Prosecution rests its case in O.J. Simpson trial
33 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) — Prosecutors in the O.J. Simpson trial rested their case Monday with testimony from a gunman who claimed the sports star asked him to bring a weapon to a confrontation with two memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas hotel last year.
Michael McClinton demonstrated for the jury how he held his .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun after bursting into a hotel room with Simpson and four other friends on Sept. 13, 2007.
The two dealers were robbed at gunpoint in a sting operation prosecutors allege was orchestrated by Simpson, 61, who was famously acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend at a 1995 trial in Los Angeles.
Simpson could be jailed for life if convicted of a dozen robbery and kidnapping charges at his current trial.
"The weapon was out the whole time I was in the room," McClinton said under cross-examination.
Simpson and friend Charles Stewart face a dozen counts of robbery, kidnapping and assault against the two memorabilia dealers who sought to sell personal Simpson items allegedly stolen from the star's home in the 1990s.
Four others who participated in the raid, including McClinton, testified for the prosecution in exchange for pleading guilty to lesser charges.
During two weeks of testimony, prosecutors called 18 witnesses comprised of the victims, former Simpson friends, police and crime scene analysts.
Prosecutors have sought to show Simpson had served as the ringleader to the operation and was aware that his cohorts would be carrying guns.
Defense lawyers allege Simpson didn't know weapons were being used and he was merely trying to retrieve items that were rightfully his.
Simpson and Stewart are expected to wrap up their defense cases on Wednesday, with closing arguments planned for Thursday. Court will not in be session Tuesday.
One of the most famous American football players of his generation during a glittering 1970s career, Simpson was the prime suspect in the brutal murders of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman.
Simpson, who has always vehemently denied the killings, was acquitted of murder after a racially charged Los Angeles trial in 1995, a verdict that was greeted with widespread outrage across America.
Simpson 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.
Monday, September 29, 2008
THE STATE REST IT'S CASE AGAINST OJ SIMPSON
DISTRICT ATTORNEY DAVID ROGERS SAYS THE STATE REST IT'S CASE AGAINST OJ SIMPSON
Last prosecution witness returns
Last prosecution witness returns
By LINDA DEUTSCH AP Special Correspondent
Article Launched: 09/29/2008 03:07:20 AM PDT
LAS VEGAS—With prosecutors poised to rest their case against O.J. Simpson, defense attorneys were aiming to cast doubt on the testimony of a man who said he brandished a gun during a hotel room confrontation after being told by Simpson to "look menacing."
Michael McClinton, testifying under a plea bargain which will likely save him from prison, faced cross-examination Monday in the armed robbery-kidnapping trial. He testified Friday that Simpson asked him to bring a gun to the casino-hotel where the former football star planned to reclaim mementos of his storied career from memorabilia dealers who were offering it for sale.
He was scheduled to be the prosecution's last witness but intense cross-examination could extend his stay on the witness stand. The defense planned to begin calling its own witnesses after McClinton concludes.
Simpson claims he saw no guns the night of Sept 13, 2007 but McClinton said that he had his gun drawn when he crossed into the hotel room and that Simpson was close enough that their shoulders could have touched.
Prosecutors bolstered McClinton's testimony with an audio tape recorded by McClinton during a party attended by Simpson only hours after the hotel room incident.
"This ain't no major crime," Simpson is heard saying on the tape.
District Attorney David Roger highlighted this exchange between Simpson and McClinton:
Simpson: "You didn't pull the piece out in the hall."
McClinton: "No, no, no, no, no, no, hell no."
Simpson added in the recording, "There ain't nothin' on that video and look, they gonna look at the video. ... Ain't nothin' they can see, they gonna see us goin' in the place. Then they gonna see us leaving with just the boxes."
McClinton testified that Simpson seemed concerned about security video cameras at the hotel. None of the surveillance videos shown at the three-week-old trial have included any image of a gun and witnesses have been conflicted about whether Simpson could have been in a position to see a gun in the cramped hotel room.
In one taped segment, Simpson mentioned co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart who, along with Simpson, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges including kidnapping, robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon.
"I told C.J., do me a favor get me some boys. I just want them to look menacing," he is heard saying on the tape.
When it was over, McClinton testified, "He was telling me there was no guns. I knew differently because I had a gun."
The damaging evidence against Simpson came on the same day that the defense scored points with another audio recording—this one of police investigators chuckling over Simpson's troubles, referring to him with foul language and rejoicing at his impending arrest.
"You're just picking on him because you're mad about the verdict," said Lt. Clint Nichols, head of the police robbery division.
"Yup," responded crime scene analyst Michael Perkins.
In another exchange, Nichols said, "He's gonna get arrested."
"Who, who's gonna get arrested?" the analyst replied.
"O.J.," Nichols said.
"Oh, good," Perkins replied.
By LINDA DEUTSCH AP Special Correspondent
Article Launched: 09/29/2008 03:07:20 AM PDT
LAS VEGAS—With prosecutors poised to rest their case against O.J. Simpson, defense attorneys were aiming to cast doubt on the testimony of a man who said he brandished a gun during a hotel room confrontation after being told by Simpson to "look menacing."
Michael McClinton, testifying under a plea bargain which will likely save him from prison, faced cross-examination Monday in the armed robbery-kidnapping trial. He testified Friday that Simpson asked him to bring a gun to the casino-hotel where the former football star planned to reclaim mementos of his storied career from memorabilia dealers who were offering it for sale.
He was scheduled to be the prosecution's last witness but intense cross-examination could extend his stay on the witness stand. The defense planned to begin calling its own witnesses after McClinton concludes.
Simpson claims he saw no guns the night of Sept 13, 2007 but McClinton said that he had his gun drawn when he crossed into the hotel room and that Simpson was close enough that their shoulders could have touched.
Prosecutors bolstered McClinton's testimony with an audio tape recorded by McClinton during a party attended by Simpson only hours after the hotel room incident.
"This ain't no major crime," Simpson is heard saying on the tape.
District Attorney David Roger highlighted this exchange between Simpson and McClinton:
Simpson: "You didn't pull the piece out in the hall."
McClinton: "No, no, no, no, no, no, hell no."
Simpson added in the recording, "There ain't nothin' on that video and look, they gonna look at the video. ... Ain't nothin' they can see, they gonna see us goin' in the place. Then they gonna see us leaving with just the boxes."
McClinton testified that Simpson seemed concerned about security video cameras at the hotel. None of the surveillance videos shown at the three-week-old trial have included any image of a gun and witnesses have been conflicted about whether Simpson could have been in a position to see a gun in the cramped hotel room.
In one taped segment, Simpson mentioned co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart who, along with Simpson, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges including kidnapping, robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon.
"I told C.J., do me a favor get me some boys. I just want them to look menacing," he is heard saying on the tape.
When it was over, McClinton testified, "He was telling me there was no guns. I knew differently because I had a gun."
The damaging evidence against Simpson came on the same day that the defense scored points with another audio recording—this one of police investigators chuckling over Simpson's troubles, referring to him with foul language and rejoicing at his impending arrest.
"You're just picking on him because you're mad about the verdict," said Lt. Clint Nichols, head of the police robbery division.
"Yup," responded crime scene analyst Michael Perkins.
In another exchange, Nichols said, "He's gonna get arrested."
"Who, who's gonna get arrested?" the analyst replied.
"O.J.," Nichols said.
"Oh, good," Perkins replied.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
O.J. Simpson now: Tapes offer a glimpse of his life
O.J. Simpson now: Tapes offer a glimpse of his life
Audio recordings secretly made by a business partner portray an aging but still charismatic man who draws crowds of adoring strangers in bars but counts few trustworthy friends.
By Harriet Ryan and Ashley Powers, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
September 28, 2008
When he's not on trial, O.J. Simpson wakes up at 5 a.m. and is driving to a golf course in Miami by 6:30. He takes an afternoon nap and goes to bed early. In between, the football great is beset by requests.
Strangers want to take his picture. Fans want to buy him a drink. And, according to audio recordings played in his Las Vegas robbery-kidnap trial, men who call themselves his friends try to cash in on his infamy.
The hours of recordings -- made surreptitiously by a Simpson business partner on Sept. 13, 2007 -- provide an unfiltered look at the Hall of Famer's life since his 1995 acquittal in the killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Once, O.J. Simpson dated models and posed on Hollywood red carpets. The tapes portray him now as an aging but still charismatic man who draws crowds of adoring strangers in bars but counts few trustworthy friends.
His $400,000 annual pension and $1-million house seem at odds with the low-rent tactics of those who surround him. In the recordings, he complains about one confidant who tried to persuade him to film a sex tape and to pose for the National Enquirer with a mound of cocaine.
Another associate is heard hitting him up for autographs only to call him a killer as soon as he's out of earshot.
"I know my friends," Simpson says on one tape, just hours before he and five associates allegedly robbed a pair of memorabilia dealers. "I know better than anybody."
The prosecution's witness list belies his assessment. All but one of the eight other men at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino confrontation are testifying against Simpson. Several said that he was the scheme's ringleader and that at least one of his associates was armed. The 61-year-old faces a dozen counts, including kidnapping, which carries a potential life sentence.
Grayer and more weary-looking than at his Los Angeles trial, Simpson nonetheless arrives at Courtroom 15A each day smiling. His hearty laugh rumbles down the hall as he signs autographs and backslaps well-wishers.
"It gets old," he conceded after signing a book on a recent afternoon. But, he added, "I'm a public person. I love people."
His private life, however, is fraught with schemes and betrayals, according to the recordings, interviews and court testimony.
Consider Mike Gilbert, his former agent. Once the closest of friends -- the Gilbert children knew Simpson as "Uncle O.J." -- the men collaborated on a number of business ventures, including a planned auction of the suit Simpson wore the day of his acquittal.
In 1997, after a civil jury found Simpson liable for the pair of murders, Gilbert helped Simpson hide his assets, associates say on the recordings.
But a decade ago, the men had a bitter falling-out and no longer speak. Prosecutors say Simpson's anger toward his old friend -- he maintains that Gilbert stole valuable mementos from him -- led the NFL standout to mastermind the robbery.
On the recordings, Simpson rants about the agent's purported deceit to anyone who will listen. Gilbert, he tells one gathering, once paid a woman to seduce him in a hotel room in hopes of selling the tape to the Enquirer. The setup, which Simpson says he was unaware of, went belly up after he accidentally moved the hidden cameras.
The tabloid schemes Gilbert cooked up with Simpson's knowledge -- selling a staged photo of him with a pile of drugs and filming a porn video -- were just as unflattering.
"He used to tell me, 'Juice, man, let's make up some stories. . . . We can sell the [stuff],' " Simpson says.
Simpson's girlfriend, Christie Prody -- whom he has dated on and off for a dozen years -- remembers Gilbert promising her $1 million to install video cameras in her bedroom. "This is your friend?" she recalls asking Simpson incredulously.
In May, Gilbert published a memoir, "How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder," in which he claims a drug-addled Simpson confessed to killing his ex-wife and Goldman years after the crimes. An attorney for Simpson dismissed the book as the rantings of a "delusional drug addict" who needed money to clear up a tax debt.
Gilbert -- not among the men at the hotel confrontation -- was called as a prosecution witness last week, but the judge prohibited lawyers from asking him much. Outside the courtroom, his lawyer waved off other questions but said Gilbert was always available to talk about his book.
Gilbert was just one of the characters who relied on Simpson -- or at least his signature -- for income. Bruce Fromong, one of the alleged robbery victims, admits owning about 2,000 items autographed by Simpson. The other alleged victim, Alfred Beardsley, Simpson says on one tape, desperately wanted to buy his leather overcoat.
In conversation, those who deal in Simpson memorabilia bounce between obsessive devotion and derision, boasting of their close relationship with him in one breath and ridiculing him the next.
"How was he when you were around him? Wasn't it a blast?" Beardsley gushes at one point in the recordings.
Minutes later, he jokes that Simpson is so broke he would sell his own underwear and suggests that the retired athlete has a drinking problem.
The man who made the recordings, Thomas Riccio, has been called a "hero" by Simpson for alerting him that Beardsley was trying to sell his merchandise. But after leaving a meeting at which Simpson agreed to sign 200 copies of "If I Did It," the "hypothetical confessional" book about the slayings, Riccio tells a friend that Simpson began dating Prody "not long after he killed Nicole."
Days later, after Simpson's arrest, Riccio made more than $200,000 by selling copies of the recordings and snagging a book deal.
Simpson, however, is not always the opportunists' victim. Beardsley recounts how Simpson walloped Gilbert on the head -- reducing the agent to tears -- as they watched coverage of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s 1999 plane crash. It was to demonstrate that, for a change, the media glare was not focused on Simpson. "I can do whatever I want this week," Beardsley quoted him as saying.
In one poignant moment, Simpson is flipping channels when he lands on a talk show appearance by reality TV star Kim Kardashian, whose late father was one of Simpson's oldest and most steadfast friends and a member of his murder trial's "Dream Team" defense.
"My goddaughter is being interviewed," Simpson announces. As Kardashian chats about being young and rich in Hollywood, Riccio and a man seeking a photo with Simpson make salacious comments about her exotic beauty. The former NFL star ignores them.
"I was in the hospital when she was born," he says softly.
Staring at a television set seems as close as Simpson can get to Tinseltown glamour and the loyal, well-connected friends of his pre-acquittal life. On the tapes, he talks about grasping at the remnants of his once-considerable fame.
He seems to have time for everyone who recognizes him -- even Riccio's friend, a limo driver who boasts to an uninterested Simpson about getting into strip clubs for free. When another man can't remember Simpson's movie roles, he gamely lists the "Naked Gun" movies.
After the televised saga of his murder trial, Simpson said recently, he was bitter. But his mother urged him not to let the experience darken his lighthearted personality. Since he arrived in Las Vegas for this trial, Simpson said, strangers had repeatedly treated him to dinner. He spends Sunday afternoons in a sports bar where people buy him drinks.
The experience mirrors a story Simpson tells in one recording about a wealthy nightclub patron treating him to a $75 shot. "Hey," he says, "they might as well spend it on me."
Audio recordings secretly made by a business partner portray an aging but still charismatic man who draws crowds of adoring strangers in bars but counts few trustworthy friends.
By Harriet Ryan and Ashley Powers, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
September 28, 2008
When he's not on trial, O.J. Simpson wakes up at 5 a.m. and is driving to a golf course in Miami by 6:30. He takes an afternoon nap and goes to bed early. In between, the football great is beset by requests.
Strangers want to take his picture. Fans want to buy him a drink. And, according to audio recordings played in his Las Vegas robbery-kidnap trial, men who call themselves his friends try to cash in on his infamy.
The hours of recordings -- made surreptitiously by a Simpson business partner on Sept. 13, 2007 -- provide an unfiltered look at the Hall of Famer's life since his 1995 acquittal in the killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Once, O.J. Simpson dated models and posed on Hollywood red carpets. The tapes portray him now as an aging but still charismatic man who draws crowds of adoring strangers in bars but counts few trustworthy friends.
His $400,000 annual pension and $1-million house seem at odds with the low-rent tactics of those who surround him. In the recordings, he complains about one confidant who tried to persuade him to film a sex tape and to pose for the National Enquirer with a mound of cocaine.
Another associate is heard hitting him up for autographs only to call him a killer as soon as he's out of earshot.
"I know my friends," Simpson says on one tape, just hours before he and five associates allegedly robbed a pair of memorabilia dealers. "I know better than anybody."
The prosecution's witness list belies his assessment. All but one of the eight other men at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino confrontation are testifying against Simpson. Several said that he was the scheme's ringleader and that at least one of his associates was armed. The 61-year-old faces a dozen counts, including kidnapping, which carries a potential life sentence.
Grayer and more weary-looking than at his Los Angeles trial, Simpson nonetheless arrives at Courtroom 15A each day smiling. His hearty laugh rumbles down the hall as he signs autographs and backslaps well-wishers.
