Faye Resnick ended three days of depositions in the wrongful-death lawsuit against O.J. Simpson, leaving behind allegations that he used drugs and beat his ex-wife, sometimes with a wine bottle.
On the last day of her testimony Monday, Resnick testified that Simp-son kicked Nicole Brown Simpson when she was pregnant and locked her in a closet while he watched football, said Resnick's lawyer, Leonard Marks, who provided an account of her testimony.Resnick said Nicole Simpson had told her of "detailed beatings by O.J., including being belted by wine bottles," Marks said.
"Nicole told her that while she was pregnant, that O.J. kicked her many times," Marks said. "She also testified that Nicole said that `kicking was O.J.'s favorite.' "
He conceded, however, that some of her testimony about what Nicole Simpson told her might be inadmissible in court because it is hearsay evidence. A judge must decide whether to admit it.
Simpson has denied ever abusing his wife, except for one 1989 beating to which he pleaded no contest.
Testimony in the lawsuit is to continue Wednesday, when lawyers for the plaintiffs plan to question former Simpson house guest Brian "Kato" Kaelin.
Meanwhile, sources said Simpson's lawyers were thinking of quitting the case because he has disregarded their advice not to talk to the media and may not be able to pay his legal bills.
Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman were slashed to death outside her Brentwood condo in June 1994. Simpson was acquitted of murder Oct. 3. The families of Nicole Simpson and Goldman filed the lawsuit, which goes to trial in April and seeks unspecified damages.
Resnick, who was questioned for two days by lawyers for the plaintiffs before being cross-examined Monday by Simpson's lawyers, did not speak with reporters after her deposition. Marks said she planned to leave the country in several days because of death threats.
Simpson's lawyers have not commented since the case began. But in a deposition last month, Simpson testified that he didn't take drugs in the months before the slayings and didn't take cocaine the previous year, according to a transcript obtained by The Associated Press.
Simpson also was asked whether he ever saw a police report showing he had traces of marijuana in his blood taken the day after the killings, according to the transcript. He denied smoking marijuana that day and denied seeing such a report.
Resnick, who has admitted using drugs, said Simpson used "speed drugs" while in the National Football League and kept a jar of multicolored pills he called his "Christmas tree," Marks said. She also said Simpson used cocaine in the past and offered her some, the lawyer said.
Resnick said Nicole Simpson told her O.J. beat her up and locked her in a closet, went to watch football, then returned to the closet and beat her again - an attack described in Resnick's book on the case, Marks said.