Disgraced O.J. Simpson gets up to 33 years in jail

Fallen football legend O.J Simpson, cleared more than a decade ago of killing his ex-wife, may now end his days behind bars after being jailed for up to 33 years Friday for armed robbery and kidnapping.

After analyzing judge Jackie Glass's complicated sentencing for 10 convictions, Simpson's lawyers said the minimum time the 61-year-old could serve before being eligible for parole would be nine years, and the maximum would be 33.

Earlier Simpson had apologized to the judge for the September 2007 robbery at the Palace Station hotel in Las Vegas.

"I did not know that I was doing anything illegal. I thought that I was confronting friends and retrieving my property. So I am sorry. I am sorry for all of it," Simpson said, his voice trembling as he fought back tears.

Simpson was found guilty for his role in the 2007 raid in which he and five friends, two of them carrying arms, stormed a room in the Las Vegas hotel, locked the doors and robbed two dealers of a trove of sports memorabilia.

Simpson said he had been trying to get back personal items he said had been stolen from his family.

"Property that over the years we have seen being sold on the Internet, and we have seen pictures of ours that were stolen from our home going into the tabloids," he said.

But judge Glass dismissed Simpson's excuse that he had acted out of stupidity. "That was actually a very violent event," she said.

"Guns were brought, one was displayed. The potential for harm to occur in that room was tremendous.... This was not just a legitimate 'give me my stuff back.' This was something else," Glass said.

The heaviest single sentence she imposed was 15 years for each of two charges of kidnapping to run concurrently.

His co-accused Clarence Stewart, 54, who took part in the raid was also sentenced to 15 years for the same charges as emotional friends and relatives looked on from the public gallery.

Simpson's October 3 conviction came 13 years to the day after he was acquitted in his controversial 1995 trial of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman.

"It's kind of a bittersweet moment knowing that that S.O.B. is going to be in jail for a very long time," said Fred Goldman, the father of Ron Goldman.

"He'll never change, and he's going to stay in jail for a very long time," he said, before adding: "There is never closure. Ron is always gone."

Simpson said among the items he had been looking for was a picture of his son in the Oval Office and his daughter's mother's wedding ring.

Defense lawyer Yale Galanter confirmed that Simpson intended to appeal the verdict on several grounds including that he was tried by an all-white jury.

Despite Friday's heavy sentences, Galanter said that "it could have been worse" since kidnapping carries a maximum life imprisonment.

"After all the numbers and all the calculations, the minimum sentence imposed was nine years," according to Galanter.

"The top end is 33 years. He'll have his first parole hearing after six years, and then there are two 18-month sentences after that."

It remains unclear whether Simpson will have good grounds for an appeal.

But Las Vegas criminal defense attorney, David Chesnoff, said co-accused Stewart may have a better case because his lawyers had asked from the start for a separate trial to avoid being tainted by Simpson's notoriety.

"There are some issues on severance for Stewart that the Nevada Supreme Court has been sensitive to in the past," said Chesnoff, who has represented Martha Stewart and Mike Tyson among other celebrity clients.

One of the most famous American football players of his generation during a glittering 1970s career, Simpson was the prime suspect in the 1994 brutal murders of his ex-wife and her friend.

Nicole, who had divorced Simpson in 1992 citing his "abusive behavior," was attacked so savagely she was almost decapitated.

Simpson, who has always vehemently denied the killings, was acquitted after the racially charged 1995 trial, in a verdict that was greeted with widespread outrage across America.

He was subsequently found liable for the deaths in a 1997 civil suit and was ordered to pay damages to the victims' families totaling 33.5 million dollars. He has repeatedly said he will not pay the settlement.

Via afp

Las Vegas jury deliberating in O.J. Simpson case

A Las Vegas jury is deliberating whether O.J. Simpson and his co-defendant are guilty of the armed robbery and kidnapping of two sports memorabilia dealers.

The 61-year-old former football star and his golfing buddy Clarence "C.J." Stewart each face five years to life in prison if convicted.

Court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer says the jury is expected to deliberate throughout the day. He says whether they will return to deliberate Saturday is "up to them."

Deliberations began 13 years to the day after Simpson was acquitted of killing his ex-wife and her friend.