"It gets old," he conceded after signing a book on a recent afternoon. But, he added, "I'm a public person. I love people."
His private life, however, is fraught with schemes and betrayals, according to the recordings, interviews and court testimony.
Consider Mike Gilbert, his former agent. Once the closest of friends -- the Gilbert children knew Simpson as "Uncle O.J." -- the men collaborated on a number of business ventures, including a planned auction of the suit Simpson wore the day of his acquittal.
In 1997, after a civil jury found Simpson liable for the pair of murders, Gilbert helped Simpson hide his assets, associates say on the recordings.
But a decade ago, the men had a bitter falling-out and no longer speak. Prosecutors say Simpson's anger toward his old friend -- he maintains that Gilbert stole valuable mementos from him -- led the NFL standout to mastermind the robbery.
On the recordings, Simpson rants about the agent's purported deceit to anyone who will listen. Gilbert, he tells one gathering, once paid a woman to seduce him in a hotel room in hopes of selling the tape to the Enquirer. The setup, which Simpson says he was unaware of, went belly up after he accidentally moved the hidden cameras.
The tabloid schemes Gilbert cooked up with Simpson's knowledge -- selling a staged photo of him with a pile of drugs and filming a porn video -- were just as unflattering.
"He used to tell me, 'Juice, man, let's make up some stories. . . . We can sell the [stuff],' " Simpson says.
Simpson's girlfriend, Christie Prody -- whom he has dated on and off for a dozen years -- remembers Gilbert promising her $1 million to install video cameras in her bedroom. "This is your friend?" she recalls asking Simpson incredulously.
In May, Gilbert published a memoir, "How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder," in which he claims a drug-addled Simpson confessed to killing his ex-wife and Goldman years after the crimes. An attorney for Simpson dismissed the book as the rantings of a "delusional drug addict" who needed money to clear up a tax debt.
Gilbert -- not among the men at the hotel confrontation -- was called as a prosecution witness last week, but the judge prohibited lawyers from asking him much. Outside the courtroom, his lawyer waved off other questions but said Gilbert was always available to talk about his book.
Gilbert was just one of the characters who relied on Simpson -- or at least his signature -- for income. Bruce Fromong, one of the alleged robbery victims, admits owning about 2,000 items autographed by Simpson. The other alleged victim, Alfred Beardsley, Simpson says on one tape, desperately wanted to buy his leather overcoat.
In conversation, those who deal in Simpson memorabilia bounce between obsessive devotion and derision, boasting of their close relationship with him in one breath and ridiculing him the next.
"How was he when you were around him? Wasn't it a blast?" Beardsley gushes at one point in the recordings.
Minutes later, he jokes that Simpson is so broke he would sell his own underwear and suggests that the retired athlete has a drinking problem.
The man who made the recordings, Thomas Riccio, has been called a "hero" by Simpson for alerting him that Beardsley was trying to sell his merchandise. But after leaving a meeting at which Simpson agreed to sign 200 copies of "If I Did It," the "hypothetical confessional" book about the slayings, Riccio tells a friend that Simpson began dating Prody "not long after he killed Nicole."
Days later, after Simpson's arrest, Riccio made more than $200,000 by selling copies of the recordings and snagging a book deal.
Simpson, however, is not always the opportunists' victim. Beardsley recounts how Simpson walloped Gilbert on the head -- reducing the agent to tears -- as they watched coverage of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s 1999 plane crash. It was to demonstrate that, for a change, the media glare was not focused on Simpson. "I can do whatever I want this week," Beardsley quoted him as saying.
In one poignant moment, Simpson is flipping channels when he lands on a talk show appearance by reality TV star Kim Kardashian, whose late father was one of Simpson's oldest and most steadfast friends and a member of his murder trial's "Dream Team" defense.
"My goddaughter is being interviewed," Simpson announces. As Kardashian chats about being young and rich in Hollywood, Riccio and a man seeking a photo with Simpson make salacious comments about her exotic beauty. The former NFL star ignores them.
"I was in the hospital when she was born," he says softly.
Staring at a television set seems as close as Simpson can get to Tinseltown glamour and the loyal, well-connected friends of his pre-acquittal life. On the tapes, he talks about grasping at the remnants of his once-considerable fame.
He seems to have time for everyone who recognizes him -- even Riccio's friend, a limo driver who boasts to an uninterested Simpson about getting into strip clubs for free. When another man can't remember Simpson's movie roles, he gamely lists the "Naked Gun" movies.
After the televised saga of his murder trial, Simpson said recently, he was bitter. But his mother urged him not to let the experience darken his lighthearted personality. Since he arrived in Las Vegas for this trial, Simpson said, strangers had repeatedly treated him to dinner. He spends Sunday afternoons in a sports bar where people buy him drinks.
The experience mirrors a story Simpson tells in one recording about a wealthy nightclub patron treating him to a $75 shot. "Hey," he says, "they might as well spend it on me."
Saturday, September 27, 2008
OJ even makes the news in ZAMBIA
O.J Simpson interrogators may have made improper arrest
Zambia News.Net
Saturday 27th September, 2008
O.J. Simpson's robbery and kidnapping jury in the US have been played recordings of spiteful Las Vegas police celebrating the disgraced sport's star imminent arrest last year.
On a secret tape, police investigators preparing to detain the American football legend could be heard talking and swearing about Simpson.
The inference being put to the jury is that the police were pleased to be arresting him because he had been acquitted in 1995 of murdering his wife and her friend.
According to the transcript, the following exchange occurred between Las Vegas Metropolitan police Lieutenant Clint Nichols and LVPD crime scene analyst Clint Perkins:
Nichols: "Uh, he's gonna get arrested."
Perkins: "Who, who's gonna get arrested?"
Nichols: "O.J."
Perkins: "Oh, good."
Later, Perkins says: "You're just pickin' on him cause you're mad about the verdict (in the murder case)."
Nichols: "Yep."
The tape was made by Simpson friend Thomas Riccio, who was with Simpson in the hotel room when he entered to retrieve allegedly stolen memorabilia.
During a police interview, he left a recorder running on top of a cabinet and it was not detected by police.
Simpson, 61, faces a dozen charges of armed robbery and kidnapping that could land him in prison for life if convicted.
He is accused of leading a gang of gun-carrying associates into a Las Vegas hotel room last September to confront two sports memorabilia dealers who were attempting to sell the memorabilia.
Zambia News.Net
Saturday 27th September, 2008
O.J. Simpson's robbery and kidnapping jury in the US have been played recordings of spiteful Las Vegas police celebrating the disgraced sport's star imminent arrest last year.
On a secret tape, police investigators preparing to detain the American football legend could be heard talking and swearing about Simpson.
The inference being put to the jury is that the police were pleased to be arresting him because he had been acquitted in 1995 of murdering his wife and her friend.
According to the transcript, the following exchange occurred between Las Vegas Metropolitan police Lieutenant Clint Nichols and LVPD crime scene analyst Clint Perkins:
Nichols: "Uh, he's gonna get arrested."
Perkins: "Who, who's gonna get arrested?"
Nichols: "O.J."
Perkins: "Oh, good."
Later, Perkins says: "You're just pickin' on him cause you're mad about the verdict (in the murder case)."
Nichols: "Yep."
The tape was made by Simpson friend Thomas Riccio, who was with Simpson in the hotel room when he entered to retrieve allegedly stolen memorabilia.
During a police interview, he left a recorder running on top of a cabinet and it was not detected by police.
Simpson, 61, faces a dozen charges of armed robbery and kidnapping that could land him in prison for life if convicted.
He is accused of leading a gang of gun-carrying associates into a Las Vegas hotel room last September to confront two sports memorabilia dealers who were attempting to sell the memorabilia.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Prosecution plays tape of Simpson after incident
Prosecution plays tape of Simpson after incident
By LINDA DEUTSCH
The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS
Prosecutors in O.J. Simpson's robbery trial on Friday played a recording in which Simpson appeared to talk about a gun in a conversation with a man who has since testified that at the behest of the former football star he brought a weapon to a casino hotel room confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers.
"You didn't pull the piece out in the hall," Simpson said to Michael McClinton in the recording made just hours after the confrontation, in which Simpson is alleged to have stolen collectibles from the dealers.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, hell no," replied McClinton, a former co-defendant who accepted a plea deal and says he brandished a gun during the confrontation.
Simpson added in the recording, "There ain't nothin' on that video and look, they gonna look at the video. ... Ain't nothin' they can see, they gonna see us goin' in the place. Then they gonna see us leaving with just the boxes."
District Attorney David Roger suggested Simpson was worried about casino security cameras which had recorded the comings and goings of Simpson and seven other men on the evening of Sept. 13, 2007.
Roger highlighted for jurors another portion of the recording in which Simpson said: "They would love to say O.J. had a gun or O.J. pushed him. Or O.J. touched him. ... Nobody touched anyone."
McClinton responded: "No, ain't nobody touched anybody. There was a lot of ordering around and (expletive)."
The recording was made by McClinton, who like many other witnesses in the case, carried an audio recorder to a party Simpson attended after the incident.
At the start of the recording, Simpson was heard saying, "This ain't no major crime."
In another segment, Simpson mentioned co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart.
"I told C.J., do me a favor get me some boys. I just want them to look menacing," Simpson said.
Simpson, who denies seeing any guns during the incident, and Stewart have pleaded not guilty.
In testimony, McClinton said Simpson had chided him, saying "that I had heavy hands."
"He was telling me there was no guns. I knew differently because I had a gun," McClinton added.
McClinton testified that he had been asked by Simpson to bring a gun and to "look menacing."
He said that when he crossed the threshold into the hotel room he had his gun drawn and that Simpson was close enough that their shoulders could have touched.
But by the time they were back in the car, McClinton testified, "He (Simpson) was talking about the fact that there were no guns."
McClinton was to face cross-examination Monday before the prosecution rests its case.
Earlier Friday, jurors heard recordings of police investigators chuckling over Simpson's troubles, referring to him with foul language and rejoicing at his impending arrest.
"You're just picking on him because you're mad about the verdict," said Lt. Clint Nichols, head of the police robbery division.
"Yup," responded crime scene analyst Michael Perkins.
In another exchange, Nichols said, "He's gonna get arrested."
"Who, who's gonna get arrested?" the analyst replied.
"O.J.," Nichols said.
"Oh, good," Perkins said.
Simpson's defense played the recordings, which were made as investigators gathered evidence at the Palace Station casino and hotel after the alleged robbery.
The voices were captured on a digital recorder left running in the room by Thomas Riccio, the middleman who arranged the foray to reclaim Simpson memorabilia.
Defense attorney Gabriel Grasso showed jurors transcripts of the comments during testimony by Andy Caldwell, the lead detective on the case against Simpson and Stewart.
Caldwell acknowledged that the comments were made by Nichols and the crime scene analyst, and that Simpson called police almost immediately after the confrontation and agreed to talk to them.
"Yes, he's already confessed to havin' it," Nichols said. "Agreed to bring it back if need be. ... He told the cop that, which is not the brightest thing in the world to do."
"Yes, no kidding," Perkins laughed.
"You think after all his problems he would learn not to talk to anyone," Nichols laughed.
Prosecutors had called Caldwell to the stand to identify surreptitious phone recordings of Simpson talking to his daughter Arnelle Simpson from the Clark County jail after he was arrested on Sept. 16, 2007.
___
Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
Published: Friday, September 26, 2008 19:18 PDT
By LINDA DEUTSCH
The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS
Prosecutors in O.J. Simpson's robbery trial on Friday played a recording in which Simpson appeared to talk about a gun in a conversation with a man who has since testified that at the behest of the former football star he brought a weapon to a casino hotel room confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers.
"You didn't pull the piece out in the hall," Simpson said to Michael McClinton in the recording made just hours after the confrontation, in which Simpson is alleged to have stolen collectibles from the dealers.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, hell no," replied McClinton, a former co-defendant who accepted a plea deal and says he brandished a gun during the confrontation.
Simpson added in the recording, "There ain't nothin' on that video and look, they gonna look at the video. ... Ain't nothin' they can see, they gonna see us goin' in the place. Then they gonna see us leaving with just the boxes."
District Attorney David Roger suggested Simpson was worried about casino security cameras which had recorded the comings and goings of Simpson and seven other men on the evening of Sept. 13, 2007.
Roger highlighted for jurors another portion of the recording in which Simpson said: "They would love to say O.J. had a gun or O.J. pushed him. Or O.J. touched him. ... Nobody touched anyone."
McClinton responded: "No, ain't nobody touched anybody. There was a lot of ordering around and (expletive)."
The recording was made by McClinton, who like many other witnesses in the case, carried an audio recorder to a party Simpson attended after the incident.
At the start of the recording, Simpson was heard saying, "This ain't no major crime."
In another segment, Simpson mentioned co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart.
"I told C.J., do me a favor get me some boys. I just want them to look menacing," Simpson said.
Simpson, who denies seeing any guns during the incident, and Stewart have pleaded not guilty.
In testimony, McClinton said Simpson had chided him, saying "that I had heavy hands."
"He was telling me there was no guns. I knew differently because I had a gun," McClinton added.
McClinton testified that he had been asked by Simpson to bring a gun and to "look menacing."
He said that when he crossed the threshold into the hotel room he had his gun drawn and that Simpson was close enough that their shoulders could have touched.
But by the time they were back in the car, McClinton testified, "He (Simpson) was talking about the fact that there were no guns."
McClinton was to face cross-examination Monday before the prosecution rests its case.
Earlier Friday, jurors heard recordings of police investigators chuckling over Simpson's troubles, referring to him with foul language and rejoicing at his impending arrest.
"You're just picking on him because you're mad about the verdict," said Lt. Clint Nichols, head of the police robbery division.
"Yup," responded crime scene analyst Michael Perkins.
In another exchange, Nichols said, "He's gonna get arrested."
"Who, who's gonna get arrested?" the analyst replied.
"O.J.," Nichols said.
"Oh, good," Perkins said.
Simpson's defense played the recordings, which were made as investigators gathered evidence at the Palace Station casino and hotel after the alleged robbery.
The voices were captured on a digital recorder left running in the room by Thomas Riccio, the middleman who arranged the foray to reclaim Simpson memorabilia.
Defense attorney Gabriel Grasso showed jurors transcripts of the comments during testimony by Andy Caldwell, the lead detective on the case against Simpson and Stewart.
Caldwell acknowledged that the comments were made by Nichols and the crime scene analyst, and that Simpson called police almost immediately after the confrontation and agreed to talk to them.
"Yes, he's already confessed to havin' it," Nichols said. "Agreed to bring it back if need be. ... He told the cop that, which is not the brightest thing in the world to do."
"Yes, no kidding," Perkins laughed.
"You think after all his problems he would learn not to talk to anyone," Nichols laughed.
Prosecutors had called Caldwell to the stand to identify surreptitious phone recordings of Simpson talking to his daughter Arnelle Simpson from the Clark County jail after he was arrested on Sept. 16, 2007.
___
Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
Published: Friday, September 26, 2008 19:18 PDT
Simpson jury hears tape of chuckling investigators
Simpson jury hears tape of chuckling investigators
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 1 hour ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jurors in O.J. Simpson's robbery and kidnapping trial heard recordings Friday of police investigators chuckling over Simpson's troubles, referring to him with foul language and rejoicing at his impending arrest.
"You're just picking on him because you're mad about the verdict," said Lt. Clint Nichols, head of the police robbery division.
"Yup," responded crime scene analyst Michael Perkins.
In another exchange, Nichols said, "He's gonna get arrested."
"Who, who's gonna get arrested?" the analyst replied.
"O.J.," Nichols said.
"Oh, good," Perkins said.
Simpson's defense played the recordings, which were made as investigators gathered evidence at the Palace Station casino and hotel only hours after a confrontation between Simpson, accompanied by a group of men, and sports memorabilia collectors who allegedly were robbed of items at gunpoint.
Testimony about the recording came as the prosecution was winding down its case. An admitted gunman, Michael McClinton, was expected to be prosecutors' last witness before the start of defense presentations.
