he was released from jail and we've heard from the family that he died from cancer surrounded by his family. he died from cancer surrounded by his famil . ., v he died from cancer surrounded by his famil . . �* , ., , his family. that's right, that very short statement. _ his family. that's right, that very short statement. it _ his family. that's right, that very short statement. it was - his family. that's right, that very short statement. it was later- his family. that's right, that very short statement. it was later in l short statement. it was later in 2007 that there was a separate conviction over armed robbery and kidnapping. but as you say, the understanding is that he died in hospice. he was surrounded by his family, as they said in that very short statement. a£111" family, as they said in that very short statement.— family, as they said in that very short statement. our reporter tom bateman. short statement. our reporter tom bateman- i'm — short statement. our reporter tom bateman. i'mjoined _ short statement. our reporter tom bateman. i'mjoined by— short statement. our reporter tom bateman. i'm joined by sports - short statement. our reporter tom i bateman. i'm joined by sports writer jeremy schaap. thank you for your time. first of all, your reaction that oj simpson has died, how will he be remembered? he’s that oj simpson has died, how will he be remembered?— that oj simpson has died, how will he be remembered? he's going to be remembered — he be remembered? he's going to be remembered because _ he be remembered? he's going to be remembered because of— he be remembered? he's going to be remembered because of the - he be remembered? he's going to be remembered because of the murders| he be remembered? he's going to be i remembered because of the murders of ron goldman and nicole simpson brown

in 1994. he's going to be remembered in 1994. he's going to be remembered in connection with their murders, which is an understatement, as you said. he was fine liable in their deaths, and these were two brutal, horrific murders which led to in the us, what many people called, many people still believe was the trial of the century of 1995. oj simpson had been ubiquitous in american public life. priorto had been ubiquitous in american public life. prior to that, 27 years since he emerged as a huge star in couege since he emerged as a huge star in college football in the late 1960s. he maintained at this level of presence in public life, even after he retired from football commentator, as a pitchman. he was on monday night football, where the big —— one of the big franchises. he was on the olympics, for in bc. he was on the olympics, for in bc. he was everywhere. he was in movies, he

projected an image, a persona. he was the guy corporate america went to to sell whatever services, whatever products they want to sell. i'm so, it's almost impossible to overstate how stunning it was to people that week in june 1994 when he became the primary suspect in these brutal murders. just he became the primary suspect in these brutal murders.— he became the primary suspect in these brutal murders. just to remind --eole these brutal murders. just to remind peeple looking _ these brutal murders. just to remind people looking back, _ these brutal murders. just to remind people looking back, just _ these brutal murders. just to remind people looking back, just explain - people looking back, just explain for us why he was such a sporting hero, purely in football terms. he was hero, purely in football terms. he: was one hero, purely in football terms. the: was one of the great running backs of all time. he was the top college player in the country of 1968, as i said, at usc. then he became a professional football player, playing mostly for the buffalo bills

in western new york. he became the first running back to rush for 2,000 yards in american pro football. i'm pretty sure he was the first... he was one of the greatest ever at one of the most important positions in these sport that is a national obsession. but oj simpson transcended football as a public figure after his retirement. find transcended football as a public figure after his retirement. and how do ou figure after his retirement. and how do you think — figure after his retirement. and how do you think the _ figure after his retirement. and how do you think the sports _ figure after his retirement. and how do you think the sports world, - figure after his retirement. and how do you think the sports world, the i do you think the sports world, the wider society looked back at him in more recent years?— wider society looked back at him in more recent years? there was only one way to look at _ more recent years? there was only one way to look at back _ more recent years? there was only one way to look at back at - more recent years? there was only one way to look at back at him. - more recent years? there was only one way to look at back at him. it | one way to look at back at him. it was the man who was found liable in the deaths of his ex—wife and ron goldman, and these were not to be... not to be graphic, these were brutal, horrific murders. he was the

primary substack. no other suspect was ever identified. no one has looked seriously at the evidence would come to the conclusion that oj simpson was that... he did go to prison later. he was paroled in 2017. there was everything else that 0j 2017. there was everything else that oj did and it is all of course superseded byjune1994. iwas covering the murder investigation in the days and weeks after the murders took place in chicago, in los angeles. i keep coming back to this moment. maybe it was three days later. i was standing in a field near o'hare airport in chicago. he had flown to chicago for an event and the police were out there later

