Could It be The Murder Weapon That Killed O.J Simpson's Wife?

    

In the latest twist in the O.J Simpson case, Los Angeles police are now examining a knife that was found at the disgraced athlete's estate and handed over to a traffic cop who kept it hidden at his home for up to 18 years - only declaring it in January this year. 

The LAPD has confirmed that it is analyzing the folding Buck knife to determine whether it has any connection to the 1994 double murder of Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. 

The knife was reportedly found buried at the property by a construction worker as early as 1998, and handed over to an off-duty traffic cop, who kept the weapon as a trophy and planned to frame it on his wall before it came to the LAPD's attention in January, according to TMZ. 

Police are 'determining whether or not [the knife] is an actual piece of evidence,' an LAPD spokesperson said at a press conference Friday, warning the story could turn out to be 'bogus.'

Captain Andrew Neiman expressed 'shock' and 'surprise' that a police officer would retain evidence and went on to say that the now-retired traffic cop in question kept the knife because he believed the case was closed.

'The Nicole Brown case... remains open and ongoing, and the investigators will continue to look at this,' and search for forensic evidence, Neiman said at the press conference.

However, the Neiman said Simpson, 68, would be protected by the double jeopardy clause, which prohibits acquitted suspects from being prosecuted for the same crime twice.