Nicole Simpson Battered, Bruised In 1989 Incident, Officer Testifies -- Prosecution Goes To Work Breaking Simpson's Image

LOS ANGELES - Bruised, hysterical and wearing only a bra and muddied sweatpants, Nicole Brown Simpson told police that a 1989 New Year's fight with her husband began soon after he had sex with another woman in their house, an officer testified in the O.J. Simpson murder trial yesterday.

Detective John Edwards recalled that Nicole Brown Simpson said her husband climbed into bed with her after having sex with the woman. Although the altercation itself had already been widely reported, Edwards' testimony made the fight look even more damaging to Simpson.

As they wasted no time trying to destroy Simpson's image, prosecutors also announced they wanted to call Ronald Shipp, a retired police officer and friend of Simpson. Defense attorney Carl Douglas identified Shipp as the mysterious "Leo" in the opening pages of a "Raging Heart," a new book about the Simpson case.

The book says Simpson met with Leo the day after the murders and revealed having dreams of killing Nicole Brown Simpson. She and Ronald Goldman were killed on June 12.

Later in the book, Shipp is mentioned by name as a friend who counseled the Simpsons in the days following their 1989 fight.

It wasn't clear whether the judge would allow Shipp to testify. In a private conference at the judge's bench, defense attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr. objected to portions of Shipp's proposed testimony and said he would not question Shipp himself because the two are cousins.

The matter was put on hold.

Incident used to launch case

Prosecutors allege that Simpson killed his wife in a jealous rage after years of abuse. They used the New Year's 1989 beating as a launching pad for their case.

The first three witnesses were an operator who took her 911 call and two officers who investigated the case. Simpson eventually pleaded no contest and was sentenced to probation.

As giant photos of a bruised Nicole Brown Simpson were projected on a courtroom screen, Edwards told jurors that she emerged from bushes wearing only a bra and muddy sweatpants and collapsed in his arms in the darkness, crying, "He's going to kill me!"

"I said, `Who's going to kill you?" recalled Edwards, who was a patrol officer responding to the 911 call. "She said, `O.J.'

"I said, `O.J. who? You mean the football player?'

"She said, `Yes, O.J. Simpson the football player.' "

Cuts, bruises described

Edwards described her beaten face, cut left lip and bruised forehead.

"She said there was two other women living in the house and that O.J. Simpson had sex with one of them prior to going to bed that night with her," Edwards said, adding that he asked for no names.

He also told of a truculent Simpson who emerged from the house in his bathrobe, berated his wife and fled in his blue Bentley rather than face arrest.

"He seemed very furious," Edwards told jurors. "He said, `I don't want that woman in my bed anymore. I've got two other women. I don't want that woman in my bed anymore.' "

Simpson laughs, shakes head

Simpson appeared surprised by Edwards' testimony. He laughed and shook his head. In cross-examination, the defense provided the information that a maid and a nanny lived at Simpson's house.

Edwards' testimony came after Deputy District Attorney Marcia Clark began the court session with an unprecedented rebuttal opening statement. Superior Court Judge Lance Ito allowed it because defense attorneys illegally hid witnesses from prosecutors.

In other testimony, Detective Mike Farrell, who investigated the New Year's case days later, said Simpson expressed regret and was "really remorseful."

"He told me that he was sorry for what he did to Nicole, that he didn't mean to harm her in any way and would seek counseling," Farrell recalled.

As Farrell left the stand, Simpson mumbled, "Thanks for being honest."