Via associatedpress

Witness contradicts self in O.J. Simpson trial

A key witness in the O.J. Simpson robbery trial was confronted with contradictions in his testimony Tuesday, including his claim that he didn't try to profit from the casino hotel room confrontation that led to charges against the former football star.

Memorabilia dealer Bruce Fromong, who returned to the stand after becoming ill Monday, told defense attorney Gabriel Grasso he didn't have money on his mind while allegedly being robbed of sports collectibles by Simpson and a group of other men.

"You were not trying to profit off this?" asked Grasso.

"I was not trying to profit from it," said Fromong.

The attorney played a tape recording of the 2007 incident in which Fromong said, "It's not (expletive) over. I'll have 'Inside Edition' down here for us tomorrow. I told them I want big money."

Fromong acknowledged it was his voice and he conceded that he later advertised memorabilia on eBay with the statement, "The same ones stolen by O.J. in Las Vegas."

On redirect questioning, District Attorney David Roger asked to play more of the tape excerpt in which Fromong raged against Simpson.

"Nobody puts a (expletive) gun in my face. I stood up for this (expletive) when he was in jail. I stood up for him when he was on trial. I set up his offshore accounts," he yelled.

Testimony came on the first anniversary of Simpson's Las Vegas arrest. He and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart are charged with 12 counts of robbery, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and coercion. They have pleaded not guilty.

Tempers in the case boiled as Roger referred to the confrontation as "the robbery." The defense, which claims Simpson was trying to recover stolen personal items, objected on grounds that was a legal conclusion.

"He can call it alleged. I'm calling it a robbery," snapped Roger.

The judge admonished Roger to say "at the time of the incident" or "at the time of the event." She told jurors to disregard his remark and then yelled at objecting lawyers: "Sit down!"

"Listen folks," she said. "The last thing you want me to do as the judge is to start losing my temper in front of the fine ladies and gentlemen of the jury and having to deal with all of you. You've been warned, folks."

Fromong's contradictions continued. He acknowledged that he said previously, "I felt my life was being threatened."

But moments later, under inquiry by Stewart's lawyer Robert Lucherini, Fromong said, "I was not scared."

He insisted the memorabilia Simpson sought was not stolen but said he didn't know where some of it came from.

"I believe those items belong to Mr. Simpson's kids. They should go back to him," he said, claiming that if he and Simpson had discussed it, they could have reached "an arrangement" by which he would trade the items for Simpson's signature on photos he could sell.

Jurors Tuesday also saw surveillance video from the Palace Station casino hotel which showed the comings and goings of Simpson, Stewart and seven other men on the night of the alleged robbery. The tapes showed men walking about and eventually leaving with boxes.

Via associatedpress

O.J. Simpson's Trial Delayed Until Sept.

A judge agreed Friday to delay the armed robbery and kidnapping trial for O.J. Simpson and two co-defendants until September to give the defense more time to prepare.

Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass also refused throw out the charges against the former football star, and refused to separate his trial from co-defendants Charles Ehrlich and Clarence "C.J." Stewart.

In her ruling to push the trial to Sept. 8, Glass acknowledged it took longer than expected for prosecutors to analyze and enhance tape recordings, transcripts and fingerprints and turn them over to the defense to prepare for trial, which had been set initially for April 7.

The judge issued a stern warning to lawyers that "there should be absolutely, positively no reason" to postpone trial again.

"If you even dare to come to me before the next trial setting and tell me of something that didn't get done, then shame on you," Glass said.

Simpson, Ehrlich and Stewart are accused of kidnapping and robbing two sports collectibles dealers in a September meeting in a room at a Las Vegas hotel-casino. Simpson maintains he was retrieving items that belonged to him and that no guns were involved.

Kidnapping, the most serious charge, carries the possibility of life in prison with the possibility of parole. But the judge indicated that prosecutors have presented little evidence to support the kidnap charge.

"At first blush, I said, 'Where's the kidnapping?'" Glass said. But she concluded that evidence presented during a November preliminary hearing met the "slight or marginal evidence" threshold to be put before a jury.

Galanter, Ehrlich's attorney, John Moran Jr., and lawyers for Stewart won the delay in starting the trial after complaining that the number of prospective prosecution witnesses grew to 82 names when several more expert witnesses were added Thursday. They had said they needed more time to prepare for cross-examinations.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger declined to comment Friday. He had characterized efforts to delay the trial as an attempt to sever Simpson's trial from those of his co-defendants.

