Kato Kaelin gives new details in Simpson case, lawyers say

February 16, 1996
Web posted at: 2:15 p.m. EST

From Correspondent Jim Hill

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- O.J. Simpson's former house guest Kato Kaelin revealed new details this week about Simpson's conduct before the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, according to lawyers taking Kaelin's deposition.

"I'd say that Mr. Kaelin provided some very important detailed information relative to observations he made concerning Mr. Simpson" the evening of the murders, said Michael Brewer, an attorney representing Goldman's mother in the wrongful death suit against Simpson.

"There was more examination with respect to the relationship between Nicole Brown Simpson and Mr. Simpson in the year-and- a-half preceding her death," Brewer added.

"I get the impression that Kato has been forthright and honest, and he's adding a lot of things that weren't addressed at the prosecution trial," said John Quinlan Kelly, who represents the family of Nicole Brown Simpson.

Brewer and Kelly did not disclose details of Kaelin's testimony, but sources told the Associated Press that Kaelin testified that the day before the murders, Simpson recalled the time he saw his ex-wife having sex with another man.

Kaelin also said Simpson was not happy that he had been prevented from seeing his daughter Sydney on the day of the murders, according to the sources.

Simpson was acquitted on charges of murder in October. The civil suit seeks damages from Simpson for the wrongful death of his ex-wife and Goldman.

The standard of proof for determining Simpson's guilt or innocence in the civil suit is lower than it was for the criminal trial, when jurors were asked to decide "beyond a reasonable doubt" whether Simpson committed the murders.

Plaintiffs' lawyers are hoping Kaelin's testimony in the civil suit will undermine the credibility of Simpson's alibi and shed light on Simpson's relationship with his ex-wife before the murders. Kaelin is believed to be the last person to see Simpson before his ex-wife and Goldman were killed.

Simpson, who attended the deposition, was "much more controlled" Thursday than he had been the previous day, according to Brewer.

During Kaelin's testimony Wednesday, Simpson reportedly interrupted the deposition several times with what one lawyer called derogatory comments. Kaelin's deposition is to continue Tuesday.

Attorneys said they have also subpoenaed Simpson's two older children, as well as his friends Al Cowlings and Robert Kardashian.

One attorney said the process has been going more slowly than anticipated. If the pace does not pick up, the attorney said the trial, set to begin April 2, may be delayed.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.