The voices were captured on a digital recorder left running in the room by Thomas Riccio, the middleman who arranged the foray to reclaim Simpson memorabilia.
Defense attorney Gabriel Grasso showed jurors transcripts of the comments during testimony by Andy Caldwell, the lead detective on the case against Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart.
Caldwell acknowledged that the comments were made by Nichols and the crime scene analyst.
The officers also chuckled over forensic evidence they will produce. Caldwell acknowledged that Simpson called police almost immediately after the confrontation and agreed to talk to them.
"Yes, he's already confessed to havin' it," Nichols said. "Agreed to bring it back if need be. ... He told the cop that, which is not the brightest thing in the world to do."
"Yes, no kidding," Perkins laughed.
"You think after all his problems he would learn not to talk to anyone."
Prosecutors called Caldwell to the stand to identify surreptitious phone recordings of Simpson talking to his daughter Arnelle Simpson from the Clark County jail after he was arrested on Sept. 16, 2007.
O.J. Simpson said in the call that he had a "long talk" with memorabilia dealer Alfred Beardsley, and that Beardsley said he didn't want to press charges.
"If he drops his charges, that's half the battle," O.J. Simpson said, suggesting she contact Beardsley.
Arnelle Simpson promised to look for Beardsley's phone number and ended the call saying, "Keep your spirit up, Dad."
"The phone call added to my concern that Mr. Simpson was trying to contact victims in the case," Caldwell said. "He was trying to affect the outcome of the case."
Associated Press writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 1 hour ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jurors in O.J. Simpson's robbery and kidnapping trial heard recordings Friday of police investigators chuckling over Simpson's troubles, referring to him with foul language and rejoicing at his impending arrest.
"You're just picking on him because you're mad about the verdict," said Lt. Clint Nichols, head of the police robbery division.
"Yup," responded crime scene analyst Michael Perkins.
In another exchange, Nichols said, "He's gonna get arrested."
"Who, who's gonna get arrested?" the analyst replied.
"O.J.," Nichols said.
"Oh, good," Perkins said.
Simpson's defense played the recordings, which were made as investigators gathered evidence at the Palace Station casino and hotel only hours after a confrontation between Simpson, accompanied by a group of men, and sports memorabilia collectors who allegedly were robbed of items at gunpoint.
Testimony about the recording came as the prosecution was winding down its case. An admitted gunman, Michael McClinton, was expected to be prosecutors' last witness before the start of defense presentations.
The voices were captured on a digital recorder left running in the room by Thomas Riccio, the middleman who arranged the foray to reclaim Simpson memorabilia.
Defense attorney Gabriel Grasso showed jurors transcripts of the comments during testimony by Andy Caldwell, the lead detective on the case against Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart.
Caldwell acknowledged that the comments were made by Nichols and the crime scene analyst.
The officers also chuckled over forensic evidence they will produce. Caldwell acknowledged that Simpson called police almost immediately after the confrontation and agreed to talk to them.
"Yes, he's already confessed to havin' it," Nichols said. "Agreed to bring it back if need be. ... He told the cop that, which is not the brightest thing in the world to do."
"Yes, no kidding," Perkins laughed.
"You think after all his problems he would learn not to talk to anyone."
Prosecutors called Caldwell to the stand to identify surreptitious phone recordings of Simpson talking to his daughter Arnelle Simpson from the Clark County jail after he was arrested on Sept. 16, 2007.
O.J. Simpson said in the call that he had a "long talk" with memorabilia dealer Alfred Beardsley, and that Beardsley said he didn't want to press charges.
"If he drops his charges, that's half the battle," O.J. Simpson said, suggesting she contact Beardsley.
Arnelle Simpson promised to look for Beardsley's phone number and ended the call saying, "Keep your spirit up, Dad."
"The phone call added to my concern that Mr. Simpson was trying to contact victims in the case," Caldwell said. "He was trying to affect the outcome of the case."
Associated Press writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
Gunman in O.J. Simpson case to testify Friday
Gunman in O.J. Simpson case to testify Friday
By KEN RITTER – 5 hours ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Witnesses in the O.J. Simpson trial have described Michael McClinton waving a handgun and shouting orders like a police officer while others carried away items two memorabilia dealers had arrayed on the bed.
"Stand the (expletive) up, before it gets ugly in here!" says a tape-recorded voice that prosecutors allege was McClinton. "Bag this (expletive) up!"
On Friday, jurors were due to hear from McClinton himself.
McClinton, 50, has acknowledged that he brought guns when Simpson confronted the sports memorabilia dealers in a casino hotel room about a year ago.
McClinton said he kept one and gave one to a friend, Walter Alexander, who told the jury hearing the ongoing armed robbery-kidnapping case against Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart that he tucked it his in his waistband and left it there. The two men have said it was Simpson's idea to bring "some heat."
McClinton, a Las Vegas resident who used to work as a security guard, played a crucial role during the tense six-minute confrontation in the cramped room at the Palace Station hotel-casino, according to testimony from some of the men who were there.
Alexander, former co-defendants Charles Ehrlich and Charles Cashmore, meeting middleman Thomas Riccio, and alleged victims Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley have described McClinton as brandishing the gun and giving orders while others took the items.
McClinton testified during an evidentiary hearing that Simpson asked him to display his gun to intimidate Fromong and Beardsley.
Simpson's lawyers have suggested McClinton tailored his story to suit prosecutors after agreeing to plead guilty to reduced charges and testify against Simpson. McClinton awaits sentencing on robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery charges that could get him probation or up to 11 years in prison.
Simpson and Stewart have pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. They face up to life with possibility of parole if convicted of kidnapping, or mandatory prison time on the armed robbery charge.
On Thursday, Beardsley testified that he didn't want to be part of the proceedings and provided testimony undermining key evidence in the prosecution case.
"I do not want to be here. I've made that clear for the past year," said Beardsley.
But after leading Beardsley through a description of the confrontation, Clark County District Attorney David Roger played a 911 tape in which Beardsley demands police arrive immediately at the Palace Station hotel-casino to find and arrest Simpson.
"We were just robbed at gunpoint by O.J. Simpson and a bunch of other men!" Beardsley exclaims. "And I want 'em arrested!"
Under cross-examination by Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter, Beardsley called Riccio's recordings of the incident a "work of art" and suggested Riccio had time to edit them before selling them to a celebrity Web site and later turning them over to police.
Judge Jackie Glass struggled most of the day to keep jurors from being reminded of Simpson's infamous Los Angeles murder case, ruling that a witness could not mention the former football star's acquittal in the 1994 slaying of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.
By KEN RITTER – 5 hours ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Witnesses in the O.J. Simpson trial have described Michael McClinton waving a handgun and shouting orders like a police officer while others carried away items two memorabilia dealers had arrayed on the bed.
"Stand the (expletive) up, before it gets ugly in here!" says a tape-recorded voice that prosecutors allege was McClinton. "Bag this (expletive) up!"
On Friday, jurors were due to hear from McClinton himself.
McClinton, 50, has acknowledged that he brought guns when Simpson confronted the sports memorabilia dealers in a casino hotel room about a year ago.
McClinton said he kept one and gave one to a friend, Walter Alexander, who told the jury hearing the ongoing armed robbery-kidnapping case against Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart that he tucked it his in his waistband and left it there. The two men have said it was Simpson's idea to bring "some heat."
McClinton, a Las Vegas resident who used to work as a security guard, played a crucial role during the tense six-minute confrontation in the cramped room at the Palace Station hotel-casino, according to testimony from some of the men who were there.
Alexander, former co-defendants Charles Ehrlich and Charles Cashmore, meeting middleman Thomas Riccio, and alleged victims Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley have described McClinton as brandishing the gun and giving orders while others took the items.
McClinton testified during an evidentiary hearing that Simpson asked him to display his gun to intimidate Fromong and Beardsley.
Simpson's lawyers have suggested McClinton tailored his story to suit prosecutors after agreeing to plead guilty to reduced charges and testify against Simpson. McClinton awaits sentencing on robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery charges that could get him probation or up to 11 years in prison.
Simpson and Stewart have pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. They face up to life with possibility of parole if convicted of kidnapping, or mandatory prison time on the armed robbery charge.
On Thursday, Beardsley testified that he didn't want to be part of the proceedings and provided testimony undermining key evidence in the prosecution case.
"I do not want to be here. I've made that clear for the past year," said Beardsley.
But after leading Beardsley through a description of the confrontation, Clark County District Attorney David Roger played a 911 tape in which Beardsley demands police arrive immediately at the Palace Station hotel-casino to find and arrest Simpson.
"We were just robbed at gunpoint by O.J. Simpson and a bunch of other men!" Beardsley exclaims. "And I want 'em arrested!"
Under cross-examination by Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter, Beardsley called Riccio's recordings of the incident a "work of art" and suggested Riccio had time to edit them before selling them to a celebrity Web site and later turning them over to police.
Judge Jackie Glass struggled most of the day to keep jurors from being reminded of Simpson's infamous Los Angeles murder case, ruling that a witness could not mention the former football star's acquittal in the 1994 slaying of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.
O.J. Simpson robbery victim: 'I don't want to be here'
O.J. Simpson robbery victim: 'I don't want to be here'
9 hours ago
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) — A victim of an alleged armed robbery led by O.J. Simpson testified that he did not want to press charges, in a dramatic twist to the sports star's trial here Thursday.
Alfred Beardsley, one of the two sports memorabilia traders confronted by Simpson, 61, and a gang of gun-toting cohorts in a Las Vegas hotel room last year, told the court that he had not wanted to testify in the case.
"I do not want to be here, I've made that clear for the past year," Beardsley said. "I have been going round and round the past year trying to get my name off of that complaint."
Beardsley also questioned the authenticity of a secret recording of the alleged heist made by a purported friend of Simpson, Thomas Riccio, who had helped set up the meeting at the Palace Station Hotel casino in September 2007.
Riccio has admitted being paid more than 200,000 dollars by media outlets for the tape, which is a key part of the prosecution evidence against Simpson, who faces a dozen armed robbery and kidnapping charges.
However Beardsley, who is currently serving a prison term for domestic violence, suggested Riccio had edited the tape.
"I'm not authenticating it, considering the source. I can't authenticate it," Beardsley testified, adding that the tape was a "work of art" doctored by Riccio because chunks of dialogue were missing.
Prosecutor David Roger tried to ask Beardsley whether he was attempting to thwart prosecutors because he didn't want to be branded an informer by fellow inmates who were watching the trial on television.
The judge blocked that line of questioning however.
Beardsley did not dispute that Simpson and five men burst into his hotel room in what he believed was going to be a meeting with a wealthy buyer.
He also confirmed two of Simpson's accomplices were armed. Simpson has denied knowing that members of his group took guns to the confrontation.
Simpson, famously acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles in 1995, could be jailed for life if convicted on a dozen robbery and kidnapping charges.
Simpson is on trial with Clarence Stewart, who was part of the alleged raid. Four other involved men have pleaded guilty to lesser charges with the agreement to testify.
9 hours ago
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) — A victim of an alleged armed robbery led by O.J. Simpson testified that he did not want to press charges, in a dramatic twist to the sports star's trial here Thursday.
Alfred Beardsley, one of the two sports memorabilia traders confronted by Simpson, 61, and a gang of gun-toting cohorts in a Las Vegas hotel room last year, told the court that he had not wanted to testify in the case.
"I do not want to be here, I've made that clear for the past year," Beardsley said. "I have been going round and round the past year trying to get my name off of that complaint."
Beardsley also questioned the authenticity of a secret recording of the alleged heist made by a purported friend of Simpson, Thomas Riccio, who had helped set up the meeting at the Palace Station Hotel casino in September 2007.
Riccio has admitted being paid more than 200,000 dollars by media outlets for the tape, which is a key part of the prosecution evidence against Simpson, who faces a dozen armed robbery and kidnapping charges.
However Beardsley, who is currently serving a prison term for domestic violence, suggested Riccio had edited the tape.
"I'm not authenticating it, considering the source. I can't authenticate it," Beardsley testified, adding that the tape was a "work of art" doctored by Riccio because chunks of dialogue were missing.
Prosecutor David Roger tried to ask Beardsley whether he was attempting to thwart prosecutors because he didn't want to be branded an informer by fellow inmates who were watching the trial on television.
The judge blocked that line of questioning however.
Beardsley did not dispute that Simpson and five men burst into his hotel room in what he believed was going to be a meeting with a wealthy buyer.
He also confirmed two of Simpson's accomplices were armed. Simpson has denied knowing that members of his group took guns to the confrontation.
Simpson, famously acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles in 1995, could be jailed for life if convicted on a dozen robbery and kidnapping charges.
Simpson is on trial with Clarence Stewart, who was part of the alleged raid. Four other involved men have pleaded guilty to lesser charges with the agreement to testify.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
OJ witness says he took plea after 'revelation'
OJ witness says he took plea after 'revelation'
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 14 hours ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A former defendant in the O.J. Simpson kidnapping and armed robbery case testified Wednesday that he decided to take a plea deal and accuse Simpson in court after God answered his prayers with a revelation telling him to do the right thing.
Walter "Goldie" Alexander, who meticulously recounted events surrounding the Sept. 13, 2007, Las Vegas hotel room confrontation, said Simpson told him and another friend to carry guns when they went to take back allegedly stolen memorabilia from dealers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong.
"He said, 'Just bring guns so they know we mean business," Alexander said.
Alexander, the first witness to admit carrying a weapon into the Palace Station Casino hotel room, faced a pounding cross-examination by Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, which led him to complain that maybe he should not have taken a deal and remained a defendant.
"Then I would not have to say anything and I would not have to be badgered by this man," Alexander said.
Judge Jackie Glass told jurors to disregard the remark.
Simpson, a former golfing buddy of Alexander's, has said he saw no guns in the room and did not ask anyone to bring weapons.
Alexander, 47, of Mesa, Ariz., and Simpson were in Las Vegas for the wedding of a friend. Alexander said that when he arrived, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, who was acting as the wedding planner, told him to contact Simpson.
"He said, 'Call O.J. He needs your help,'" Alexander said, implicating Stewart — Simpson's only remaining co-defendant — in the hotel room plan for the first time.
Alexander said he and a friend, Michael "Spencer" McClinton, met with Simpson, who told them he was going to try to reclaim some items stolen from him.
"He said, 'Do you think you can get some heat?'" Alexander said.
"My friend, Spencer, spoke up and said, 'No problem. I got plenty of heat. I'm licensed to carry a gun,'" Alexander said.
He said Simpson told them to bring the guns but not take them out.
Alexander said McClinton gave him a .22-caliber pistol that he carried in his waistband while the other man carried a larger gun.
He described a chaotic scene inside the room, with Simpson yelling at the memorabilia dealers, McClinton waving the gun and telling everyone to freeze, and Stewart frisking everyone. At one point, he said, Simpson told McClinton to put down the gun.
Alexander said he quickly realized he was in trouble.
"I was involved in an armed robbery. It wasn't what it was, but that's how it was going to look to the public," he said.
Later he said Simpson told him: "Just say there's no guns, and there won't be any trouble."
He said Simpson also joked, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless you're O.J. Simpson," and advised him to get out of town.
After Alexander was arrested at the airport, he said prosecutors offered him a deal to testify for reduced charges. After accepting, he said he tried to back out because he heard that another witness had been given immunity from prosecution and he wanted that, too.
Asked why he finally accepted the plea deal, he said, "I prayed on the matter and I had a revelation that I did something wrong, and the Bible told me I should go tell the truth."
Galanter asked whether God had spoken to him, and he said yes.
"So you needed divine intervention to take the deal?" asked the lawyer.
"I sure did," Alexander said.
Later, Glass ruled that Alexander could not keep a Bible with him in the witness box. She also told defense lawyers they could not question him about whether he told authorities he was a real estate agent.
Galanter argued it was important to show that Alexander lied, because he allegedly made a living as a pimp, but the judge wouldn't allow it.
