How a glove defined OJ Simpson's 1994 murder trial as it became the most controversial piece of evidence

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Unexpectedly, a pair of gloves turned out to be the most infamous elements in OJ Simpson's murder trial for the deaths of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman.

The black leather gloves that were supposed to have been worn by the murderer during the killings but eventually did not fit Simpson's hands during the trial have been a permanent fixture in the case history and have proven to be crucial to Simpson's acquittal in the years since he was found not guilty of the murders.

Following OJ Simpson's death at the age of 76 after battling with cancer, people, who are still trying to piece together the crime, still find themselves thinking about the gloves.

Right-hand glove contained blood and fibers from Nicole Brown's Akita dog

According to CNN, each glove was discovered in a different place. The right-handed glove was discovered at Simpson's estate, but the left-handed glove was found outside of Brown's residence.

As per the Washington Post, LAPD Detective Mark Fuhrman had enough evidence to issue an arrest warrant when he discovered the blood-stained right-hand glove at Simpson's residence.

In addition to blood, the glove that was taken from Simpson's house also contained fibers from Brown's Akita dog, a 1993–1994 Ford Bronco, and hair and clothes that were consistent with Simpson, Brown, and Goldman, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Simpson, though, found it difficult to get the gloves on his hands when he tried them on in court. As a result, the defense argued that the former NFL player could not have committed the murders as he was unable to fit into the gloves.

OJ Simpson suspected of skipping arthritis drugs to swell hands

Another report from the Los Angeles Times stated that one of the concerns prosecutors had regarding the glove not fitting Simpson's hand was that they were aware of his arthritis and his use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

They were worried that Simpson had skipped the medicine on purpose to cause his hands to swell and become too big to fit through the gloves.

That was refuted, though, when Simpson's daily medication intake was verified to attorneys by the Los Angeles County Jail doctor. Simpson's defense attorney, Johnnie Cochran, made the famous remark, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit," in response to this claim being dismissed. 

Prosecutors believed glove was soaked in blood and frozen and unfrozen multiple times

Prosecutors also expressed concern over the gloves' shrinking after being submerged in blood and left outside to freeze and thaw, which prevented them from fitting Simpson's hand, according to CNN.

During the trial, Richard Rubin, a glove expert called by prosecutor Chris Darden, stated in court that "you'll lose 15% of the size if you drench the glove and let it dry naturally," the New York Daily News reported.

Rubin shot back, saying he could not confirm what liquid had been on the gloves that caused them to shrink, in response to Darden's suggestion that blood was the cause. 

In response to the prosecutor's assertions, Cochran stated that their theory regarding the gloves shrinking due to blood was a reaction to their incapacity to demonstrate that the gloves fit Simpson's hand in normal circumstances.

In the years since, other theories explaining why Simpson didn't seem to fit the gloves have been put forth, according to KSAT. Let's take a look at that.

1. Prosecutors also believe that Simpson was wearing rubber gloves underneath, which explains why the black gloves were too small.

2. At a panel discussion held in 2012 at Pace Law School in New York City, Darden claimed that Cochran had tampered with the glove, ripping the lining.