After looking more into it, yes, you are correct that the statute of limitations wouldn't have applied because it was beyond it, and moreover the change wasn't retroactive. I will admit my mistake.
But while I've learned (after the OJ trial) not to be 100% confident of any verdict, yes I am still very confident a "not guilty" verdict would have been returned in a criminal trial for the reasons I mentioned. Quoting penal laws doesn't change anything for me.