Simpson and Stewart have pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. They face prison if convicted.
The court day began with Glass barring prosecutors from reminding jurors of Simpson's 1995 Los Angeles acquittal in the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. She refused to allow Goldman family attorney David Cook to testify, suggesting the evidence would be prejudicial.
"We are here to decide the case of 2007," she said.
The prosecution wanted Cook to testify about answers Simpson gave in February 2007 in response to a legal questionnaire about his assets. District Attorney David Roger said Cook could help show that Simpson tried to hide memorabilia and avoid paying a $33.5 million civil wrongful death judgment, and that anger at the Goldmans was a reason he organized the confrontation.
Cook said outside court that the judge "didn't want me to walk in there with a whole train of ghosts."
Associated Press writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 14 hours ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A former defendant in the O.J. Simpson kidnapping and armed robbery case testified Wednesday that he decided to take a plea deal and accuse Simpson in court after God answered his prayers with a revelation telling him to do the right thing.
Walter "Goldie" Alexander, who meticulously recounted events surrounding the Sept. 13, 2007, Las Vegas hotel room confrontation, said Simpson told him and another friend to carry guns when they went to take back allegedly stolen memorabilia from dealers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong.
"He said, 'Just bring guns so they know we mean business," Alexander said.
Alexander, the first witness to admit carrying a weapon into the Palace Station Casino hotel room, faced a pounding cross-examination by Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, which led him to complain that maybe he should not have taken a deal and remained a defendant.
"Then I would not have to say anything and I would not have to be badgered by this man," Alexander said.
Judge Jackie Glass told jurors to disregard the remark.
Simpson, a former golfing buddy of Alexander's, has said he saw no guns in the room and did not ask anyone to bring weapons.
Alexander, 47, of Mesa, Ariz., and Simpson were in Las Vegas for the wedding of a friend. Alexander said that when he arrived, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, who was acting as the wedding planner, told him to contact Simpson.
"He said, 'Call O.J. He needs your help,'" Alexander said, implicating Stewart — Simpson's only remaining co-defendant — in the hotel room plan for the first time.
Alexander said he and a friend, Michael "Spencer" McClinton, met with Simpson, who told them he was going to try to reclaim some items stolen from him.
"He said, 'Do you think you can get some heat?'" Alexander said.
"My friend, Spencer, spoke up and said, 'No problem. I got plenty of heat. I'm licensed to carry a gun,'" Alexander said.
He said Simpson told them to bring the guns but not take them out.
Alexander said McClinton gave him a .22-caliber pistol that he carried in his waistband while the other man carried a larger gun.
He described a chaotic scene inside the room, with Simpson yelling at the memorabilia dealers, McClinton waving the gun and telling everyone to freeze, and Stewart frisking everyone. At one point, he said, Simpson told McClinton to put down the gun.
Alexander said he quickly realized he was in trouble.
"I was involved in an armed robbery. It wasn't what it was, but that's how it was going to look to the public," he said.
Later he said Simpson told him: "Just say there's no guns, and there won't be any trouble."
He said Simpson also joked, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless you're O.J. Simpson," and advised him to get out of town.
After Alexander was arrested at the airport, he said prosecutors offered him a deal to testify for reduced charges. After accepting, he said he tried to back out because he heard that another witness had been given immunity from prosecution and he wanted that, too.
Asked why he finally accepted the plea deal, he said, "I prayed on the matter and I had a revelation that I did something wrong, and the Bible told me I should go tell the truth."
Galanter asked whether God had spoken to him, and he said yes.
"So you needed divine intervention to take the deal?" asked the lawyer.
"I sure did," Alexander said.
Later, Glass ruled that Alexander could not keep a Bible with him in the witness box. She also told defense lawyers they could not question him about whether he told authorities he was a real estate agent.
Galanter argued it was important to show that Alexander lied, because he allegedly made a living as a pimp, but the judge wouldn't allow it.
Simpson and Stewart have pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. They face prison if convicted.
The court day began with Glass barring prosecutors from reminding jurors of Simpson's 1995 Los Angeles acquittal in the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. She refused to allow Goldman family attorney David Cook to testify, suggesting the evidence would be prejudicial.
"We are here to decide the case of 2007," she said.
The prosecution wanted Cook to testify about answers Simpson gave in February 2007 in response to a legal questionnaire about his assets. District Attorney David Roger said Cook could help show that Simpson tried to hide memorabilia and avoid paying a $33.5 million civil wrongful death judgment, and that anger at the Goldmans was a reason he organized the confrontation.
Cook said outside court that the judge "didn't want me to walk in there with a whole train of ghosts."
Associated Press writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
O.J. Wanted Guns, Pal Says; Goldman Lawyer Can't Testify
O.J. Simpson claims he had no idea that anyone was going to pull a gun when he went to take back what he says was stolen property from two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas last year.
One of the guys who carried a gun begs to differ.
Simpson's presumably former golfing buddy, Walter Alexander, one of four men accused of committing armed robbery with Simpson who has pleaded down to a lesser charge in exchange for his testimony, said in court Wednesday that it was totally the infamous football star's idea to bring guns to the Sept. 13, 2007, meeting—and that Simpson encouraged them afterward to forget about the guns.
"Just say there was no guns, man, and this ain't [nothing]. It'll blow right over," Simpson said, according to Alexander. "He was saying it to everybody that was involved: 'Just remember—no guns.' "
As he, Simpson, Mike McClintock, Clarence Stewart, Charles Ehrlich and Charles Cashmore approached Room 1203 of the Palace Station Hotel & Casino, "O.J. told [McClintock] to take the gun out and put it in his hand," Alexander said.
He testified that, in a meeting before the raid, Simpson had said, "I need somebody to watch my back…Do you think you can get some heat?...I doubt you will ever need 'em, you just want to be protected. Put 'em in your waistband and have your jackets open so they could see when you walk in."
At the meeting, McClintock toted a 9 mm handgun and gave Alexander a .22-caliber automatic.
Alexander, who pleaded guilty last October to a felony count of conspiracy to commit robbery, said that he felt that his pal Simpson may have thought the whole incident was funny, joking to people, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—unless you're O.J. Simpson."
"I would hate to see O.J. go to jail," Alexander said. "But at the same time, I truly believe it was a robbery."
Defense attorney Yale Galanter charged that Alexander was mad at Simpson because the erstwhile murder suspect had refused to pay for his father's funeral, and that he offered to keep his mouth shut for the right price.
"I wasn't pissed at him. I was disappointed," Alexander said. "There's a difference…I was not calling, asking him to buy my testimony like he keeps saying."
"We [he and the others who cut a deal] realized he was going to throw us under the bus and the only way to defend himself was to blame it on us."
Simpson and Stewart remain charged with a dozen counts each of armed robbery, assault with a weapon, burglary, kidnapping, conspiracy and coercion.
Earlier in the day, Cook County Judge Jackie Glass ruled that attorney David Cook, who represents the family of murder victim Ron Goldman, could not testify for the prosecution, which has argued that Simpson has hid memorabilia and other income sources from the Goldmans to avoid paying the $33.5 million wrongful death judgment they were awarded in 1997.
"The prejudice far outweighs the probative value," Glass said. "We are here to deal with this case—Sept. 13, 2007."
One of the guys who carried a gun begs to differ.
Simpson's presumably former golfing buddy, Walter Alexander, one of four men accused of committing armed robbery with Simpson who has pleaded down to a lesser charge in exchange for his testimony, said in court Wednesday that it was totally the infamous football star's idea to bring guns to the Sept. 13, 2007, meeting—and that Simpson encouraged them afterward to forget about the guns.
"Just say there was no guns, man, and this ain't [nothing]. It'll blow right over," Simpson said, according to Alexander. "He was saying it to everybody that was involved: 'Just remember—no guns.' "
As he, Simpson, Mike McClintock, Clarence Stewart, Charles Ehrlich and Charles Cashmore approached Room 1203 of the Palace Station Hotel & Casino, "O.J. told [McClintock] to take the gun out and put it in his hand," Alexander said.
He testified that, in a meeting before the raid, Simpson had said, "I need somebody to watch my back…Do you think you can get some heat?...I doubt you will ever need 'em, you just want to be protected. Put 'em in your waistband and have your jackets open so they could see when you walk in."
At the meeting, McClintock toted a 9 mm handgun and gave Alexander a .22-caliber automatic.
Alexander, who pleaded guilty last October to a felony count of conspiracy to commit robbery, said that he felt that his pal Simpson may have thought the whole incident was funny, joking to people, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—unless you're O.J. Simpson."
"I would hate to see O.J. go to jail," Alexander said. "But at the same time, I truly believe it was a robbery."
Defense attorney Yale Galanter charged that Alexander was mad at Simpson because the erstwhile murder suspect had refused to pay for his father's funeral, and that he offered to keep his mouth shut for the right price.
"I wasn't pissed at him. I was disappointed," Alexander said. "There's a difference…I was not calling, asking him to buy my testimony like he keeps saying."
"We [he and the others who cut a deal] realized he was going to throw us under the bus and the only way to defend himself was to blame it on us."
Simpson and Stewart remain charged with a dozen counts each of armed robbery, assault with a weapon, burglary, kidnapping, conspiracy and coercion.
Earlier in the day, Cook County Judge Jackie Glass ruled that attorney David Cook, who represents the family of murder victim Ron Goldman, could not testify for the prosecution, which has argued that Simpson has hid memorabilia and other income sources from the Goldmans to avoid paying the $33.5 million wrongful death judgment they were awarded in 1997.
"The prejudice far outweighs the probative value," Glass said. "We are here to deal with this case—Sept. 13, 2007."
Witnesses wait at O.J. Simpson's robbery trial
Witnesses wait at O.J. Simpson's robbery trial
By KEN RITTER – 4 hours ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — One by one, jurors in the O.J. Simpson trial are meeting the men who were in the casino hotel room where the former football star is accused of orchestrating the robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint.
Testimony was to resume Wednesday for an eighth day in Simpson's criminal trial, and former co-defendants Charles Cashmore and Walter Alexander, and alleged victim Alfred Beardsley were waiting for the call to testify, their lawyers said.
First Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass must decide whether to allow evidence in the year-old robbery case that is related to Simpson's acquittal in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles.
"I just have to make the decision," Glass said after sending the jury home Tuesday while she listened to arguments about whether to let a California lawyer for the Goldman estate testify about answers Simpson gave in February 2007 in response to a legal questionnaire about his assets.
Goldman lawyer David Cook has pursued Simpson for more than a decade to obtain payment of a $33.5 million civil wrongful death judgment levied in March 1997 against Simpson by a California judge.
Simpson lawyer, Yale Galanter, told Glass that testimony about the judgment and Simpson's acquittal in 1995 would prejudice the jury.
District Attorney David Roger said he wants to show that Simpson tried to squirrel away memorabilia and avoid paying the Goldman judgment, and that anger at the Goldman family was a reason he orchestrated the raid on the hotel room with five other men.
"It establishes his motive," Roger said, "his common scheme and plan with regard to this robbery."
The jury has heard from three of the nine middle-aged men who were in Room 1203 at the Palace Station casino hotel the night of Sept. 13, 2007: alleged robbery and kidnapping victim Bruce Fromong, former co-defendant Charles Ehrlich, and Thomas Riccio, the man who set up the meeting and then secretly recorded it.
Jurors could hear from Cashmore, a journeyman laborer, bartender and disc jockey who testified last November that he only went along to help move boxes.
Alexander, a Simpson golfing buddy from Mesa, Ariz., has testified that Simpson said to bring guns and but later instructed him to deny that weapons were used.
Cashmore's lawyer, Edward Miley, said Cashmore was notified to be prepared to testify Wednesday. Alexander was with his lawyer, Robert Dennis Rentzer, at the courthouse Tuesday. They said they expected to be called at any time.
Beardsley's lawyer, Jack Neil Swickard, said he was notified that the sports memorabilia dealer may not testify before Thursday.
AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report
By KEN RITTER – 4 hours ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — One by one, jurors in the O.J. Simpson trial are meeting the men who were in the casino hotel room where the former football star is accused of orchestrating the robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint.
Testimony was to resume Wednesday for an eighth day in Simpson's criminal trial, and former co-defendants Charles Cashmore and Walter Alexander, and alleged victim Alfred Beardsley were waiting for the call to testify, their lawyers said.
First Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass must decide whether to allow evidence in the year-old robbery case that is related to Simpson's acquittal in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles.
"I just have to make the decision," Glass said after sending the jury home Tuesday while she listened to arguments about whether to let a California lawyer for the Goldman estate testify about answers Simpson gave in February 2007 in response to a legal questionnaire about his assets.
Goldman lawyer David Cook has pursued Simpson for more than a decade to obtain payment of a $33.5 million civil wrongful death judgment levied in March 1997 against Simpson by a California judge.
Simpson lawyer, Yale Galanter, told Glass that testimony about the judgment and Simpson's acquittal in 1995 would prejudice the jury.
District Attorney David Roger said he wants to show that Simpson tried to squirrel away memorabilia and avoid paying the Goldman judgment, and that anger at the Goldman family was a reason he orchestrated the raid on the hotel room with five other men.
"It establishes his motive," Roger said, "his common scheme and plan with regard to this robbery."
The jury has heard from three of the nine middle-aged men who were in Room 1203 at the Palace Station casino hotel the night of Sept. 13, 2007: alleged robbery and kidnapping victim Bruce Fromong, former co-defendant Charles Ehrlich, and Thomas Riccio, the man who set up the meeting and then secretly recorded it.
Jurors could hear from Cashmore, a journeyman laborer, bartender and disc jockey who testified last November that he only went along to help move boxes.
Alexander, a Simpson golfing buddy from Mesa, Ariz., has testified that Simpson said to bring guns and but later instructed him to deny that weapons were used.
Cashmore's lawyer, Edward Miley, said Cashmore was notified to be prepared to testify Wednesday. Alexander was with his lawyer, Robert Dennis Rentzer, at the courthouse Tuesday. They said they expected to be called at any time.
Beardsley's lawyer, Jack Neil Swickard, said he was notified that the sports memorabilia dealer may not testify before Thursday.
AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
O.J. Simpson’s lawyer seeks mistrial
O.J. Simpson’s lawyer seeks mistrial
Attorney for Simpson’s co-accused moves for mistrial, motion to sever
By Melissa Arseniuk
Published Tue, Sep 23, 2008 (4:36 p.m.)
Updated 7 minutes ago
O.J. Simpson’s lawyer, Yale Galanter, has moved for a mistrial.
The motion came just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, following David Cook being admitted by District Judge Jackie Glass as the 12th witness in Simpson's high-profile robbery/kidnapping trial in Las Vegas.
Robert Lucherini, the attorney for Simpson's co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, also moved for a mistrial — and filed a motion to sever Stewart from Simpson's trial, as well.
The lawyers asked for the mistrial because Cook is the lawyer who represents the family of murder victim Robert Goldman. Goldman and Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, were murdered in 1994.
Simpson was charged with both murders but was acquitted in 1995 following a highly publicized criminal trial.
The Goldman family then filed a civil action against the former NFL star, which found him liable for the deaths. That court issued a $33.5 million judgment against Simpson and split the sum between the Goldmans and Nicole Brown Simpson’s estate, the two children she has with O.J. Simpson, and Sydney and Justin Simpson.
Simpson and Stewart, his former golfing buddy, currently face 12 robbery, kidnapping and weapons charges stemming from a raid of a Place Station hotel room last year.
“This testimony has no relevance to this case,” Galanter told the court after Cook took the stand. “It’s prejudicial.”
Galanter said “the reason they’re calling Mr. Cook is to remind the jurors” about Simpson’s previous legal troubles.
Prosecutors defended their witness.
“The fact of the matter is, is that Mr. Simpson talks about the (civil) judgment, the Goldmans on the audio tape. This was one of the motives for the robbery,” District Attorney David Roger said.
