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The Shocking Handshake: What Dennis Fung's Post-Testimony Moment With O.J. Simpson Really Meant

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The image of a handshake is usually one of agreement or mutual respect, yet one particular instance from the most publicized trial of the 20th century remains a moment of profound confusion and controversy. On a Tuesday in April 1995, after nine grueling days on the witness stand, LAPD criminalist Dennis Fung—the prosecution's key evidence collector—did the unthinkable: he shook hands with the entire defense team, including O.J. Simpson himself. This act, which occurred nearly thirty years ago, continues to be dissected by legal experts and true-crime aficionados, especially in light of O.J. Simpson’s passing in 2024, which has renewed interest in the trial's most bizarre moments.

The handshake was not a sign of surrender, but a complex human reaction to an unprecedented public and professional ordeal. Fung’s testimony was critical, yet his performance was systematically dismantled by the defense's "Dream Team," raising serious questions about the handling of vital DNA evidence at the crime scene. Understanding this single, fleeting gesture requires a deep dive into the pressure cooker of the courtroom, the racial politics of the era, and the sheer exhaustion of a man thrust into the national spotlight.

Biography and The Grilling of Dennis Fung

Dennis Fung was an LAPD criminalist who became an unexpected celebrity—and a target—during the murder trial of O.J. Simpson. His life prior to the trial was that of a dedicated forensic professional, but his involvement in the case permanently altered his career trajectory.

  • Name: Dennis Fung
  • Known For: LAPD Criminalist and key prosecution witness in the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial.
  • Career: Joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as a criminalist in October 1984. He had worked on approximately 500 cases before the Simpson trial.
  • Role in Trial: Responsible for directing and collecting the crucial physical evidence, including blood samples and the infamous glove, from the murder scene at Nicole Brown Simpson’s condo and O.J. Simpson’s Rockingham estate.
  • Key Testimony Dates: His cross-examination began in April 1995 and lasted for nine days.
  • Defense Strategy: The defense team, led by Johnnie Cochran and Barry Scheck, focused on attacking Fung’s evidence collection methods, alleging contamination, mishandling, and a "chain of custody" breakdown.
  • Post-Trial Status: Quietly continued his career as a criminalist after the trial, eventually retreating from the intense public spotlight.

Fung's cross-examination was a masterclass in forensic deconstruction, spearheaded by defense attorney Barry Scheck, a specialist in DNA evidence. Scheck highlighted numerous procedural errors: blood samples left unrefrigerated, a failure to change gloves between collecting samples, and the alleged mixing of evidence. Fung, who collected over 100 pieces of evidence, was forced to admit to several mistakes and oversights, which severely damaged the prosecution's case in the eyes of the jury.

The Handshake: A Moment of Bizarre Courtroom Etiquette

On Tuesday, April 25, 1995, after the prosecution rested its case following Fung’s marathon testimony, the courtroom witnessed a truly surreal scene. As Fung stepped down from the witness stand, he walked toward the defense table and began shaking hands with the defense attorneys. This included Robert Shapiro, F. Lee Bailey, and most notably, the defendant, O.J. Simpson.

The gesture immediately sparked confusion and outrage among observers, the prosecution team, and the media. Why would a witness for the prosecution, whose competence had just been ruthlessly attacked by the defense, offer such a sign of camaraderie? The act was interpreted in several ways:

  • A Sign of Sportsmanship: Some viewed it as a simple act of professional sportsmanship, acknowledging the end of a grueling legal battle. Fung had been on the stand for nine days, facing intense scrutiny.
  • Relief and Exhaustion: The most common interpretation was pure relief. Fung was a dedicated professional, not a media personality, and the pressure of the national spotlight had been immense. The handshake was his way of signaling the end of his personal ordeal.
  • A Response to Apology: Earlier in the trial, defense attorney Robert Shapiro had caused a minor scandal by handing out Chinese fortune cookies and making a joke perceived as an ethnic slur against Fung, who is of Chinese descent. Shapiro later apologized. The handshake with Shapiro, in particular, was seen by some as an acceptance of that apology and a move to de-escalate the personal tension.

The most shocking element was the handshake with O.J. Simpson. For a criminalist to shake hands with the man he was testifying was responsible for a double-homicide was seen as a major faux pas, if not a professional betrayal, by many. It further blurred the lines between the personal and the professional in a trial already saturated with media spectacle.

The Long-Term Impact on Fung's Career and the Case

The handshake, combined with the successful cross-examination by Barry Scheck, had a lasting effect on the perception of the prosecution's evidence. The defense successfully planted the seed of reasonable doubt that the evidence—especially the DNA evidence—was contaminated, mishandled, or even planted, a narrative that ultimately contributed to Simpson's acquittal.

The controversy surrounding Dennis Fung highlighted a critical flaw in forensic science training and protocol at the time. His testimony became a cautionary tale for criminalists nationwide, leading to significant reforms in crime scene management and evidence handling procedures across major police departments, including the LAPD. The "Fung factor" became shorthand for the vulnerability of evidence chain-of-custody in high-stakes litigation.

Life After the Spotlight: Where is Dennis Fung Now?

Following the conclusion of the criminal trial in 1995 and his later testimony in the 1997 civil trial, Dennis Fung intentionally stepped out of the public eye. Unlike many key players in the case who capitalized on their fame with books or interviews, Fung chose a path of professional quietude. He continued his career as a criminalist, focusing on his work away from the media circus that had nearly destroyed his reputation.

While specific, current details about his day-to-day life in the 2020s are scarce—a testament to his successful withdrawal from the public sphere—the narrative is clear: he sought to reclaim the privacy that the O.J. Simpson trial had violently stripped away. His legacy remains intrinsically linked to the trial, not just for the evidence he collected, but for the human moment of exhaustion and professionalism encapsulated in that single, unforgettable handshake. With the death of O.J. Simpson in April 2024, the historical context of the trial is being re-evaluated, and Fung's controversial gesture serves as a powerful reminder of the immense personal pressure placed on the individuals at the center of the "Trial of the Century."

dennis fung shaking hands
dennis fung shaking hands

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