Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 17, 1995 TAG: 9501170141
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
Opening statements in Simpson's murder trial are to begin Thursday.
The feud erupted amid reports that Bailey and his associates had leaked information to the media for months in an effort to denigrate Shapiro's courtroom skills and enhance his own position.
Over the weekend, Shapiro told The New York Times and Los Angeles Times he is fed up with Bailey and wants him off the defense team.
``We can't have snakes in the bed trying to sleep with us,'' Shapiro told the Los Angeles Times.
Bailey condemned the characterization Monday.
``Mr. Bailey has supported Mr. Shapiro in every way,'' said a statement issued by his office in Boston.
``This case is not about Mr. Shapiro or Mr. Bailey,'' the statement said. ``It's about O.J. Simpson, an innocent and wrongly accused man who can hardly feel well served on the eve of trial by this public outburst.''
The statement didn't say if Bailey was still on the case.
The bickering not only comes days before opening statements but on the eve of a crucial ruling by Superior Court Judge Lance Ito on whether to allow domestic violence evidence during the trial.
Ito has said he would rule today or Wednesday on whether evidence that Simpson beat his wife can be presented at trial.
Simpson is charged with the June 12 slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Legal analysts said that while the dispute may distract the lawyers at a critical time, it likely will cause little or no damage to Simpson's overall defense, because Johnnie Cochran Jr. is expected to handle most of the immediate courtroom work.
``I certainly believe that Johnnie Cochran, after 30-some-odd years in the business, is able to surmount this and has enough of his case prepared that it won't hurt them,'' said Southwestern University law professor Robert Pugsley.
There had been reports of internal tension within the defense camp for weeks before Shapiro confirmed them in the weekend newspaper interviews.
Bailey and Shapiro had been close friends for years, and it was Shapiro who brought Bailey onto the Simpson defense team. Shapiro had often described Bailey as his mentor, and he named Bailey godfather of his eldest son.
by CNB