Thomas Riccio, the middleman who arranged the meeting between Simpson and the two memorabilia dealers who claim they were robbed, secretly recorded several conversations with Simpson and the plaintiffs. Those nine audio files are now key evidence in the trial.
Simpson refers to the Goldmans as "the gold-diggers" during one of the recordings.
The State believes Simpson wanted to recover items from the plaintiffs, memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley, in Nevada instead of California because of his ongoing efforts to skirt turnover orders filed by the Goldmans.
"(Simpson) said that it wasn't going to work in California because his lawyers said there could be a lot of problems because of the Goldmans ... would get the stuff," Riccio testified Monday.
Simpson lived in California at the time of the alleged robbery, but has since moved to Miami, Fla.
Simpson says the items he and his entourage allegedly stole on Sept. 13, 2007 - including several NFL game presentation footballs, his 1969 NFL All-Star plaque, and numerous personal and family photos - were stolen from him.
Prosecutors and state witnesses, meanwhile, have said Simpson's former agent, Mike Gilbert, helped move the items from Simpson's Brentwood, Calif., home and then stored them with associates of Simpson's and in storage lockers to hide the assets from collection officers.
Officials were later sent to seize valuables from Simpson's home that could be resold and applied against the outstanding debt to the Goldmans.
Lucherini, along with Stewart's other lawyers, E. Brent Bryson and Charles D. Jones, have made several attempts to have their client's trial severed from Simpson's. They allege Simpson's notoriety and previous legal troubles prohibit Stewart's right to a fair trial.
The Nevada Supreme Court rejected a motion to sever before Simpson and Stewart's joint trial began. Judge Jackie Glass, who is presiding over the criminal trial proceedings, has rejected several additional motions to sever.
After considering precedent, case law and her own former judgments for more than two hours, the judge dismissed the jury just after 5 p.m.
She had Cook take the stand in the absence of the jury so she could ask him some questions before lawyers asked some questions of their own.
Holding an evidentiary hearing in the absence of the jury prevented risking his account from tainting the jury or providing the defense a solid foundation from which to launch a motion for a mistrial.
Glass will decide whether or not Cook will take the stand on Wednesday morning.
Before dismissing for the day, Glass asked Cook to provide a very limited testimony if he is called to the stand tomorrow.
She said she "wants to avoid any non-responsive answers, any spontaneous declarations, anything, any personal opinions that might in some way prejudice my jury and cause there to be a mistrial."
"Any personal opinions or feelings you may have and you would like to express, I don't want them expressed them here. This is not an appropriate forum for any such remarks along those lines," Glass said.
Attorney for Simpson’s co-accused moves for mistrial, motion to sever
By Melissa Arseniuk
Published Tue, Sep 23, 2008 (4:36 p.m.)
Updated 7 minutes ago
O.J. Simpson’s lawyer, Yale Galanter, has moved for a mistrial.
The motion came just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, following David Cook being admitted by District Judge Jackie Glass as the 12th witness in Simpson's high-profile robbery/kidnapping trial in Las Vegas.
Robert Lucherini, the attorney for Simpson's co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, also moved for a mistrial — and filed a motion to sever Stewart from Simpson's trial, as well.
The lawyers asked for the mistrial because Cook is the lawyer who represents the family of murder victim Robert Goldman. Goldman and Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, were murdered in 1994.
Simpson was charged with both murders but was acquitted in 1995 following a highly publicized criminal trial.
The Goldman family then filed a civil action against the former NFL star, which found him liable for the deaths. That court issued a $33.5 million judgment against Simpson and split the sum between the Goldmans and Nicole Brown Simpson’s estate, the two children she has with O.J. Simpson, and Sydney and Justin Simpson.
Simpson and Stewart, his former golfing buddy, currently face 12 robbery, kidnapping and weapons charges stemming from a raid of a Place Station hotel room last year.
“This testimony has no relevance to this case,” Galanter told the court after Cook took the stand. “It’s prejudicial.”
Galanter said “the reason they’re calling Mr. Cook is to remind the jurors” about Simpson’s previous legal troubles.
Prosecutors defended their witness.
“The fact of the matter is, is that Mr. Simpson talks about the (civil) judgment, the Goldmans on the audio tape. This was one of the motives for the robbery,” District Attorney David Roger said.
Thomas Riccio, the middleman who arranged the meeting between Simpson and the two memorabilia dealers who claim they were robbed, secretly recorded several conversations with Simpson and the plaintiffs. Those nine audio files are now key evidence in the trial.
Simpson refers to the Goldmans as "the gold-diggers" during one of the recordings.
The State believes Simpson wanted to recover items from the plaintiffs, memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley, in Nevada instead of California because of his ongoing efforts to skirt turnover orders filed by the Goldmans.
"(Simpson) said that it wasn't going to work in California because his lawyers said there could be a lot of problems because of the Goldmans ... would get the stuff," Riccio testified Monday.
Simpson lived in California at the time of the alleged robbery, but has since moved to Miami, Fla.
Simpson says the items he and his entourage allegedly stole on Sept. 13, 2007 - including several NFL game presentation footballs, his 1969 NFL All-Star plaque, and numerous personal and family photos - were stolen from him.
Prosecutors and state witnesses, meanwhile, have said Simpson's former agent, Mike Gilbert, helped move the items from Simpson's Brentwood, Calif., home and then stored them with associates of Simpson's and in storage lockers to hide the assets from collection officers.
Officials were later sent to seize valuables from Simpson's home that could be resold and applied against the outstanding debt to the Goldmans.
Lucherini, along with Stewart's other lawyers, E. Brent Bryson and Charles D. Jones, have made several attempts to have their client's trial severed from Simpson's. They allege Simpson's notoriety and previous legal troubles prohibit Stewart's right to a fair trial.
The Nevada Supreme Court rejected a motion to sever before Simpson and Stewart's joint trial began. Judge Jackie Glass, who is presiding over the criminal trial proceedings, has rejected several additional motions to sever.
After considering precedent, case law and her own former judgments for more than two hours, the judge dismissed the jury just after 5 p.m.
She had Cook take the stand in the absence of the jury so she could ask him some questions before lawyers asked some questions of their own.
Holding an evidentiary hearing in the absence of the jury prevented risking his account from tainting the jury or providing the defense a solid foundation from which to launch a motion for a mistrial.
Glass will decide whether or not Cook will take the stand on Wednesday morning.
Before dismissing for the day, Glass asked Cook to provide a very limited testimony if he is called to the stand tomorrow.
She said she "wants to avoid any non-responsive answers, any spontaneous declarations, anything, any personal opinions that might in some way prejudice my jury and cause there to be a mistrial."
"Any personal opinions or feelings you may have and you would like to express, I don't want them expressed them here. This is not an appropriate forum for any such remarks along those lines," Glass said.
In hotel room, witness testifies, Simpson said, 'Put the guns away'
A major piece of O.J. Simpson's defense against armed robbery charges took a hit Monday when a longtime friend said the Hall of Fame running back mentioned guns during the hotel room incident involving two sports memorabilia dealers.
"I heard O.J. say, 'Put the guns away,' " Charles Ehrlich told the jury.
Simpson's legal team has contended that he never saw any guns during the Sept. 13, 2007, Palace Station confrontation that landed him and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart on trial for armed robbery, kidnapping and other charges.
Ehrlich, 54, described himself as a close friend of Simpson's who has shared his love of the racetrack and football during an eight-year relationship. Ehrlich was in Las Vegas for the wedding of Simpson's best friend, Tom Scotto, when he was recruited to pose as a memorabilia buyer for a sting to recover some of Simpson's one-of-a-kind mementos.
"I thought it was harmless," said Ehrlich, who pleaded guilty to reduced charges in exchange for his testimony.
Ehrlich joined Simpson and four other men at Palace Station and followed Riccio to his hotel room, where memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley were expecting to meet a buyer in the bogus business deal arranged by Riccio.
Ehrlich walked in and greeted the men with a "Hello."
"From that point on, everyone barged in from behind," he said.
One of those men, Michael McClinton, pulled out a handgun, began waving it around the room and shouted orders as Simpson yelled at Beardsley and Fromong, he said.
"I know when the gun came out, they were very scared," he said. "I was scared."
When someone yelled to start packing up memorabilia, Ehrlich grabbed a box of glossy photos and headed for the door.
"If they told me to pick up a toilet I would have picked it up to get out of the room," he said.
Later, after the six men rendezvoused at the Palms, Ehrlich joined Simpson in his hotel room, where he talked to his girlfriend, Christine Prody.
"He said, 'I (expletive) up. I'm going to need a bail bondsman,' " Ehrlich testified.
When Ehrlich mentioned guns to Simpson, he denied seeing them before mumbling to himself, "Why did I tell those guys to come along?" Ehrlich said.
McClinton and a second man with a gun, Walter Alexander, testified during November's preliminary hearing that Simpson told them to bring guns. Both men pleaded guilty to reduced charges in exchange for their testimony.
Fromong, a sports memorabilia dealer and former Simpson business partner, testified last week that he heard someone in the room saying, "Put the gun down," and saw Simpson waving an arm downward.
During his third day of testimony Monday, Riccio said he never heard anyone mention guns during the six-minute confrontation. The phrase can't be heard on his secret recording, either.
In the days after the heist, Riccio had a series of phone conversations with Simpson in which he consistently denied seeing any firearms, Riccio told the jury.
"He says he didn't see it. I know he didn't see it," he said.
He later said there was a chance Simpson might have seen a gun, "but I wouldn't bet my life either way." He also admitted during questioning from prosecutor Christopher Owens that Simpson, in a voice mail left minutes after the incident, seemed to be dissuading him from telling police about the guns.
Also during Riccio's testimony Monday, Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter explored another leg of their defense -- that Simpson only intended to recover game-used footballs and other memorabilia that had been stolen from him years ago.
Simpson's only contact during the planning of the operation was Riccio, who had been contacted by Beardsley about a large collection of Simpson personal property, including the sports memorabilia and thousands of family photos.
Riccio said Beardsley told him that the sports items were taken from Simpson.
"He came right out, crystal clear, and said these were stolen right out of his trophy room," he said.
The family photos belonged to a different seller and weren't brought to Palace Station, but Riccio didn't find out until meeting Fromong in the parking lot about 90 minutes before the incident.
Riccio also publicly revealed for the first time the amount of money he received for selling the recording of the confrontation, which was released on the celebrity news Web site TMZ.com four days after the incident.
Under order from District Judge Jackie Glass, Riccio said the site bought the clip for $150,000.
That payment made up the bulk of the $210,000 Riccio said he made in connection with the incident.
He said Entertainment Tonight paid him $25,000, the Howard Stern radio show paid him $20,000 through a sponsor, and ABC paid him $15,000 for an interview under the guise of paying for a Simpson photo, he said.
He also said he's made $20,000 from his book, "Busted!: The Inside Story of the World of Sports Memorabilia, O.J. Simpson, and the Vegas Arrests," which was published in April.
Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0281.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Simpson Trial Continues in Las Vegas
O.J. Simpson's robbery and kidnapping trial continues today in Las Vegas. Last week the court heard testimony from detectives, hotel security personnel, and a sports memorabilia dealer. The jury also heard from the man who arranged and secretly recorded the alleged meeting between Simpson and memorabilia dealers last year. Part of the recording was played Friday. The "Los Angeles Times" says Simpson's attorneys have been trying to attack the accusers' motives and character during cross-examination.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
MORE OJ SIMPSON LAS VEGAS TRIAL WEEK 1 PICTURES by Moondog at OJTalk.com
OJ SIMPSON LAS VEGAS TRIAL WEEK 1 by Moondog at OJTalk.com
OJ SIMPSON LAS VEGAS TRIAL WEEK 1 by Moondog at OJTalk.com
CHECK OUT THIS LOOK AT THE OJ SIMPSON LAS VEGAS TRIAL WEEK 1 by Moondog at OJTalk.com
Friday, September 19, 2008
OJ jurors hear recording of hotel confrontation
OJ jurors hear recording of hotel confrontation
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 35 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jurors in O.J. Simpson's armed robbery and kidnapping trial on Friday heard a recording of the football star angrily accusing two memorabilia dealers of stealing his mementoes and saying, "Don't let nobody out of this room."
On the witness stand introducing the audio was Thomas Riccio, the collectibles dealer who arranged the meeting at the Palace Station casino hotel room, made the secret recording and testified that he never expected what happened.
"The guy with the bald head, (Michael) McClinton, pulled out a gun. And it got crazy from there," Riccio said.
Asked what he was thinking, he said, "This is overkill — big time overkill. They didn't have to do this."
McClinton, an original defendant who made a plea bargain and agreed to testify against Simpson, is the only participant identified so far as having a gun in the room.
"I never at any time wanted a gun in my room. I am antigun," Riccio said.
He described McClinton as "hopping around with the gun" and said, "Maybe he was hyped up on something."
Listening through headphones, the jurors heard McClinton order people to bag the memorabilia spread out on the bed.
Throughout the confrontation, memorabilia dealer Alfred Beardsley kept trying to curry favor with Simpson, saying, "I don't have a problem with you, man. Are you mad at me?"
Beardsley later called 911 and reported he had been robbed at gunpoint by Simpson and a group of "thugs." He also threatened to call the news media, saying they would arrive faster.
"O.J.'s going to get arrested over this," Beardsley declared several times.
The other memorabilia dealer in the room, Bruce Fromong, was heard saying he was going to his truck to get a gun.
As a result of the Sept. 13, 2007, confrontation, Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart face 12 charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. They have not pleaded guilty.
Most of what the jurors heard was hours of small talk between Riccio and Beardsley before the confrontation.
Riccio was recorded repeatedly saying that the "buyer" he was bringing to the hotel wanted only "personal stuff."
Beardsley said he had the memorabilia, including photographs from Simpson's childhood when he had rickets and his legs in braces, and photos from his first wedding. But the pictures he bragged about never materialized, Riccio said.
When Simpson arrived at the hotel room with five other men, Riccio said the plan he had so carefully devised fell apart.
"Simpson walked in and went right to the front of Fromong and Beardsley and started scolding them. He just stood there and yelled and yelled at them," Riccio testified.
"He said, 'I know you guys. You stole my stuff,'" Riccio recalled.
Simpson was also heard on tape saying, "Don't let nobody out of this room."
The dealers blamed Simpson's former agent, Mike Gilbert, for taking the items, Riccio said.
He recounted that Simpson stressed, "I only want my stuff. Stuff that's not mine, we'll give back" as the other sports memorabilia were scooped up in the frenzy.
The start of testimony was delayed when Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass secretly told the jury to arrive early and went with them on a bus to the hotel to view the room. Simpson did not make the trip, but his lawyers and Stewart did.
Under a secret agreement approved by the court, a reporter and photographer from the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper and a videographer from cable network TruTV were the only members of the media to accompany the 12 jurors, six alternates, prosecutors, defense lawyers and court officials.
Other media members were not told about the tour until it was well under way.
Brian Haynes, the reporter allowed in, said that jurors entered the hotel room in pairs and that one ran her hand over the armoire where Riccio had secreted a small digital recorder.
Associated Press writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 35 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jurors in O.J. Simpson's armed robbery and kidnapping trial on Friday heard a recording of the football star angrily accusing two memorabilia dealers of stealing his mementoes and saying, "Don't let nobody out of this room."
On the witness stand introducing the audio was Thomas Riccio, the collectibles dealer who arranged the meeting at the Palace Station casino hotel room, made the secret recording and testified that he never expected what happened.
"The guy with the bald head, (Michael) McClinton, pulled out a gun. And it got crazy from there," Riccio said.
Asked what he was thinking, he said, "This is overkill — big time overkill. They didn't have to do this."
McClinton, an original defendant who made a plea bargain and agreed to testify against Simpson, is the only participant identified so far as having a gun in the room.
"I never at any time wanted a gun in my room. I am antigun," Riccio said.
He described McClinton as "hopping around with the gun" and said, "Maybe he was hyped up on something."
