Seismic Shifts

A California earthquake score runs under the first trial's collapse: Judalon's testimony wobbles Oziel's credibility, Erik's own stand — the microphone, the misremembered shotgun purchase — reads as performance to the jury, and the whole proceeding deadlocks into a mistrial.

The reset is brutal: public sympathy curdles into hostile mail, Norma sells her story, the money runs out, and only Erik — a second trial now allowing just one defendant's testimony — is left holding the abuse claim. In the county jail, his new neighbor is O.J. Simpson.