Simpson's Mother-In-Law Testifies

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Nicole Brown Simpson's weeping mother testified yesterday that O.J. Simpson leaned over his ex-wife's coffin at her wake, kissed her on the lips and murmured, "I'm so sorry, Nicki. I'm so sorry."

Juditha Brown said she followed her former son-in-law and confronted him: "Did you have anything to do with this?"

"He said, `I loved your daughter,' " she testified.

On cross-examination, Simpson's lawyer showed a videotape of Juditha Brown in a 1994 TV interview in which she gave the same account but quoted Simpson as answering the question: "No, I loved your daughter."

Attorney Robert Baker suggested she had dropped the word "No" to omit Simpson's denial that he killed his ex-wife.

In the most emotional testimony of the civil wrongful death trial, Juditha Brown frequently burst into tears and wiped her eyes with tissues. In the audience, her husband, Lou, and daughter Denise dabbed at their eyes.

Her testimony left one final witness for a potentially emotional finale Monday: Fred Goldman, father of Ron Goldman, who was slain with Nicole Brown Simpson on June 12, 1994.

Acquitted of murder charges, Simpson is being sued by the victims' families, who seek vindication and potentially millions of dollars in damages.

Under questioning by attorney John Kelly, Juditha Brown recalled a phone conversation with Simpson three weeks before his ex-wife was slain.

"He said, `She may not love me anymore,' and I said, `Well, then go on with your life.' He said, `I'll tell you, the first time when she left me I took the blame - it was my fault. But the second time, it's going to hurt.' "

She said she didn't speak to him or see him again until his daughter's dance recital on the day of the killings.

That evening, Juditha Brown said, her former son-in-law was in a foul mood.

As she spoke, Mrs. Brown glared across the courtroom at Simpson, who occasionally shook his head at her descriptions.

She was asked if Simpson ever laughed or smiled that evening. She said he did not.

"He seemed nervous and angry. He seemed upset," she said.

When it came his turn, Baker showed a videotape of Simpson outside the recital receiving a kiss from Juditha Brown and laughing with his former father-in-law.

"That's you there kissing O.J.?" asked Baker.

"Yes," said Mrs. Brown, and acknowledged Simpson was laughing.

"And is it your testimony Simpson was angry?" asked Baker.

"Mr. Simpson was angry, yes, he was very angry," she said.

Kelly, who represents the estate of Nicole Simpson in the wrongful death action, also showed Mrs. Brown a now-famous picture of Simpson with his daughter smiling broadly after the recital.

"Do you see Mr. Simpson smiling in that photo?" asked Kelly.

"Yeah, there's a camera," Mrs. Brown said derisively.