O.J. SIMPSON, - the former American football star acquitted of murdering his ex wife, joked with reporters and ignored shouting protesters yesterday as he arrived to address students at Oxford.
Some 50 protesters and hundreds of reporters shouted as he entered the austere 19th century wood panelled debating chamber for a photo call before addressing up to 1,500 students.
At Simpson's request, the press was barred from the chamber where he gave a speech and answered random questions from the audience. Metal detectors were installed to prevent cameras or tape recorders being taken in.
Long before his arrival demonstrators, including many Americans, gathered outside the Oxford Union protesting that despite his acquittal of murdering his exwife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman, he should never have been invited to address Oxford students.
"The reason we are protesting is to show we haven't forgotten the 155 women who suffer every month from domestic violence in this city alone," said Ms Sally Copley, women's officer of the students' union. Mr Paul Kenward, president of the Oxford Union, defended Simpson's appearance at the university. O.J knows that he convinced a bury but there is a very sceptical public out there. Poll after poll shows that 7,5 per cent of the public in America believe that he did, kill his [ex] wife and her friend Ron, he said.
Simpson gave a flawless performance, to the student audience declaring that he was at peace with himself. He spoke fluently for 90 minutes about his acquittal of his wife's murder, the media, the law, his family, race and religion. "I feel blessed," Simpson said.
But he faced hard questioning from some students and scepticism from the boxer, Chris "Eubank, sitting in the front row.
How do you feel when you look at your children the eyes of your children
Eubank asked.
The hall was packed with 1,000 students on benches, in the balconies and sitting in the aisles. A further 500 watched the debate on a television link in another room.
Simpson told the students some good that had come out of his Los Angeles trial ordeal. "What it has done to me is put a little passion back into my life.
He was passionate about the attitude of the justice system in America towards black people, and also about the media, he said.
He was cheered loudly as he entered, and one woman who heckled him about domestic violence was shouted down.
But students, many of them Americans well versed in the case, asked him to explain away, some of the evidence in the trial and his actions, such as the blood at his ex-wife's house, his flight from police, and his documented violence towards Nicole.
To it all Simpson, had ready answers which he delivered with conviction.