in the week interviewing witnesses, accumulating evidence. on sunday morning or whatever, before we knew about the murders, oj simpson was the oj simpson of the naked gun and monday night football. now i'm standing in a field by the airport and there is a team of police officers and forensic experts looking for a knife, looking for the murder weapon, which by the way, they didn't locate. it was used to kill two people in this brutal fashion. and that turn, a twist, that change is one of the most shocking things this country's experienced in a very long time in terms of the public figure in the

difference. it's a difference between what we thought we knew about oj simpson, who we thought he was — even though there have been evidence to suggest he wasn't who he was presented as being that we had ignored — the difference between the 0j ignored — the difference between the oj simpson we thought we knew and who he was was obviously that. jeremy schaap, we will leave it there. thank you very much indeed. we are going to take a short break. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

you're watching bbc news. breaking news that the family of the american football or oj simpson say he's died of cancer at the age of 76. they say he's come to —— succumbed to the

disease on wednesday. he was once one of america's top football players, but was later accused of unviable of the murder of his wife. his televised trial was followed around the world. initially, he was acquitted in a hugely watched trial by millions across america and around the world. he was later found liable for killing in a civil case. bruce is oj simpson's former agent and joins us from las vegas. thanks forjoining us. your response to the news today. forjoining us. your response to the news today-— forjoining us. your response to the news toda . ~ �* ~ ., ., news today. well, i've known him for uuite a news today. well, i've known him for quite a while- — news today. well, i've known him for quite a while. we _ news today. well, i've known him for quite a while. we are _ news today. well, i've known him for quite a while. we are supposed - news today. well, i've known him for quite a while. we are supposed to i news today. well, i've known him for quite a while. we are supposed to do a signing and he was too sick to be able to do that —— i've known he was sick for quite a while. it's a sad day forfriends and sick for quite a while. it's a sad day for friends and family. find day for friends and family. and you had remained _ day for friends and family. and you had remained supportive _ day for friends and family. and you had remained supportive of- day for friends and family. and you had remained supportive of him . had remained supportive of him until now. .,

had remained supportive of him until now. . ., �* , ., had remained supportive of him until now. . ., �*, .,, . now. yeah, i mean, it's no secret that i now. yeah, i mean, it's no secret that i suoported _ now. yeah, i mean, it's no secret that i supported him _ now. yeah, i mean, it's no secret that i supported him through... l now. yeah, i mean, it's no secret l that i supported him through... i've been with him for a long time, even after the robbery here in las vegas. i forgave him and we were able to remain not as close as we were, but we remained acquaintances and saw each other from time to time. still ran across each other and saw each other from time to time. still ran across each other and sanoe there now and then. i've always been a friend —— saw each other now and then. i wrote him a notejust a then. i wrote him a note just a few days a go wokingham —— wishing him well. days a go wokingham -- wishing him well. ., , , .,_ days a go wokingham -- wishing him well. ., , , , , well. you presumably accepted the civil case that _ well. you presumably accepted the civil case that he _ well. you presumably accepted the civil case that he was _ well. you presumably accepted the civil case that he was found - well. you presumably accepted the civil case that he was found liable i civil case that he was found liable for the deaths of his former wife and herfriend? i for the deaths of his former wife and her friend?— for the deaths of his former wife and her friend? i never agreed with that, no. i —

and her friend? i never agreed with that, no. i never— and her friend? i never agreed with that, no. i never believed that - and her friend? i never agreed with that, no. i never believed that he l that, no. i never believed that he had done it. that, no. i never believed that he had done it— that, no. i never believed that he had done it. and did he ever admit anything to — had done it. and did he ever admit anything to you — had done it. and did he ever admit anything to you or— had done it. and did he ever admit anything to you or express - had done it. and did he ever admit anything to you or express regret i anything to you or express regret over that? he anything to you or express regret over that? �* ., over that? he didn't do it. he never said he had — over that? he didn't do it. he never said he had done _ over that? he didn't do it. he never said he had done it. _ over that? he didn't do it. he never said he had done it. it was - over that? he didn't do it. he never said he had done it. it was proven i said he had done it. it was proven in a court ofjustice. he is found not guilty. a civil cases complete different than a judicial. it's completely different. it's apples and oranges. like i said, i was on my own feelings about who did it, and who was involved, and was... i never believed he was the one who had done it. never believed he was the one who had done it— never believed he was the one who had done it. what did he... without c in: too had done it. what did he... without crying too much. — had done it. what did he... without crying too much, what _ had done it. what did he... without crying too much, what did - had done it. what did he... without crying too much, what did he - had done it. what did he... without crying too much, what did he say i crying too much, what did he say about that whole night —— without

