O.J. Simpson has pleaded not guilty to double homicide charges - fighting words in the legal arena.
"The charges were read and the charges will be contested," said Robert Shapiro, Simpson's high-profile lawyer.
That despite prosecutors' much-publicized statements that their evidence against the football star is rock solid - so solid that they would expect Simpson to confess to killing his ex-wife and her friend but claim he's not responsible.
"I haven't even begun to formulate a defense," said Shapiro, who's rounding up a defense team of forensic experts and trial lawyers from across the country. "Every possible defense has to be considered."
That leaves a couple of options. "Either you're going to go with the defense of I didn't do it or, I did it but I was overcome by my rage and love," says top criminal defense lawyer Harland Braun. "Any time you're in love with someone and you're charged with killing them, there's a chance of heat-of-passion defense."
If a jury is convinced, that could bring the charges to voluntary manslaughter, which could still put Simpson, 46, behind bars for more than 20 years. That's a far cry from life in prison or the death penalty, sentences prosecutors could seek for multiple murders.
Then there's the pure alibi defense, the one Simpson has used so far, claiming he had nothing to do with the slayings of Nicole Brown Simpson, 35, and Ronald Goldman, 25.
Shapiro still maintains that Simpson was at home two miles away at the time of the June 12 murder.
At Monday's arraignment, Shapiro immediately asked for autopsy and police reports. After scanning a summary of findings, Shapiro said: "They are not conclusive."
But that strategy could change once Shapiro has more time to study the prosecution's evidence and discuss the charges with Simpson - who's been under suicide watch and doctors' care.
Simpson looked dazed and distressed during the arraignment, says Roy Black, who defended William Kennedy Smith against rape charges.
"The lawyer needs to get him back to reality, back to the facts of the case to work out strategies and give him a reason to move forward," he says.
Prosecutors say the evidence is so good they're sure Simpson is the only culprit. There have been a slew of unconfirmed reports of blood matching Simpson's at the crime scene and the victims' blood on a glove, a ski mask and in his driveway.
"That's a long way from that to a murder conviction," says Nancy Hollander, Albuquerque lawyer and past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
There's also the issue of scratches on Simpson's hand and body - another bit of reported evidence.
Shapiro said Monday that two or three of the scratches on Simpson's left hand were just paper cuts but concedes there was a more serious cut on his index finger.
"O.J. explained he had a glass in his hand when he heard about Nicole's death and he slammed his hand down and cut himself," Shapiro said.
But the most crucial question - one that could decide the defense strategy - is whether Simpson's blood matches samples at the scene. Preliminary blood tests reportedly show it does but that evidence will not be conclusive for a few more weeks - until DNA test results that are almost 100% accurate come in.
"If his blood's there, it's a toughie," says Braun. "If a third party's blood is there, it could mean someone else did it and (Simpson) came upon something that already occurred and tried to stop it."
Black says even tiny pieces of evidence will play a big role.
"This is a forensic case. It's basically circumstantial evidence," he says. "You don't have an eyewitness, you don't have anybody confessing. The biggest piece of the puzzle is still missing and that's the murder weapon."
Martin Pollner, a noted criminal defense expert who once headed the U.S. Secret Service and Interpol, says he would expect the defense to seek a change of venue - especially in light of the prosecution's comments about a possible Simpson confession.
"You have the district attorney and police chief going on local television . . . telling prospective jurors that this guy is so guilty, so repulsive that he should confess," Pollner says. "I believe that will be an argument that they will consider."
And there's always the possibility of a plea bargain. If the prosecution seeks the death penalty, it could be its greatest bargaining chip: A trial or life in prison without possibility of parole.
