On June 12, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson was on the walkway leading to her home when she was stabbed several times in the head and neck. The cuts to her neck were so violent that her spine and larynx were exposed and visible. An overwhelmingly black jury acquitted Nicole's abusive ex-husband O.J. Simpson. One of the jurors, a former member of the Black Panthers, winked and smiled at O.J. before the verdict was announced, then raised his fist in the "Black Power" salute afterwards. O.J. was later found responsible for Nicole's death in a civil lawsuit.