O.J. Murder Trial — Robert Shapiro Wanted A Guilty Plea

Defense attorney Robert Shapiro told FOX News' Megyn Kelly that O.J. Simpson said to him when the verdict was announced: "You told me this would be the result from the beginning. You were right." The statement was treated like a major revelation after years of speculation over what O.J. whispered to Shapiro in the courtroom. The National ENQUIRER, however, had the inside story on Shapiro wanting his client to plead guilty to murder! 

Just days before the O.J. Simpson murder trial began, The ENQUIRER's investigation revealed that Shapiro, now 73, had secretly offered prosecutors a deal that would let O.J. off the hook for first-degree murder! In an informal telephone conversation, O.J.'s lawyers told prosecutors they might agree to a guilty plea if the star would serve no more than four years in prison.

Just days before the O.J. Simpson murder trial began, The ENQUIRER's investigation revealed that Shapiro, now 73, had secretly offered prosecutors a deal that would let O.J. off the hook for first-degree murder! In an informal telephone conversation, O.J.'s lawyers told prosecutors they might agree to a guilty plea if the star would serve no more than four years in prison.

"In late September," the insider claimed in 1994, "prosecutors initiated the discussion in a phone call. The defense team indicated that the only deal they might be willing to accept is one that put O.J. behind bars for only four years. They might be willing to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter in this scenario." Voluntary manslaughter is defined in California as death caused "upon sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion."

Just days before the O.J. Simpson murder trial began, The ENQUIRER's investigation revealed that Shapiro, now 73, had secretly offered prosecutors a deal that would let O.J. off the hook for first-degree murder! In an informal telephone conversation, O.J.'s lawyers told prosecutors they might agree to a guilty plea if the star would serve no more than four years in prison.

"In late September," the insider claimed in 1994, "prosecutors initiated the discussion in a phone call. The defense team indicated that the only deal they might be willing to accept is one that put O.J. behind bars for only four years. They might be willing to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter in this scenario." Voluntary manslaughter is defined in California as death caused "upon sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion."

There was lots of talk about a crime of passion after the brutal murder of O.J.'s ex-wife. The body of Nicole Brown Simpson — who had been brutally beaten during her marriage to the disgraced footballer — was found slaughtered outside of her luxurious Los Angeles home  on the night of June 12, 1994. Her friend Ron Goldman was also been murdered at the bloody crime scene.

But prosecutors rejected the offer for O.J. to plead to voluntary manslaughter, said the insider. "They indicated they'd never accept any deal that resulted in less than 13 years in prison. They'd be willing to accept a guilty plea to second-degree murder charges, but nothing else."

But prosecutors rejected the offer for O.J. to plead to voluntary manslaughter, said the insider. "They indicated they'd never accept any deal that resulted in less than 13 years in prison. They'd be willing to accept a guilty plea to second-degree murder charges, but nothing else."

"It was still shocking," said the source, "because it was the first time that a plea bargain was even hinted at in an official capacity!" As also shown in the hit AMC series "The People V. O.J. Simpson," Shapiro was one of the main players in hoping to get his client to plead guilty!

Legal insiders later revealed to The ENQUIRER that O.J. considered a second plea bargain in Dec. 1994 — just weeks before the trial began. "Robert Shapiro told him that if they went to trial and lost, he could get life in prison," a source told The ENQUIRER, with the defense attorney still part of the "Dream Team" assembled by Robert Kardashian.

Legal insiders later revealed to The ENQUIRER that O.J. considered a second plea bargain in Dec. 1994 — just weeks before the trial began. "Robert Shapiro told him that if they went to trial and lost, he could get life in prison," a source told The ENQUIRER, with the defense attorney still part of the "Dream Team" assembled by Robert Kardashian.

The ENQUIRER had earlier reported that DNA tests showed that blood samples found in Simpson's Ford Bronco belonged to Nicole and Ron Goldman - a man that the defendant had already stated he didn't know! "Now the tables have turned," said the source. "O.J. knows that the latest round of DNA tests are extremely incriminating."

Repeated calls made by The ENQUIRER to the offices of Shapiro were not returned at the time. But after the shocking verdict that set O.J. free, fellow defense attorney F. Lee Bailey quickly complained about Shapiro's attempts to make a deal. "Bob Shapiro did everything in this world to try to get a plea bargain going before Johnnie Cochran got in the case," Bailey claimed, "because that was the only way he was going to stay in control!"