SACRAMENTO-

He says he knew from the beginning he’d be there, sitting right next to OJ Simpson during what would alter be called the trial of the century.

“It’s been a negative in some ways, some people don’t want to retain me because of it,” said Robert Blasier. Blasier was a part of the 8 member defense team, brought on as an expert for understanding DNA evidence. “One of the police officers took a blanket from inside the house and put it on the body, that’s stupid it can cause cross contamination,” said Blasier.

Even Blasier says, looking back 20 years later, he wasn’t sure if the jury would side with the defense. The trial was a media circus met with controversy. “I tried those gloves on when he did, they didn’t fit me and OJ has big hands.”

Blasier says the defense capitalized on the prosecution’s evidence they presented. Mainly their focus on the location of the crime and issues of tampering with evidence that riddled the case.

Blasier has spoken with OJ since, and says though the former NFL star is troubled, he remembers him best as compassionate. Blasier also believes OJ’s conviction in Nevada was solely based on his acquittal in the 20-year-old murder case where he was found not guilty.

When asked if he thought OJ was innocent, Blasier calmly replied, “I don’t know. I wasn’t there.”