Listening through headphones, the jurors heard McClinton order people to bag the memorabilia spread out on the bed.
Throughout the confrontation, memorabilia dealer Alfred Beardsley kept trying to curry favor with Simpson, saying, "I don't have a problem with you, man. Are you mad at me?"
Beardsley later called 911 and reported he had been robbed at gunpoint by Simpson and a group of "thugs." He also threatened to call the news media, saying they would arrive faster.
"O.J.'s going to get arrested over this," Beardsley declared several times.
The other memorabilia dealer in the room, Bruce Fromong, was heard saying he was going to his truck to get a gun.
As a result of the Sept. 13, 2007, confrontation, Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart face 12 charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. They have not pleaded guilty.
Most of what the jurors heard was hours of small talk between Riccio and Beardsley before the confrontation.
Riccio was recorded repeatedly saying that the "buyer" he was bringing to the hotel wanted only "personal stuff."
Beardsley said he had the memorabilia, including photographs from Simpson's childhood when he had rickets and his legs in braces, and photos from his first wedding. But the pictures he bragged about never materialized, Riccio said.
When Simpson arrived at the hotel room with five other men, Riccio said the plan he had so carefully devised fell apart.
"Simpson walked in and went right to the front of Fromong and Beardsley and started scolding them. He just stood there and yelled and yelled at them," Riccio testified.
"He said, 'I know you guys. You stole my stuff,'" Riccio recalled.
Simpson was also heard on tape saying, "Don't let nobody out of this room."
The dealers blamed Simpson's former agent, Mike Gilbert, for taking the items, Riccio said.
He recounted that Simpson stressed, "I only want my stuff. Stuff that's not mine, we'll give back" as the other sports memorabilia were scooped up in the frenzy.
The start of testimony was delayed when Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass secretly told the jury to arrive early and went with them on a bus to the hotel to view the room. Simpson did not make the trip, but his lawyers and Stewart did.
Under a secret agreement approved by the court, a reporter and photographer from the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper and a videographer from cable network TruTV were the only members of the media to accompany the 12 jurors, six alternates, prosecutors, defense lawyers and court officials.
Other media members were not told about the tour until it was well under way.
Brian Haynes, the reporter allowed in, said that jurors entered the hotel room in pairs and that one ran her hand over the armoire where Riccio had secreted a small digital recorder.
Associated Press writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
O.J. jury taken on unannounced trip to Vegas hotel
The jury in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery and kidnapping case made an unannounced visit to the scene of the alleged crime, at the Palace Station casino hotel.
Clark County District Attorney David Roger said Friday morning that Simpson did not make the trip, but his lawyers did.
The start of trial was postponed while the trip took place.
Court information officer Michael Sommermeyer says he selected a reporter, photographer and videographer to cover the visit after the Palace Station said it would allow just three people to accompany the 12 jurors, six alternates, prosecutors, lawyers and court officials.
Sommermeyer also made the trip.
He says it was arranged late Thursday night.
It was not announced to the public or media at the courthouse until after it occurred.
Clark County District Attorney David Roger said Friday morning that Simpson did not make the trip, but his lawyers did.
The start of trial was postponed while the trip took place.
Court information officer Michael Sommermeyer says he selected a reporter, photographer and videographer to cover the visit after the Palace Station said it would allow just three people to accompany the 12 jurors, six alternates, prosecutors, lawyers and court officials.
Sommermeyer also made the trip.
He says it was arranged late Thursday night.
It was not announced to the public or media at the courthouse until after it occurred.
O.J. jury to hear more recordings Friday in Vegas
O.J. jury to hear more recordings Friday in Vegas
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 09/19/2008 12:07:22 AM PDT
LAS VEGAS—Jurors in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery and kidnapping case are plowing through hours of secret recordings made by a collectibles broker who says a plan to recover a cache of the former football star's personal property worked well -- until a gun was displayed.
Testimony resumes this morning with Thomas Riccio on the witness stand and the jury trying to decipher and weigh the importance of audio recordings Riccio made.
Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart face kidnapping, armed robbery, conspiracy and other charges in the alleged theft of items from two sports memorabilia dealers a year ago.
Riccio recorded the confrontation involving Simpson, five associates and the two memorabilia peddlers in a casino hotel room -- along with conversations with Simpson and other people hours earlier around a hotel resort pool.
Jurors have been told to disregard Simpson's 1995 acquittal in the murder of his ex-wife and her friend, but references to the slayings have been made throughout the trial.
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 09/19/2008 12:07:22 AM PDT
LAS VEGAS—Jurors in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery and kidnapping case are plowing through hours of secret recordings made by a collectibles broker who says a plan to recover a cache of the former football star's personal property worked well -- until a gun was displayed.
Testimony resumes this morning with Thomas Riccio on the witness stand and the jury trying to decipher and weigh the importance of audio recordings Riccio made.
Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart face kidnapping, armed robbery, conspiracy and other charges in the alleged theft of items from two sports memorabilia dealers a year ago.
Riccio recorded the confrontation involving Simpson, five associates and the two memorabilia peddlers in a casino hotel room -- along with conversations with Simpson and other people hours earlier around a hotel resort pool.
Jurors have been told to disregard Simpson's 1995 acquittal in the murder of his ex-wife and her friend, but references to the slayings have been made throughout the trial.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Apparent autograph seeker escorted from O.J. trial
Apparent autograph seeker escorted from O.J. trial
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 09/18/2008 02:20:01 PM PDT
LAS VEGAS—Authorities say an apparent autograph seeker has been detained at the O.J. Simpson armed robbery and kidnapping trial after approaching the defendants at the end of morning testimony.
Sgt. David Hicks, a marshal at the Clark County courthouse in Las Vegas, says a 49-year-old woman was escorted out of the courthouse but not arrested after the incident before noon on Thursday.
Hicks says the woman appeared to be seeking an autograph from Simpson while he was in the courtroom. She was detained as she approached co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart.
Bailiff Arthur Sewell intercepted the woman who approached from the audience section of the courtroom. The jury already had left the room.
The woman's name and hometown are not being released.
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 09/18/2008 02:20:01 PM PDT
LAS VEGAS—Authorities say an apparent autograph seeker has been detained at the O.J. Simpson armed robbery and kidnapping trial after approaching the defendants at the end of morning testimony.
Sgt. David Hicks, a marshal at the Clark County courthouse in Las Vegas, says a 49-year-old woman was escorted out of the courthouse but not arrested after the incident before noon on Thursday.
Hicks says the woman appeared to be seeking an autograph from Simpson while he was in the courtroom. She was detained as she approached co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart.
Bailiff Arthur Sewell intercepted the woman who approached from the audience section of the courtroom. The jury already had left the room.
The woman's name and hometown are not being released.
Vegas police talked of 'getting' O.J. on recording
Vegas police talked of 'getting' O.J. on recording
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 51 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jurors who have been told to refrain from judging O.J. Simpson on his past heard a recording Thursday of a police employee exulting: "This is great. ... California can't get him. ... Now we'll be able to."
Police detective Andy Caldwell conceded the statement was made as a team of officers examined a casino hotel room where Simpson is accused of leading a kidnapping and armed robbery. Caldwell said the comment came from a civilian employee of the police department, not a sworn officer.
The comments were picked up on a digital recorder that had been secretly placed by Thomas Riccio, who had arranged a meeting in the hotel room between Simpson and two sports memorabilia dealers that escalated into a confrontation last year.
Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart have pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. The confrontation was over Simpson's effort to retrieve items that the former football star says belonged to him.
Before Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, questioned Caldwell for a second day, prosecutors sought to bar his line of questioning.
Defense attorney Gabriel Grasso told the judge: "One of our themes is when police found out that O.J. Simpson was involved, there was the equivalent of a feeding frenzy. They dropped everything."
Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass allowed the questioning to proceed "within the rules."
Galanter asked Caldwell if police were conducting "what's supposed to be an unbiased investigation."
He said they were.
"And they're prejudging him; they want to get Mr. Simpson?" Galanter asked.
"I can't say what someone else is thinking," Caldwell said.
The detective clashed with Galanter repeatedly as the lawyer asked if he had done anything in the days after the incident to determine whether Simpson owned the items taken from the hotel room.
"Sir, ownership is not an element of robbery," the detective said before being scolded by the judge for giving a legal conclusion.
When prosecutor Chris Owens took over questioning, he again raised the issue of how the detective researched ownership. Caldwell tried to say he had contacted a lawyer for Fred Goldman, the father of Ronald Goldman, who was slain along with Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson in 1994. Galanter objected quickly and Caldwell was barred from continuing.
Glass, who has expressed impatience with lawyers since testimony began Monday, became irritated as Galanter and Owens continued to press the ownership issue.
"I'm going to say enough," she declared. "We've beaten this horse to death. I think we all get the point and I'm going to ask you both to sit down," Glass said.
Jurors, who are allowed to ask questions, passed notes to the judge. One of them read: "Was there any reason other than Simpson being a famous person that delayed the investigation?"
Caldwell answered, "No."
After morning testimony ended, a 49-year-old woman was detained when she approached Stewart, apparently seeking an autograph. Authorities said the woman was not arrested. The jury had already left the room.
Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 51 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jurors who have been told to refrain from judging O.J. Simpson on his past heard a recording Thursday of a police employee exulting: "This is great. ... California can't get him. ... Now we'll be able to."
Police detective Andy Caldwell conceded the statement was made as a team of officers examined a casino hotel room where Simpson is accused of leading a kidnapping and armed robbery. Caldwell said the comment came from a civilian employee of the police department, not a sworn officer.
The comments were picked up on a digital recorder that had been secretly placed by Thomas Riccio, who had arranged a meeting in the hotel room between Simpson and two sports memorabilia dealers that escalated into a confrontation last year.
Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart have pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. The confrontation was over Simpson's effort to retrieve items that the former football star says belonged to him.
Before Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, questioned Caldwell for a second day, prosecutors sought to bar his line of questioning.
Defense attorney Gabriel Grasso told the judge: "One of our themes is when police found out that O.J. Simpson was involved, there was the equivalent of a feeding frenzy. They dropped everything."
Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass allowed the questioning to proceed "within the rules."
Galanter asked Caldwell if police were conducting "what's supposed to be an unbiased investigation."
He said they were.
"And they're prejudging him; they want to get Mr. Simpson?" Galanter asked.
"I can't say what someone else is thinking," Caldwell said.
The detective clashed with Galanter repeatedly as the lawyer asked if he had done anything in the days after the incident to determine whether Simpson owned the items taken from the hotel room.
"Sir, ownership is not an element of robbery," the detective said before being scolded by the judge for giving a legal conclusion.
When prosecutor Chris Owens took over questioning, he again raised the issue of how the detective researched ownership. Caldwell tried to say he had contacted a lawyer for Fred Goldman, the father of Ronald Goldman, who was slain along with Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson in 1994. Galanter objected quickly and Caldwell was barred from continuing.
Glass, who has expressed impatience with lawyers since testimony began Monday, became irritated as Galanter and Owens continued to press the ownership issue.
"I'm going to say enough," she declared. "We've beaten this horse to death. I think we all get the point and I'm going to ask you both to sit down," Glass said.
Jurors, who are allowed to ask questions, passed notes to the judge. One of them read: "Was there any reason other than Simpson being a famous person that delayed the investigation?"
Caldwell answered, "No."
After morning testimony ended, a 49-year-old woman was detained when she approached Stewart, apparently seeking an autograph. Authorities said the woman was not arrested. The jury had already left the room.
Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
Vegas detective was surprised by Simpson charges
Vegas detective was surprised by Simpson charges
By LINDA DEUTSCH AP Special Correspondent
Article Launched: 09/18/2008 12:10:22 AM PDT
LAS VEGAS—When police detective Andy Caldwell heard that O.J. Simpson was a suspect in a robbery, he said he couldn't believe it.
The detective, who with his partner was the first to arrive at a casino hotel to investigate the alleged armed robbery, was due to complete his testimony Thursday.
His account highlighted the impact Simpson's celebrity had on those assigned to the case.
"We wanted to make sure everything was right before we arrested him," he testified. "Because of who it was, we felt we should go above and beyond."
Caldwell said surveillance was set up on Simpson and police waited to interview him. But Caldwell said he also began to interview the alleged victims as well as Thomas Riccio, the colorful collectibles broker who arranged the meeting between Simpson and two memorabilia dealers he believed had stolen his personal mementos.
The detective said he and Riccio immediately "butted heads."
"He was very interested in telling me a long, drawn out story. I didn't have time," he said. "He talked very fast, very loud. He wasn't following directions."
Caldwell said he turned over the interview with Riccio to another detective.
"My concern was he had actually set it up. He was the middleman," he said and added that he considered arresting Riccio but dropping that idea when he heard accounts of the alleged robbery and found out that Riccio had recorded the confrontation.
Caldwell said it took eight
days to negotiate with Riccio to turn over the digital recordings to police. By then, Riccio already had sold the recording to a gossip Internet site for about $100,000.
"And he said before he turned over the recordings that he wanted immunity?" asked attorney Brent Bryson, who represents co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart.
"Yes," Caldwell said.
"And you did an immunity deal?" he asked.
"Yes," said the detective.
Caldwell said he then spent weeks listening to more than 10 hours of recordings and trying to transcribe them. The recordings, which are to be played for jurors, also include phone conversations between Riccio and Simpson in which the former football player insisted that during the confrontation: "I never saw a gun. I would have never had anybody in with a gun."
In one conversation secretly taped by Riccio at a hotel where Simpson was staying, the former football great spoke of his plans to confront the memorabilia dealers.
"I just want my private pictures," Simpson said on the tape. "The rest of it I don't give a (expletive) about."
Simpson and Stewart have pleaded not guilty to 12 charges including armed robbery, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and coercion. A kidnapping conviction could result in a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. An armed robbery conviction could mean mandatory prison time.
Riccio, who is in town waiting to testify, has said that prosecutors told him to expect to be on the stand for up to a day and a half.
"I hope they don't just have to go by what I say," Riccio told The Associated Press. "All they have to do is listen to my tapes."
———
Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
By LINDA DEUTSCH AP Special Correspondent
Article Launched: 09/18/2008 12:10:22 AM PDT
LAS VEGAS—When police detective Andy Caldwell heard that O.J. Simpson was a suspect in a robbery, he said he couldn't believe it.
The detective, who with his partner was the first to arrive at a casino hotel to investigate the alleged armed robbery, was due to complete his testimony Thursday.
His account highlighted the impact Simpson's celebrity had on those assigned to the case.
"We wanted to make sure everything was right before we arrested him," he testified. "Because of who it was, we felt we should go above and beyond."
Caldwell said surveillance was set up on Simpson and police waited to interview him. But Caldwell said he also began to interview the alleged victims as well as Thomas Riccio, the colorful collectibles broker who arranged the meeting between Simpson and two memorabilia dealers he believed had stolen his personal mementos.
The detective said he and Riccio immediately "butted heads."
"He was very interested in telling me a long, drawn out story. I didn't have time," he said. "He talked very fast, very loud. He wasn't following directions."
Caldwell said he turned over the interview with Riccio to another detective.
"My concern was he had actually set it up. He was the middleman," he said and added that he considered arresting Riccio but dropping that idea when he heard accounts of the alleged robbery and found out that Riccio had recorded the confrontation.
Caldwell said it took eight
days to negotiate with Riccio to turn over the digital recordings to police. By then, Riccio already had sold the recording to a gossip Internet site for about $100,000.
"And he said before he turned over the recordings that he wanted immunity?" asked attorney Brent Bryson, who represents co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart.
"Yes," Caldwell said.
"And you did an immunity deal?" he asked.
"Yes," said the detective.
Caldwell said he then spent weeks listening to more than 10 hours of recordings and trying to transcribe them. The recordings, which are to be played for jurors, also include phone conversations between Riccio and Simpson in which the former football player insisted that during the confrontation: "I never saw a gun. I would have never had anybody in with a gun."
In one conversation secretly taped by Riccio at a hotel where Simpson was staying, the former football great spoke of his plans to confront the memorabilia dealers.