Outside court, Moran said he changed his mind and would not appeal the decision to try the three men together.

"We're not going to appeal at this time," Moran said. "We were more concerned about the trial date and getting some more time to prepare."

Stewart's lawyer, Robert Lucherini, said he had not decided whether to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Glass said she expected jury selection and a trial will take up to six weeks.

Simpson did not appear at the hearing, though Ehrlich and Stewart were there. Both declined to comment while defense lawyers and prosecutors met with the judge.

They have pleaded not guilty to all charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

Glass heard arguments on 18 motions by defense lawyers and four motions by prosecutors, including requests to limit evidence and lines of questioning during trial.

The judge decided against a jury field trip to the hotel, but said she will allow a questionnaire aimed at weeding out would-be jurors whose opinions about Simpson or the case might taint others in the jury pool. Glass asked Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter and co-counsel Gabriel Grasso to submit proposed juror questions by April 10.

Via associatedpress

OJ Simpson's Girlfriend Christie Prody Hospitalized After Severe Head Injury

Christie Prody, the longtime girlfriend of OJ Simpson, was hospitalized Tuesday in Miami after suffering a severe head injury.

Prior to initial thoughts and reports, Simpson is not at all responsible. Prody's injuries are consistent with a fall she took at a Southwest Miami-Dade gas station. Prody, 32, suffered bruises and head injuries.

An anonymous caller reported a woman falling and was taken by Fire Rescue to Baptist Hospital of Miami with a severe head injury, according to a police report obtained by "Entertainment Tonight."

“I know everyone wants to jump out and assume this had something to do with me, but it didn’t,” Simpson, 60, told the Miami Herald newspaper.

The couple met years ago in Los Angeles, where Christie was working as a waitress. After moving to Miami, the on-again, off-again relationship has run anything but smooth.

Police have been called to break up fights between the couple five times in the past seven years but neither has ever filed charges against the other.

Via transworldnews.com

OJ Simpson back in jail

OJ Simpson has been brought to jail in Florida for allegedly violating his bail terms.

The former American football star is awaiting trial over claims he led an armed robbery of his own sports memorabilia at a Las Vegas casino.

Prosecutors have told a judge he tried to get in touch with a co-defendant to persuade him not to testify.

Via belfasttelegraph.co.uk

O.J. Simpson heading back to Jail for Violation of Bail Terms

O.J. Simpson was trying to get a message to one of his co-defendants which were against his terms of bail that was set by the Clark County courts. He is could be heading back to jail and will be scheduled for a bail hearing on January 16th. Currently TMZ reports that he is on an airplane flying from Florida to Las Vegas, Nevada. Simpson is expected to arrive in Las Vegas later this evening.

Prosecutors are claiming that Simpson was asking for Clarence Stewart who helped him in the armed heist to reclaim his stolen property to ask him to not testify and to stop cooperating with the law.

A transcript of a call to bondsman Miguel Pereira was filed along with court papers to the Clark County district attorney. Here is what the transcripts are being reported by New York Times said:

"Hey Miguel, it's me - I just want C.J. to know that the whole thing all the time he was tellin' me that sh-t, ya know, I hope he was telling me the truth," Simpson allegedly said. "Don't be tryin' to change the \[expletives\] now...but I'm tired of this sh-t. Fed up with \[expletive\] changing what they told me. All right?"

This somehow prompted the bail bondsman to go out to Miami and bring back Simpson to Las Vegas for violating his terms of bail.

The prosecutors filed a motion today to formally revoke Simpson's $125,000 bail and a hearing will be held next week Wednesday.

Via bestsyndication.com

O.J. Simpson in court for pretrial hearing

"It's a familiar scene, isn't it?" anchor Kyra Phillips said on CNN this afternoon as the network cut to the Las Vegas courtroom where O.J. Simpson was seated. He's in court for a pretrial hearing on a dozen charges -- including kidnapping -- related to his Sept. 13 arrest at a Las Vegas hotel. Here's the background on that arrest, if you need a refresher.

Three co-defendants -- all of whom have pleaded guilty -- are expected to testify tomorrow.

Via usatoday