Jury unanimous: Simpson is liable

Millions in damages ordered February 4, 1997

• Jury reheard testimony on alibi, domestic violence
• Police placed on alert
• Related stories and sites

SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- O.J. Simpson is liable for the death of Ronald Goldman and committed battery against his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, a civil trial jury ruled Tuesday.

The Superior Court jury awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages to the Goldman family and to Ron Goldman's biological mother.

The jury ruled against Simpson on each of the eight technical questions of liability it was asked to consider. It effectively found Simpson liable for his ex-wife's death, though the Brown family did not seek such a verdict.

Simpson was acquitted in October 1995 in the killings to close out a lengthy criminal trial. In the civil trial, both families sought damages in the June 12, 1994, knifing deaths.

Jury reheard testimony on alibi, domestic violence

The verdicts capped some 16 hours of deliberations by the six-man, six-woman jury, which had been deliberating since January 31 after the dismissal of one panel member.

The announcement of the verdicts was delayed for more than two hours pending the arrival of all the family members.

Earlier Tuesday, the jury had five hours of trial testimony read back to them, including parts about Simpson's alibi, domestic violence and the timeline provided by former limousine driver Alan Parks, who took Simpson to the airport the night of the killings.

Though just nine of the 12 jurors needed to agree on a verdict, the ruling was unanimous. They had only to agree whether there were a preponderance of evidence, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Police placed on alert

Los Angeles County and Santa Monica police were placed on light tactical alert in what was described as a customary move following a high-profile verdict. Crowds began massing outside the Santa Monica courthouse as news of the pending verdict spread.

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