O.J. Simpson stood at the center of what became the criminal trial, facing charges that generated months of testimony spanning forensic science, police procedures, and DNA evidence. His defense team, led by Johnnie Cochran, mounted an aggressive strategy that systematically attacked the LAPD's evidence collection and chain of custody, with cross-examinations that exposed critical failures by criminalists Dennis Fung and Andrea Mazzola. Simpson himself spoke rarely in open court, though his presence shaped every proceeding — from conflict-of-interest waivers to depositions of key witnesses like Kato Kaelin and Cora Fischman. The defense built a case around contamination risks in the LAPD crime lab, unmatched fingerprints at the Bundy scene, and testimony that Simpson appeared happy and jovial on the night of the murders, all aimed at challenging the prosecution's theory of motive and physical evidence.