prying. did you probe him on it? i asked him a couple of different times. we remained... i was his agent for 19 years. both before and after. we've got our own theories. i've spoken on it many times, and, no, i actually believe that he had nothing to do with it. i had asked him point—blank if he had done it, and he looked me straight in the eye and he looked me straight in the eye and said no. i believe him. i do have my own theories about who did it. like i tell people, all you know is what you saw in the papers. i've gone through four major events and i

have learned that truth and justice are not necessarily about the whole truth and nothing but the truth. i've learned that extremely well going through four major trials with him a and he was found guilty of further complex charges, sentenced to prison after serving nine years, i think. was he a changed person when he came out of prison at that point? filth. out of prison at that point? oh, eah. out of prison at that point? oh, yeah- prison — out of prison at that point? oh, yeah. prison will— out of prison at that point? oh, yeah. prison will train - out of prison at that point? oi yeah. prison will train anybody out of prison at that point? ©“i, yeah. prison will train anybody —— change anybody. it makes you much more contrite. he had made a mistake, he knew. he lived a much quieter life after he got out. that's one reason he stayed here in las vegas instead of going back to miami. when he went to miami, he was doing a lot of stuff that wasn't

healthy for him. so, when he got out last time, he stayed here in vegas. he was much more laid—back, quiet, not doing all the running around that he was doing in miami. he was a changed person when he was here. irate changed person when he was here. we will have to leave it there, bruce fromong, friend and former agent to 0j fromong, friend and former agent to oj simpson. thank you very much indeed forjoining us. just to repeat, oj simpson was found liable for the deaths of his wife and friend in a civil case after that criminal case, but his family have posted that tweet that you can see there. oj simpson has died of cancer this week. this is bbc news.

hello there. the weather today has been very mild indeed. for april, temperatures reached 20 degrees celsius in parts of norfolk. meanwhile, in northern ireland, the 17 degrees were recorded here made it northern ireland's warmest day of the year so far. meanwhile, in northern ireland, the 17 degrees were recorded here made it northern ireland's warmest day of the year so far. we did have south—westerly winds dragging in the mild air, but they also brought a lot of cloud to wales and southwest england. whereas the best of the sunshine, really, was across the midlands, northern england and into parts of scotland. we've got a similar set of weather wise really into friday. the jet stream continues to drag up some very mild air from near the azores, moves it along into parts of the uk, and that's going to again boost the temperatures on friday into the high teens to low 20s. aberdeen seeing temperatures seven degrees celsius above average. now, before we get there, overnight tonight, we're looking at a few patches of rain coming and going across northern ireland, scotland and northern england. there'll be a few mist and fog patches around as well. the south—westerly winds continue to bring that mild air across the uk. so a mild night, temperatures staying up into double figures in most places. tomorrow, mild start to the mist

and fog patches slowly lifting and clearing, but the chance of seeing sunshine and more sunshine across england and wales. whereas the thicker cloud will be in parts of scotland, northern ireland and the far north of england, where we'll have a few patches of rain from time to time. 18 in aberdeen, top temperatures across eastern england likely to hit around 21 degrees celsius, which is going to get close to the highest temperature ever recorded so far this year in the whole of the uk. all change though as we head into the weekend, we'll start to see some rain and cooler weather work into northern ireland, scotland and northern england, holding on to something a little bit warmer again for parts of wales, the midlands, east anglia and southern counties of england. but the change will come. as we head into sunday and next week, the jet stream pattern changes completely and we'll start to get these north westerly winds dragging westerly winds dragging in much cooler weather conditions. and so, for the second half of the weekend, we're looking at lots of showers for scotland and northern ireland. some of those will have some hail

mixed in, one or two showers for the northwest of both england and wales, still largely dry across east anglia and southeast england, but temperatures back close to average, whereas further north, the temperatures of anything could be a degree or so below average. what follows then, into monday, is more general outbreaks of rain and quite a cool windy day. sunshine and showers tuesday and wednesday, and then high pressure bringing drier weather towards the end of the week.

this is bbc news, the headlines

former nfl star, oj simpson, dies aged 76. his family said simpson "succumbed to his battle with cancer". the former post office box apologises for celebrating the... . the uk prime minister has defended his record on the nhs, as new data show that key targets have been missed also coming up: it's time to roll out the red carpet — the bafta gaming awards take place tonight in london. will bring you more on the oj simpson death shortly but we would turn out to what has been described as the worst miscarriage ofjustice in british legal history. certainly one of them.