"I just want my private pictures," Simpson said on the tape. "The rest of it I don't give a (expletive) about."
Simpson and Stewart have pleaded not guilty to 12 charges including armed robbery, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and coercion. A kidnapping conviction could result in a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. An armed robbery conviction could mean mandatory prison time.
Riccio, who is in town waiting to testify, has said that prosecutors told him to expect to be on the stand for up to a day and a half.
"I hope they don't just have to go by what I say," Riccio told The Associated Press. "All they have to do is listen to my tapes."
———
Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Fromong To Return To The Stand After Medical Scare
Witness In Simpson Case Becomes Ill
The robbery and kidnapping trial for O.J. Simpson was interrupted briefly yesterday after the first witness in the case got ill while on the stand. The trial was temporarily halted yesterday afternoon after the Bruce Fromong, a witness for the prosecution, complained of chest pains. After Fromong was treated for chest pains the trial restarted just before 5 p.m. Fromong did not require hospitalization and will likely return to the stand today. Fromong is said to of had four heart attacks since the alleged Simpson robbery at the Palace Station Hotel in September of 2007. It's not clear if Fromong's problem involved his heart, but after more than three hours into his testimony his attorney said he felt lightheaded and faint. Fromong is the memorabilia dealer who was in the room when he says Simpson came storming in. He is expected to take the stand again today.
Monday, September 15, 2008
OJTalk.com in the Las Vegas Weekly Again
What is now going on at the Regional Justice Center is really just an echo from the trial of the century.
The police and the media were the primary witnesses to what little spectacle attended Day 1 of O.J. Simpson’s kidnapping and robbery trial in Vegas. This was good news for the attention-seekers who did take the time to put in an appearance. A line of reporters was waiting to interview a lady dressed as Wonder Woman. She told me she was there fighting for the rights of women. But since every defendant and alleged victim in this case is a guy, I asked her what she meant. “Well, I just want people to go to OJTalk.com,” the superhero replied.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
OJ Simpson Las Vegas Trial Week 1 By MOONDOGGIE of OJTalk.com
IT WAS A SLOW WEEK OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE WITH JUST JURY SELECTIONBUT NOW THAT THE JURY IS SEATED, IT SHOULD BE WILD THIS NEXT WEEK, STAY TUNED FOR ALL OJ MANIAN AT OJTalk.com
Friday, September 12, 2008
12 Whites Will Judge OJ Starting Monday In Las Vegas
OJ Simpson Las Vegas Trial. Stay on top of all the news at www.OJTalk.com
Thursday, September 11, 2008
POOL IS NOW FULL OF JURORS, HOPE IT'S A HEATED POOL
O.J. Simpson jury pool down to final 40 in Vegas
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 54 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The O.J. Simpson armed robbery-kidnapping trial has taken a large step toward picking a jury in Las Vegas.
After four days, the pool of prospective jurors was narrowed to 40 finalists Thursday.
From those, prosecutors and defense lawyers are expected to quickly seat 12 jurors and six alternates.
Judge Jackie Glass wants to begin opening statements Monday.
Most prospective jurors said they disagree with Simpson's 1995 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife and her friend, but many said they can still fairly consider the Las Vegas case.
Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart have pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, armed robbery and other charges in a confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers last year.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge who asked lawyers and prospective jurors to put in 10-hour days to get a jury for the O.J. Simpson kidnapping-robbery case suggested a panel to judge the former football star could be seated late Thursday or early Friday.
"The end is near, folks!" exulted Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass at the end of three grueling days of jury questioning. "There are people who thought it would take weeks to pick a jury. It will take only a week, maybe less."
Jury selection resumed Thursday morning.
By day's end Wednesday, lawyers had cleared 27 prospects for the panel from which the final 12 jurors and six alternates will be chosen. Glass said she wants 40 cleared before lawyers begin exercising peremptory challenges, which allow them to remove a total of 22 prospects without stating a cause.
A few of those remaining have been challenged for cause, including bias against Simpson, but the judge rejected the moves.
One man's angry outburst against Simpson led to a defense motion to dismiss the entire jury pool because everyone had heard it. But the judge refused.
The man, who had been waiting for three days to have his say, blurted out a comment that stunned the courtroom.
"I feel the case down in Los Angeles — if someone got away with that, you would keep yourself clean and you wouldn't come back and commit another crime," he said.
The judge quickly dismissed him and asked other jurors to disregard his words. She told them they would have to put aside negative feelings about Simpson's murder acquittal.
"Conversely, if you are a super O.J. fan and think Mr. Simpson is the best thing that ever happened in football, can you set that aside?" she said.
Most prospective jurors have said they disagree with the 1995 verdict to acquit Simpson on charges of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and friend Ronald Goldman, though many have said they still believe they can fairly consider the Las Vegas case.
Simpson, 61, is accused with co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes for allegedly stealing items from two sports memorabilia dealers in a hotel room confrontation last year. They have pleaded not guilty.
On Wednesday, there was a mix of those with strong feelings against Simpson and a few who paid little attention to the murder trial and said they were neutral. Some were teenagers when the trial happened and one man said he was 8 years old but remembered his parents denouncing the acquittal verdict.
"My parents had very strong opinions against the verdict," said the young ponytailed man. But he said he could put that aside and judge the Las Vegas case anew.
Wednesday's session was marked by a contentious verbal contest between Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter and a man who had shown anger against Simpson's acquittal in his written jury questionnaire. The man acknowledged he had written some strong, emotional opinions but said his three days in court had convinced him he could put those feelings aside.
One woman said she didn't follow the previous trial but was critical of Simpson for participating in an ill-fated book called, "If I Did It."
"The title alone is going to cause negative feedback, and I don't know who wants to invite that into your life," she said.
Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 54 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The O.J. Simpson armed robbery-kidnapping trial has taken a large step toward picking a jury in Las Vegas.
After four days, the pool of prospective jurors was narrowed to 40 finalists Thursday.
From those, prosecutors and defense lawyers are expected to quickly seat 12 jurors and six alternates.
Judge Jackie Glass wants to begin opening statements Monday.
Most prospective jurors said they disagree with Simpson's 1995 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife and her friend, but many said they can still fairly consider the Las Vegas case.
Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart have pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, armed robbery and other charges in a confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers last year.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge who asked lawyers and prospective jurors to put in 10-hour days to get a jury for the O.J. Simpson kidnapping-robbery case suggested a panel to judge the former football star could be seated late Thursday or early Friday.
"The end is near, folks!" exulted Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass at the end of three grueling days of jury questioning. "There are people who thought it would take weeks to pick a jury. It will take only a week, maybe less."
Jury selection resumed Thursday morning.
By day's end Wednesday, lawyers had cleared 27 prospects for the panel from which the final 12 jurors and six alternates will be chosen. Glass said she wants 40 cleared before lawyers begin exercising peremptory challenges, which allow them to remove a total of 22 prospects without stating a cause.
A few of those remaining have been challenged for cause, including bias against Simpson, but the judge rejected the moves.
One man's angry outburst against Simpson led to a defense motion to dismiss the entire jury pool because everyone had heard it. But the judge refused.
The man, who had been waiting for three days to have his say, blurted out a comment that stunned the courtroom.
"I feel the case down in Los Angeles — if someone got away with that, you would keep yourself clean and you wouldn't come back and commit another crime," he said.
The judge quickly dismissed him and asked other jurors to disregard his words. She told them they would have to put aside negative feelings about Simpson's murder acquittal.
"Conversely, if you are a super O.J. fan and think Mr. Simpson is the best thing that ever happened in football, can you set that aside?" she said.
Most prospective jurors have said they disagree with the 1995 verdict to acquit Simpson on charges of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and friend Ronald Goldman, though many have said they still believe they can fairly consider the Las Vegas case.
Simpson, 61, is accused with co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes for allegedly stealing items from two sports memorabilia dealers in a hotel room confrontation last year. They have pleaded not guilty.
On Wednesday, there was a mix of those with strong feelings against Simpson and a few who paid little attention to the murder trial and said they were neutral. Some were teenagers when the trial happened and one man said he was 8 years old but remembered his parents denouncing the acquittal verdict.
"My parents had very strong opinions against the verdict," said the young ponytailed man. But he said he could put that aside and judge the Las Vegas case anew.
Wednesday's session was marked by a contentious verbal contest between Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter and a man who had shown anger against Simpson's acquittal in his written jury questionnaire. The man acknowledged he had written some strong, emotional opinions but said his three days in court had convinced him he could put those feelings aside.
One woman said she didn't follow the previous trial but was critical of Simpson for participating in an ill-fated book called, "If I Did It."
"The title alone is going to cause negative feedback, and I don't know who wants to invite that into your life," she said.
Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Simpson Trial, DAY 3 Report By AP'S LINDA DEUTSCH
Simpson trial judge say jury will be seated soon
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 50 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — After a contentious day of lawyers sparring with prospective jurors in O.J. Simpson's kidnapping-robbery trial Wednesday, the judge said it appeared a jury would be seated by Friday or earlier.
"The end is near, folks!" Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass announced to the remaining weary prospects who must be questioned before lawyers begin exercising challenges and choosing the final panel.
"There are people who thought it would take weeks to pick a jury," the judge said. "It will take only a week, maybe less."
She predicted enough panelists will have been questioned by Thursday to provide the pool of 40 from which the 12 jurors and six alternates can be chosen.
A total of 27 have been cleared, although one prospect's angry outburst led to a defense motion to dismiss the everyone because they had heard the comments. The judge refused.
The man, who had waited three days to have his say, blurted out a comment that stunned the courtroom.
"I feel the case down in Los Angeles — if someone got away with that, you would keep yourself clean and you wouldn't come back and commit another crime," he said.
The judge quickly dismissed him and asked other jurors to disregard his comments. She told them they would have to put aside negative feelings about Simpson's previous case and "Conversely, if you are a super O.J. fan and think Mr. Simpson is the best thing that ever happened in football, can you set that aside?"
Simpson, 61, is accused with co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes for allegedly stealing items from two sports memorabilia dealers in a hotel room confrontation last year. They have pleaded not guilty.
The day's toughest questioning was reserved for a man who had expressed anger on his written questionnaire at Simpson's acquittal in 1995 and said he couldn't get past it.
"I meant what I said," he acknowledged under questioning by Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter. But he insisted that during his time in court he had "done some soul searching" and realized he could put aside his feelings about the old case and focus on the facts of the new one. After a half hour of intense quizzing, he was allowed to remain in the jury pool.
Each side will have eight peremptory challenges allowing them to remove prospects without stating a cause. Three additional challenges are available for choosing six alternates.
Most prospective jurors questioned have said they disagree with the verdict to acquit Simpson on charges of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and friend Ronald Goldman, though many have said they believe they can fairly consider the case before them.
A young prospective juror was one of the few questioned who said he supported the murder verdict. He said he was a fan of Simpson's football career and a collector of sports memorabilia.
"He was tried, he had a fair trial and he was found not guilty," the man said. "Our justice system worked."
One woman said she believed Simpson should have been convicted and offered the view that the "Trial of the Century" was mishandled.
"I thought it was because of his status, that if it had been a normal person it wouldn't have gotten so crazy out of hand," she said.
Still the woman insisted she could be fair. She also said she could put aside the fact that the last time she was a juror the defendant hanged himself after being found guilty.
"I don't think Mr. Simpson is going to hang himself," she said.
Simpson showed no reaction.
Jury selection was delayed briefly after two potential jurors reported they had been approached outside the courthouse Tuesday by a man claiming to be with the media.
Glass summoned the women to the courtroom and both said they had not been wearing their juror badges and that they immediately walked away.
Glass said she was confident neither person has been influenced.
Court officials were reviewing videotapes to try to identify the man, and it wasn't clear if he was a member of the media.
Court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said any media contact with jurors would be punishable by a contempt citation or confiscation of press credentials.
"The court and the judge are attempting to do everything in their power to impanel a jury that's as unbiased as humanly possible and not tainted by any outside influence," he said.
Associated Press writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 50 minutes ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — After a contentious day of lawyers sparring with prospective jurors in O.J. Simpson's kidnapping-robbery trial Wednesday, the judge said it appeared a jury would be seated by Friday or earlier.
"The end is near, folks!" Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass announced to the remaining weary prospects who must be questioned before lawyers begin exercising challenges and choosing the final panel.
"There are people who thought it would take weeks to pick a jury," the judge said. "It will take only a week, maybe less."
She predicted enough panelists will have been questioned by Thursday to provide the pool of 40 from which the 12 jurors and six alternates can be chosen.
A total of 27 have been cleared, although one prospect's angry outburst led to a defense motion to dismiss the everyone because they had heard the comments. The judge refused.
The man, who had waited three days to have his say, blurted out a comment that stunned the courtroom.
"I feel the case down in Los Angeles — if someone got away with that, you would keep yourself clean and you wouldn't come back and commit another crime," he said.
The judge quickly dismissed him and asked other jurors to disregard his comments. She told them they would have to put aside negative feelings about Simpson's previous case and "Conversely, if you are a super O.J. fan and think Mr. Simpson is the best thing that ever happened in football, can you set that aside?"
Simpson, 61, is accused with co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes for allegedly stealing items from two sports memorabilia dealers in a hotel room confrontation last year. They have pleaded not guilty.
The day's toughest questioning was reserved for a man who had expressed anger on his written questionnaire at Simpson's acquittal in 1995 and said he couldn't get past it.
"I meant what I said," he acknowledged under questioning by Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter. But he insisted that during his time in court he had "done some soul searching" and realized he could put aside his feelings about the old case and focus on the facts of the new one. After a half hour of intense quizzing, he was allowed to remain in the jury pool.
Each side will have eight peremptory challenges allowing them to remove prospects without stating a cause. Three additional challenges are available for choosing six alternates.
Most prospective jurors questioned have said they disagree with the verdict to acquit Simpson on charges of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and friend Ronald Goldman, though many have said they believe they can fairly consider the case before them.
A young prospective juror was one of the few questioned who said he supported the murder verdict. He said he was a fan of Simpson's football career and a collector of sports memorabilia.
"He was tried, he had a fair trial and he was found not guilty," the man said. "Our justice system worked."
One woman said she believed Simpson should have been convicted and offered the view that the "Trial of the Century" was mishandled.
"I thought it was because of his status, that if it had been a normal person it wouldn't have gotten so crazy out of hand," she said.
Still the woman insisted she could be fair. She also said she could put aside the fact that the last time she was a juror the defendant hanged himself after being found guilty.
"I don't think Mr. Simpson is going to hang himself," she said.
Simpson showed no reaction.
Jury selection was delayed briefly after two potential jurors reported they had been approached outside the courthouse Tuesday by a man claiming to be with the media.
Glass summoned the women to the courtroom and both said they had not been wearing their juror badges and that they immediately walked away.
Glass said she was confident neither person has been influenced.
Court officials were reviewing videotapes to try to identify the man, and it wasn't clear if he was a member of the media.
Court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said any media contact with jurors would be punishable by a contempt citation or confiscation of press credentials.
"The court and the judge are attempting to do everything in their power to impanel a jury that's as unbiased as humanly possible and not tainted by any outside influence," he said.
Associated Press writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.
OJ TRIAL DAY 2 BY AP REPORTER KEN RITTER
O.J. Simpson jury selection set to resume
By KEN RITTER – 4 hours ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Prosecutors and defense lawyers are vying for an edge as they try to shape a jury that will decide whether O.J. Simpson and a friend robbed two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a casino hotel room a year ago.
Jury selection was to resume Wednesday. Twenty people have been dismissed after two days of questioning and no jurors have been seated so far.
Twelve people have advanced through personal questioning by both sides to remain in consideration for what will be a pool of 40, from which the prosecution and defense each will be allowed to eliminate 11.
A New York defense lawyer who has been following the case since the alleged armed robbery last September termed the jockeying between prosecutors and defense lawyers to seat favorable jurors an elemental, if incremental, part of the trial.
