THEY call it “The Interview that will Shake the Nation”. But two weeks before it is due to air, America is reeling with the news that O. J. Simpson is to describe, before an expected television audience of millions, how he would have murdered his wife.

Mr Simpson, who was controversially acquitted 11 years ago of the murder of his estranged wife, Nicole, and her companion, will detail over a two-hour interview how he might have carried out the crimes had he been the killer.

The former American football star has always denied responsibility for the murders. The interview, to be shown on Fox TV this month, comes before the release of his book on the subject, titled If I Did It.

“O. J. Simpson, in his own words, tells for the first time how he would have committed the murders if he were the one responsible for the crimes,” the network said. “In the two-part event Simpson describes how he would have carried out the murders he has vehemently denied committing for over a decade.”

The interview is to be conducted by Judith Regan, of ReganBooks, the publisher of the extraordinary hypothetical memoir. ReganBooks is a subsidiary of HarperCollins, which, like Fox TV, is owned by News Corporation, the parent company of The Times.

News of the interview has outraged relatives of the murder victims and media commentators, who accuse Fox and HarperCollins of indulging in a distasteful ratings war.

Mr Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman after a sensational year-long trial. But a subsequent civil trial held him responsible for the killings and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages to the Goldman family.

The family say that they have yet to receive a cent. One report said that Mr Simpson had received a $3.5 million (£2 million) advance for his book. Fox TV has not disclosed the size of his payment for the interview.

The interview and the book are set to reignite the debate over whether Mr Simpson escaped justice when he was acquitted of the two murders.

The National Enquirer, which broke the story about the book last month, cited a source familiar with the project describing the account as “so detailed and chillingly realistic — with O. J. as the central figure — that it leaves no doubt it is a confession of what really happened”.

Fox has released few details of the interview but its website carries a video clip in which the interviewer says: “You wrote, ‘I have never seen so much blood in my life’. ”

Mr Simpson responds: “I don’t think any two people could be murdered without everybody being covered in blood.”

Denise Brown, Nicole Brown Simpson’s sister, said in a statement: “We hope Ms Regan takes full accountability for promoting the wrongdoing of criminals and leveraging this forum and the actions of Simpson to commercialise abuse.”

She also said she regretted that the Simpsons’ two children “will be exposed to Simpson’s inexplicable behaviour, and we will provide them with our love and support during this time”.

GRIPPING SAGA

June 12, 1994 Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman found stabbed to death outside her home

June 17 O. J. Simpson fails to turn himself in on murder charges; televised car chase with police

June 20 Simpson pleads not guilty to the murders

October 3, 1995 Jury finds him not guilty

February 4, 1997 Civil jury finds Simpson liable for wrongful death of Goldman and battery against Nicole. Goldman family awarded $33.5 million in damages

September 5, 2006 Goldman’s father takes Simpson to court to win control over his “right to publicity” and seek unpaid damages. He loses

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