Simpson’s honesty challenged during trial

Associated Press

MIAMI — O.J. Simpson, testifying at his road-rage trial Tuesday, was asked by a prosecutor whether he had ever lied, "especially if your life depended on it."

"I’ve never been put in that position to have to lie with my life on the line," responded Simpson, who opened the door for the question by accusing another driver of lying about their roadside confrontation.

Simpson was acquitted at a criminal trial of killing Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, a case in which prosecutors chose not to seek the death penalty.

The judge cut off questions about whether Simpson had ever been aggressive, and attorneys wrapped up testimony. Closing arguments were scheduled for today.

Simpson, 54, faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted of auto burglary and battery for last year’s dispute with Jeffrey Pattinson in their suburban Miami neighborhood.

Prosecutors say Simpson ran a stop sign, then pulled over to argue with Pattinson after the other driver flagged him down. He allegedly reached inside Pattinson’s car, grabbed the other man’s glasses and scratched his face.

Simpson, however, denied reaching into the car and said the men confronted each other outside their cars after Pattinson got him to pull over by flashing his lights and "sitting on his horn."

He said Pattinson lied about staying in his car, which led prosecutor Abbe Rifkin to ask whether Simpson has ever called himself a liar or would lie if his life depended on it.

Rifkin also asked Simpson if he has ever been aggressive, but Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy cut off questioning in an area that was getting close to Simpson’s relationship with his ex-wife.

Simpson explained that his thumbprint got on Pattinson’s glasses after he raised his arms and brushed against them during their 30-second, profanity-laced shouting match.