O.J. Simpson testifies he never hit Nicole

November 22, 1996

Web posted at: 1:45 p.m. EST

SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- O.J. Simpson took the stand in his civil trial Friday and began for the first time to explain in his own words, under oath and before a jury, why he could never have killed his ex-wife and her friend.

Plaintiffs' attorney Daniel Petrocelli took Simpson through a whirlwind history of his relationship with Nicole Brown Simpson, starting with when he met her.

"When you first met Nicole, she was 18 years old, is that correct?" Petrocelli asked.

"That's correct," Simpson replied.

Barely a minute into questioning, Petrocelli zeroed in on a history of clashes between Simpson and his wife.

"One time I grabbed her and pushed her out the door," Simpson said. "If you call that physical, then I guess that was physical."

"How many times did Nicole hit you?" Petrocelli asked.

"Many times," Simpson replied.

Petrocelli then asked Simpson how many times he hit, slapped or struck Nicole.

"Never," Simpson said.

"You are aware that Nicole has written down in writing that you hit her?" Petrocelli, appearing incredulous, said.

Simpson responded that he was aware of that fact.

"In your view that is all false?" Petrocelli asked.

"Yes," Simpson said.

Earlier in the day, Simpson arrived at the courthouse to the jeers of "murderer, murderer" from a crowd of about 100 people who had gathered outside. Simpson walked briskly into the building.

The other central figures in the case arrived to equally noisy receptions. Attorney James Q. Kelly escorted Nicole Brown Simpson's mother, Juditha, and sister, Denise Brown, into the courthouse as onlookers chanted, "We're behind you Denise," "God bless you," and "Go get him."

A group of women who support Simpson shouted, "O.J. is innocent, O.J. is innocent" as another faction yelled back, "Guilty, guilty, guilty."

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