OJ Simpson in 'total torment' over the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman

A friend of OJ Simpson claims the disgraced sports star is in 'total torment' over the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, and will one day admit his alleged role in their murders.

Simpson, 68, was cleared of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in the 1995 court case which was described as the celebrity trial of the century. However, in a subsequent civil trial Ron Goldman's parents, Fred Goldman and Sharon Rufo, sued Simpson for the wrongful death of their son. The jury in the civil trial found Simpson responsible for Goldman's death, and awarded his family $33.5m (£23.54m) in damages.

While OJ maintained his innocence throughout the trial, the proceedings were widely deemed to be biased in favour of the sports star, prompted both by his celebrity status and the overriding race issue, following claims of institutionalized racism in the police force.

His friend Ron Shipp now claims that the former football star, who is serving a 33-year sentence for kidnapping and armed robbery in connection with the theft of sports memorabilia will on his release, confess and apologise publicly for the 1994 murders.

Mr Shipp told Daily News: "The guy is in total torment today. Someone told me he is 300 pounds and he looks horrible. O.J. has always felt his appearance meant everything and now, deep down inside, he is starting to live with himself.

"I hope one day he actually will rid us of all the doubt and all the conspiracy theories and say 'sorry I cannot go to prison (because of double jeopardy laws), but I am sorry I did it."

According to Mail Online Mr Shipp said that during the lengthy trial, Simpson had recounted a dream he had about killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson.

Simpson, who was jailed in 2008 for his involvement in an armed raid on a Las Vegas hotel, is expected to be released from his Nevada jail next.

The infamous trial was back in the spotlight recently after the events leading up to his arrest and the subsequent court hearings were recreated in the TV drama American Crime Story: The People Vs OJ Simpson which endeavoured to highlight the iniquities of the trial and a litany of failings during the proceedings.

Brown-Simpson and Goldman were found stabbed to death at her Los Angeles home on 12 June 1994. To date, the murder weapon has never been found.