Former American football star O.J. SIMPSON has been found guilty of hiding profits from his controversial book IF I DID IT in a shell company.
Judge Jay Cristol ruled on Friday (15Jun07) that bankrupt business Lorraine Brooke Associates, run by Simpson's daughter Arnelle, was used to conceal profits from the family of Ron Goldman, which is trying to collect a wrongful death civil judgment of $33.5 million (£16.75 million) from the star.
Simpson wrote the book last year (06), placing him at the scene of the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman in 1994, but his publishing contract was terminated by News Corp head Rupert Murdoch 10 days before it was due to be released.
A California court recently ruled that Lorraine Brooke Associates was a surrogate company for Simpson and ordered an auction of the book rights it retained, with the proceeds going to Goldman's father, Fred. However, the company filed for bankruptcy four days before the auction was scheduled in April (07), halting the sale.
Friday's ruling clears the way for Fred Goldman to pursue a claim to the book rights.
His lawyer David Cook says, "Judge Cristol ruled that Lorraine Brooke Associates is a speed bump on Goldman's journey, for his quest to justice." He added Goldman would sell the rights to publish the book under a revised name - possibly I Did It or Confessions of an Acquitted Murderer.