LOS ANGELES, March 29 (UPI) -- Famed lawyer Johnnie Cochran Jr., who helped O.J. Simpson to an acquittal on murder charges, died Tuesday in his Los Angeles home of cancer at age 67.
Cochran died from an inoperable brain tumor, according to his brother-in-law, Bill Baker.
Although Cochran developed a reputation for fighting against police abuse and for social justice, he gained international fame when he took over the Simpson "Dream Team" legal defense.
In his closing argument to the Simpson jury, Cochran said, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit," referring to his overall assessment of the prosecution's evidence, but specifically to the moment when Simpson appeared to struggle putting on what was presumed to be the murderer's bloody glove.
Cochran was born in Shreveport, La., Oct. 2, 1937. He graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles and received his law degree from Loyola Law School. He received numerous awards and commendations during his career.
He is survived by his wife and two sisters.
