From MJ to O.J.: The so-called 'Trials of the Century’

The People vs. Michael Jackson takes us inside one of the biggest celebrity trials of the century - the 2005 criminal trial of the music legend and icon, Michael Jackson. The documentary starts Sunday, 20th April at 10pm on Crime+Investigation.

You’ve heard the phrase. Usually shouted across everything from The Sun to The Times. But the truth? We’ve followed loads of so-called ‘Trials of the Century’ at Crime+Investigation. Sometimes, multiple in a single decade, or even a year.

Some were genuine turning points for justice. Others resembled more circus than court. The common denominator? All of them had people snapping up newspapers, glued to their TV screens, gossiping on online forums and whispering 'can you believe it?' by the office water cooler.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest ones that have made international headlines.

O.J. Simpson – 1995

NFL star. Actor. Media personality. Murderer? O.J. Simpson stood trial for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in 1995.

During the trial a pair of bloodstained leather gloves didn’t just emerge as a key piece of evidence for the defence. O.J. Simpson attempted to pull them on in front of the court, visibly struggling to get them over his hands. This inspired the famous conclusion stated by his defence attorney Johnnie Cochran, 'If it doesn't fit, you must acquit.'

Infamous TV trials: OJ Simpson to Oscar Pistorius

A world-famous athlete in the dock for allegedly murdering his partner drew obvious comparisons with the O.J. Simpson trial, but the atmosphere was very different

Want to learn more about this infamous case? Check out The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson.

Michael Jackson - 2005

The world held its breath in 2005 when the King of Pop was accused of child molestation.

The Michael Jackson trial became headline fuel, with every movement, facial expression and piece of evidence picked apart. Jackson was acquitted, but the damage was done. For fans and critics alike, the courtroom didn’t offer closure.

The People Vs. Michael Jackson: The trial

The trial of Michael Jackson was highly publicized and had a major effect on the pop star's career. Read on to find out more about the trial and the verdict.

Casey Anthony - 2008

Casey’s daughter, Caylee, vanished without a trace in the summer of 2008. She was just two years old.

Cindy Anthony, Caylee’s maternal grandmother reported her missing after not seeing her for 31 days. In December that year, Caylee's remains were discovered in a wooded area near the family home.

The trial started in May 2011. Prosecutors accused Casey of deliberately murdering her daughter and concealing the remains, while the defence argued that Caylee had drowned in the family swimming pool, with Casey and her father George (Caylee’s maternal grandfather) collaborating to cover up the toddler’s death.

Casey Anthony: ‘America's Most Hated Mom’

Casey Anthony's daughter's disappearance wasn't reported to police until over a month after she went missing

After a long and incredibly complex trial, Casey walked free on murder charges. The case attracted a swarm of media attention. It was often compared to the O.J. Simpson case and crowned by Time magazine 'the social media trial of the century'.

Why social media? Because millions followed the trial on live-stream video feeds and a former Twitter account managed by the 9th Judicial Circuit Court provided daily updates on the trial. Relive it all and get the story through Casey’s eyes in Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies.

The Menendez Brothers - 1993

Two brothers. One brutal motive. Or at least that was the verdict.

Lyle and Erik Menendez both admitted to killing their parents in Beverly Hills in 1989. The twist? They said it was self-defence after years of abuse. The prosecution said it was about money.

Did the Menendez Brothers kill their parents in self-defence or cold blood?

After Jose and Kitty Menendez were murdered, suspicion quickly fell on their two sons who were quickly burning through their substantial inheritance

The first trial ended with a hung jury. The second saw them handed life sentences, which they’re currently serving. Plenty of murders occur in the United States but not all gain the buzz of media attention, as well as multiple documentaries, TV shows, films, books and even TikTok fame the Menendez brothers have received.

Ted Bundy - 1979

Ted Bundy was a different kind of terrifying. Charming on the outside, monstrous underneath.

The American serial killer confessed to 30 murders, but experts say the actual count is probably much higher. During his 1979 trial he defended himself in court, smiled for cameras and even proposed to his girlfriend mid-trial.

He was convicted, sentenced to death and executed by electric chair in 1989. But he gained serious notoriety with true crime fans.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard - 2016

Gypsy was forced by her mother Dee Dee to fake illness for years. Wheelchairs, feeding tubes, shaved head… the full works.

Eventually, she and her boyfriend at the time concocted a plan to kill Dee Dee. Gypsy Rose was sentenced to ten years behind bars after her trial in 2018, served eight and came out a viral sensation. People couldn’t decide if she was a victim or a villain. The best way to make up your mind? Shows like Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up.

How did Gypsy Rose gain so many social media fans?

How did Gypsy Rose Blanchard become a TikTok sensation? Find out how she went from 10 years imprisonment to famous social media influencer.

Amanda Knox

Meredith Kercher’s death shocked the world. The British student was murdered in Italy in 2007, while on exchange from the University of Leeds. Meredith’s American roommate Amanda Knox, along with Amanda’s Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, were arrested, convicted and incarcerated in Italy for almost four years.

Everything about the case was sensationalised, with Knox portrayed as anything from an innocent schoolgirl to a cold-blooded killer. She was eventually released after an appeals court overturned the guilty verdict and is now an advocate for criminal justice reform and wrongful conviction.

Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard

In 2022 the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial set TikTok on fire.

Depp sued Heard for defamation over an op-ed she wrote. She countersued and the resulting trial turned into a play-by-play breakdown of a very messy, very dysfunctional marriage. Every awkward moment was clipped and memed within minutes and posted to socials - including allegations that Heard had defecated in the marital bed.

Celebrity libel: Johnny Depp Vs 'The Sun'

Depp was making the case that he was not – contrary to what a 2018 article in the Sun had said – a 'wife beater'. This meant that his ex-wife Amber Heard’s allegations against him had to be called into question,

Depp won, technically. But no one really came out unscathed.

Which one was the true ‘Trial of the Century’?

Even now, nearly three decades later, O.J. Simpson’s trial is still considered by many to be the definitive ‘Trial of the Century’. A whopping 150 million people were estimated to have watched the trial verdict alone.

However, others point to more recent trials such as Depp vs Heard, where social media has allowed people worldwide to follow cases more easily than ever before.

The debate is unlikely to end any time soon. Ultimately, the answer to which is the true ‘Trial of the Century’ will depend on who you ask, how old you are, what social platforms you use and where you get your news.

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