"Jury selection is very, very important. You can only make one first impression," said Michael Shapiro, who characterized the process as "speed dating" between lawyers and prospective jurors.
The two days of jury selection have been dominated by questions about the celebrity of the 61-year-old former football star, actor and advertising pitchman, his acquittal in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend, and about the racial makeup of the jury.
Charles D. Jones, lawyer for co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, reminded several prospective jurors that the case involved two men. "You realize this is one trial, but there are two defendants," Jones said.
Simpson and Stewart, 54, each face 12 charges, including felony kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly stealing items at gunpoint from two sports memorabilia dealers.
Both men have pleaded not guilty. Each could face mandatory prison time if convicted of armed robbery. A kidnapping conviction carries the possibility of life in prison with the possibility of parole.
The trial could cost the county up to $250,000 if it runs through Oct. 17 as scheduled and jurors are sequestered, court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said. He had no cost estimate for security.
Associated Press Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.
By KEN RITTER – 4 hours ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Prosecutors and defense lawyers are vying for an edge as they try to shape a jury that will decide whether O.J. Simpson and a friend robbed two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a casino hotel room a year ago.
Jury selection was to resume Wednesday. Twenty people have been dismissed after two days of questioning and no jurors have been seated so far.
Twelve people have advanced through personal questioning by both sides to remain in consideration for what will be a pool of 40, from which the prosecution and defense each will be allowed to eliminate 11.
A New York defense lawyer who has been following the case since the alleged armed robbery last September termed the jockeying between prosecutors and defense lawyers to seat favorable jurors an elemental, if incremental, part of the trial.
"Jury selection is very, very important. You can only make one first impression," said Michael Shapiro, who characterized the process as "speed dating" between lawyers and prospective jurors.
The two days of jury selection have been dominated by questions about the celebrity of the 61-year-old former football star, actor and advertising pitchman, his acquittal in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend, and about the racial makeup of the jury.
Charles D. Jones, lawyer for co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, reminded several prospective jurors that the case involved two men. "You realize this is one trial, but there are two defendants," Jones said.
Simpson and Stewart, 54, each face 12 charges, including felony kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly stealing items at gunpoint from two sports memorabilia dealers.
Both men have pleaded not guilty. Each could face mandatory prison time if convicted of armed robbery. A kidnapping conviction carries the possibility of life in prison with the possibility of parole.
The trial could cost the county up to $250,000 if it runs through Oct. 17 as scheduled and jurors are sequestered, court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said. He had no cost estimate for security.
Associated Press Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.
Monday, September 8, 2008
OJ SIMPSON LAS VEGAS TRIAL DAY 1 SLIDESHOW
FOR ALL YOUR DESIGN NEEDS CALL ON MY FRIEND JOHN AT www.ARTWORKS702.com
Sunday, September 7, 2008
OJ SIMPSON BIO courtesy of wikipedia.org
With the OJ Simpson Las Vegas Robbery and Kidnapping trial set to begin in just hours, we thought we would pass on to you the entire OJ Bio from that awesome web site wikipedia.org LET'S REVIEW HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY......
O.J. Simpson Bio
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson (born July 9, 1947), also known by his nickname, The Juice, is a retired American football player, actor, spokesman and broadcaster, who earned infamy for having been tried for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994. He originally attained stardom as a running back at the collegiate and professional levels, and was the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.
Simpson was acquitted of the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1995 after a lengthy, highly publicized criminal trial. In 1997, a default judgment against Simpson was awarded for their wrongful deaths in civil court by a jury, but to date he has paid little of the $33.5 million judgment.[1] He gained further notoriety in late 2006 when he wrote a book titled If I Did It. The book, which purports to be a first-person fictional account of the murder had he actually committed it, was withdrawn by the publisher just before its release. The book was later released by the Goldman family and the title of the book was expanded to If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer (ISBN 978-0825305887). In September 2007, Simpson faced more legal troubles, as he was arrested[2] and subsequently charged with numerous felonies, including robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon (which carries possible life sentence), coercion with use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit a crime.[3]
Early life
Simpson was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Eunice (née Durden; October 23, 1921 – San Francisco, California, November 9, 2001), a hospital administrator, and Jimmy Lee Simpson (Arkansas, January 29, 1920 – San Francisco, California, June 9, 1986), a chef and bank custodian.[4] Simpson's maternal grandparents were from Louisiana.[5] His aunt gave him the name Orenthal, which supposedly was the name of a French actor she liked.[6] His parents were separated in 1952. Simpson has one brother, Melvin Leon "Truman" Simpson, and two sisters, Shirley Simpson-Baker and Carmelita Simpson-Durio. As a child, Simpson contracted rickets and wore braces on his legs until the age of five.[7]
At Galileo High School in San Francisco, Simpson played for the school football team, the Galileo Lions. From 1965 to 1966, Simpson was a student at City College of San Francisco, a member of the California Community Colleges system. He played both offense (running back) and defense (defensive back) and was named to the Junior College All American team as a running back.
University of Southern California
Simpson earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Southern California where he played running back in 1967 and 1968. Simpson led the nation in rushing in 1967 when he ran for 1,451 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. He also led the nation in rushing the next year with 355 carries for 1,709 yards.
In 1967, he starred in the 1967 USC vs. UCLA football game and was a Heisman Trophy candidate, but he did not win the award. His 64 yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter tied the game, with the PAT the margin of victory. This was the biggest play in what is regarded as one of the greatest football games of the 20th century.[8] Another dramatic touchdown in the same game is the subject of the Arnold Friberg oil painting, O.J. Simpson Breaks for Daylight. Simpson also won the Walter Camp Award in 1967 and was a two-time consensus All-American.[9] He also ran in the USC sprint relay quartet that broke the world record at the NCAA track championships in Provo, Utah in June 1967.[10]
In 1968, he rushed for 1,709 yards and 22 touchdowns, earning the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award that year. He still holds the record for the Heisman's largest margin of victory, defeating the runner-up by 1,750 points. In the 1969 Rose Bowl where #2 USC faced #1 Ohio State, Simpson threw a costly interception and fumbled the ball in a 16-27 loss in his final college game.[11]
NFL
There was a regular-season game nicknamed for Simpson; it was the "O.J. Bowl", between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers, because it was thought the loser would get the first crack at drafting him. The Eagles won that game 12-0 (on 4 field goals by Sam Baker); but it turned out that neither of those teams drafted him.
Simpson was drafted by the AFL's Buffalo Bills, who got first pick in the 1969 draft after finishing 1-12-1 in 1968. Early in his NFL career, Simpson struggled on poor Buffalo teams, averaging only 622 yards per season for his first three.
He first rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 1972, gaining a total of 1,251. In 1973, Simpson rushed for a then-record 2,003 yards, becoming the first player ever to pass the 2,000-yard mark, and scored 12 touchdowns. Simpson gained more than 1,000 rushing yards for each of his next three seasons.
Simpson's 1977 season in Buffalo was cut short by injury. Before the 1978 season, the Bills traded Simpson to the San Francisco 49ers for a second round draft pick, where he played two unremarkable seasons.
Simpson gained 11,236 rushing yards, placing him 2nd on the NFL's all-time rushing list; he now stands at 16th. He was named NFL Player of the Year in 1973, and played in six Pro Bowls. Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, his first year of eligibility.
Family life
On June 24, 1967 Simpson married Marguerite L. Whitley. Together they had three children: Arnelle L. Simpson (born December 4, 1968), Jason L. Simpson (born April 21, 1970) and Aaren Lashone Simpson (born September 24, 1977). In 1979, Aaren drowned in the family's swimming pool a month before her second birthday. That same year Simpson and Marguerite were divorced.
On February 2, 1985, Simpson married Nicole Brown. They had two children, Sydney Brooke Simpson (born October 17, 1985) and Justin Ryan Simpson (born August 6, 1988), and were divorced in 1992.
Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman were murdered on June 12, 1994. Simpson was charged in their deaths but acquitted of all criminal charges in a now-infamous criminal trial. In the unanimous jury findings of a civil court case in February 1997, Simpson was found liable for the wrongful death of Ronald Goldman and battery of Nicole Brown (in other words the jury found him directly responsible for her death).
Acting
Even before his retirement from football and in the NFL, Simpson went on to a successful film career with parts in films such as the television mini-series Roots, and the dramatic motion pictures The Cassandra Crossing, Capricorn One, The Klansman, The Towering Inferno, and the comedic Back to the Beach and The Naked Gun trilogy. In 1979, he started his own film production company Orenthal Productions, which dealt mostly in made-for-TV fare such as the family-oriented Goldie and the Boxer films with Melissa Michaelsen and Cocaine and Blue Eyes, the pilot for a proposed detective series on NBC.
Simpson's amiable persona and natural charisma landed him numerous endorsement deals. He was a spokesman for the Hertz rental car company. He would often be shown running through airports, as if to suggest he was back on the football field. Simpson was also a longtime spokesman for Pioneer Chicken and owned two franchises, one of which was destroyed during the LA riots, as well as Honeybaked Hams, the pX Corporation, the Calistoga Water Company's line of Napa Naturals soft drinks, and he appeared in comic book ads for Dingo shoes.
Besides his acting career, Simpson had stints as a commentator for Monday Night Football and The NFL on NBC.[12] He also hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live.[13]
Legal problems
Criminal trial for murder
Main article: O. J. Simpson murder case
In 1989, Simpson pled no contest to a domestic violence charge and was separated from Nicole Brown, to whom he was paying child support. On June 12, 1994 Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman were found dead outside Brown's condominium. Simpson was soon charged with their murders. After failing to turn himself in, he became the object of a low-speed pursuit in a white Ford Bronco SUV. The pursuit, arrest, and trial were among the most widely publicized in American history. The trial, often characterized as "the trial of the century," culminated on October 3, 1995 in a jury verdict of not guilty for the two murders. The verdict was seen live on TV by more than half of the U.S. population, making it one of the most watched events in American TV history. Immediate reaction to the verdict was notable for its division along racial lines: polls showed that most black Americans felt that justice had been served by the "not guilty" verdict, while most white Americans did not.[14] O.J. Simpson's defense council include the late Johnnie Cochran and F. Lee Bailey.
Civil trial for wrongful death
On February 5, 1997 a civil jury in Santa Monica, California unanimously found Simpson liable for the wrongful death of Ronald Goldman, battery against Ronald Goldman, and battery against Nicole Brown. The attorney for plaintiff Fred Goldman (father of Ronald Goldman) was Daniel Petrocelli. Simpson was ordered to pay $33,500,000 in damages. However, California law protects pensions from being used to satisfy judgments, so Simpson was able to continue much of his lifestyle based on his NFL pension. In February 1999 an auction of Simpson's Heisman Trophy and other belongings netted almost $500,000. The money went to the Goldman family. Simpson's payment for appearing in the video game All Pro Football 2K8 was also seized.
A 2000 Rolling Stone article reported that Simpson still made a significant income by signing autographs. He subsequently moved from California to Miami, Florida. In Florida, a person's residence cannot be seized to collect a debt under most circumstances. The Goldman family also tried to collect Simpson's NFL pension of $22,000 a month but failed to collect any money.[15]
Related litigation
The civil and criminal trials of Simpson were not the only important legal cases that were spawned by the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman on June 12, 1994.
On September 5, 2006, Ron Goldman's father took Simpson back to court to obtain control over his "right to publicity" for purposes of satisfying the judgment in the civil court case.[1] On January 4, 2007 a Federal judge issued a restraining order prohibiting Simpson from spending any advance he may have received on a canceled TV and book deal. The matter was dismissed before trial for lack of jurisdiction.[1] On January 19, 2007 a California state judge issued an additional restraining order, ordering Simpson to restrict his spending to "ordinary and necessary living expenses".[1]
On March 13, 2007 a judge prevented Simpson from receiving any further compensation from a canceled book deal and TV interview. He ordered the bundled book rights to be auctioned.[16]
In August 2007, a Florida bankruptcy court awarded the rights to the book to the Goldman family to partially satisfy an unpaid civil judgment. The book was renamed If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer, and comments were added to the original manuscript by the Goldman family, author Pablo Fenjves, and prominent investigative journalist Dominick Dunne.[17]
Overdue income taxes
The State of California claims Simpson owes $1,435,484.17 in past due taxes. A tax lien was filed in his case on September 1, 1999.[18]
DirecTV satellite piracy case
On March 8, 2004, satellite television network DirecTV, Inc. accused Simpson in a Miami federal court of using illegal electronic devices to pirate its broadcast signals. The El Segundo, California-based company later won a US$25,000 judgment, and Simpson was ordered to pay US$33,678 in attorneys' fees and costs.[19][20]
Las Vegas robbery
Main article: O. J. Simpson Las Vegas robbery case
Wikinews has related news:
Bail set in O.J. Simpson alleged robbery
In September, 2007, a group of men allegedly entered a room at the Palace Station hotel-casino and took sports memorabilia at gunpoint. Simpson was questioned by police.[21][22] Simpson admitted to taking the items, which he said had been stolen from him, but denied breaking into the hotel room; he also denied that he or anyone else carried a gun.[23][24] He was released after questioning.
Two days later, however, Simpson was arrested[2] and initially held without bail.[25] Along with three other men, Simpson was charged[26] with multiple felony counts, including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, assault, robbery, and using a deadly weapon.[27] If convicted of all charges, he could face more than 60 years imprisonment.[25] The kidnapping charge could land Simpson in prison with a life sentence with parole, and the robbery charges, if convicted, carry mandatory prison time.[28] Bail was then set at US$125,000, with stipulations that Simpson have no contact with the co-defendants and that Simpson must surrender his passport. Simpson did not enter a plea.[29][30]
By the end of October 2007, all three of Simpson's co-defendants had plea bargained with the Clark County court. Walter Alexander and Charles H. Cashmore accepted plea agreements in exchange for reduced charges and his testimony against Simpson and three other co-defendants, including testifying that guns were used in the alleged robbery.[31] Co-defendant Michael McClinton told a Las Vegas judge that he too would plead guilty to reduced charges and testify against Simpson that guns were used in the robbery. After the hearings, the judge decided to take Simpson to trial for the heist.
Simpson's preliminary hearing, to decide whether he would be tried for the charges, occurred on November 8, 2007. He was held over for trial on all 12 counts. Simpson pleaded not guilty on November 29. Court officers and attorneys announced on May 22, 2008, that long questionnaires with at least 115 queries will be given to a jury pool of 400 or more. Prosecutors and defense counsels disagreed on at least 3 questions, and Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass scheduled arguments on the June 20 hearing on pretrial motions. Trial was reset from April to September 8, 2008.[32]
Arrest for contacting co-defendant
In January 2008, Simpson was taken into custody in Florida and flown to Las Vegas where he was jailed for allegedly violating the terms of his bail by attempting to contact Clarence "C.J." Stewart, a co-defendant in a trial in which they are charged with kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, coercion and conspiracy to commit crimes. District Attorney David Roger of Clark County, provided District Court Judge Jackie Glass with data that Simpson had violated terms of bail. The hearing on this bail issue was on January 16, 2008. Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass raised Simpson's bail to US$250,000 and ordered that he remain in jail until 15% of the bail, in cash, was paid.[33] Simpson posted bond that evening and returned to Miami the next day.[34]
Alleged confession
Mike Gilbert, a memorabilia dealer, is a former friend of Simpson. Gilbert has written a book titled "How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder: The Shocking Inside Story of Violence, Loyalty, Regret and Remorse". He states that Simpson had smoked pot, took a sleeping pill and was drinking beer when he confided at his Brentwood home weeks after his trial what happened the night of June 12, 1994. Simpson said, "If she hadn't opened that door with a knife in her hand ... she'd still be alive." This confirmed Gilbert's beliefs that he had confessed. Simpson's current lawyer, Yale Galanter, said none of Gilbert's claims are true and that Gilbert is "a delusional drug addict who needs money. He has fallen on very hard times. He is in trouble with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service)."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
