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The Wiki Man

What the O.J. Simpson jury didn’t know (and schools should teach)

We’re just not good with probabilities. But perhaps we can learn to be

1 March 2014

9:00 AM

1 March 2014

9:00 AM

During the O.J. Simpson trial, the prosecution made much of the fact that Simpson had a record of violence towards his wife. In response, Simpson’s legal team argued that, of all women subjected to spousal abuse, only one in 2,500 was subsequently killed by the abusive husband. It was hence implied that, since the ratio of abusers to killers was so high, any evidence about the accused’s prior violent behaviour was insignificant.

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Rory Sutherland is vice-chairman of Ogilvy Group UK.

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