O.j. Simpson Murder Trial Lawyers Outraged By Evidence Tampering Allegations

Christopher Darden repeated his claim that O.J.'s high-profile lawyer Johnnie Cochran may have torn the glove the prosecutors claimed Simpson used to kill his wife and her pal in an interview with Reuters, and now former members of the fallen sportsman and actor's legal team are speaking out to defend their late associate and friend.

Former defence attorney Carl Douglas has denied Darden's allegations that the bloody glove was tampered with - to make sure it didn't fit the accused when he tried it on in court in 1995.

The incident led to Cochran's famous statement to the members of the jury: "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit".

Simpson, who is now serving time in Nevada for armed robbery and kidnapping, was acquitted of the murders.

Darden told the students, "I think Johnnie tore the lining (of the glove). There were some additional tears in the lining so that O.J.'s fingers couldn't go all the way up into the glove."

Cochran's co-counsel, Douglas, has expressed outrage at Darden's claim, stating, "He lost and he should get over it and go on with his life. It is an insult to the dignity and integrity of one of the greatest lawyers in America to imply that he did anything unethical during that historic trial.

"We were under the watchful eye of a sheriff's deputy and court staff every moment the glove was being examined. The very first time Mr. Simpson placed his hand inside the murder glove was when all of America saw that it did not fit his massive hand. I am offended for Mr. Darden to suggest otherwise."

Shawn Holley, another member of the defence team, tells the Los Angeles Times, "Mr. Darden's self-serving assertion that Johnnie Cochran tampered with the glove - or any piece of evidence - is false, malicious and slanderous... Almost 20 years later, it seems Mr. Darden is still trying to exculpate himself from one of the biggest blunders in the history of jurisprudence."