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O.J. Simpson could be jailed for life
Thirteen years to the day after being acquitted of killing his wife and her friend in Los Angeles, O.J. Simpson was found guilty of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room.
- AP
- Published: 00:02 October 5, 2008
Las Vegas: Thirteen years to the day after being acquitted of killing his wife and her friend in Los Angeles, O.J. Simpson was found guilty of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room.
The 61-year-old former football star was convicted of all 12 counts late Friday after jurors deliberated for more than 13 hours. He released a heavy sigh as the charges were read and was immediately taken into custody.
Simpson, who went from American sports idol to celebrity-in-exile after his murder acquittal, could spend the rest of his life in prison.
His attorney said he would appeal.
'Payback'
Many people considered the four-week trial justice delayed. Simpson was cleared in 1995 of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in one of the most sensational trials of the 20th century, but was later found liable for the deaths in a civil case.
"I don't like to use the word payback," defence attorney Yale Galanter said. "I can tell you from the beginning my biggest concern ... was whether or not the jury would be able to separate their very strong feelings about Mr Simpson and judge him fairly and honestly."
The Hall of Fame football star was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and ten other charges for gathering up five men a year ago and storming into a room at a hotel-casino, where the group seized several game balls, plaques and photos. Prosecutors said two of the men with him were armed; one of them said Simpson asked him to bring a gun.
Simpson's co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, also was found guilty on all charges and taken into custody.
Appearing unemotional
Simpson showed little emotion as officers handcuffed him and walked him out of the courtroom. His sister, Carmelita Durio, sobbed behind him in the arms of Simpson's friend, Tom Scotto, who said "I love you" as Simpson passed by. As spectators left the courtroom, Durio collapsed.
Jurors declined to answer questions after the verdict was read.
Galanter said his client had expected the outcome, and in a courthouse conversation with a reporter on Thursday, Simpson had implied as much.
Simpson said he was "afraid that I won't get to go to my kids' college graduations after I managed to get them through college." Galanter said it was not a happy day for anybody. "His only hope is the appellate process," he said.
Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said prosecutors would not comment until the case was "completely resolved." Judge Jackie Glass made no comment other than to thank the jury for its service and to deny motions for the defendants to be released on bail.
She refused to give the lawyers extended time to file a motion for new trial, which under Nevada law must be filed within seven days. "I've sat through the trial," Glass said. "If you want a motion for new trial, send me something."
Stewart's attorney, Brent Bryson, also promised to appeal.
From the beginning, Simpson and his lawyers argued the incident was not a robbery, but an attempt to reclaim mementos that had been stolen from him.
Charges and sentencing
The defence portrayed Simpson as a victim of shady characters who wanted to make a buck off his famous name, and police officers who saw his arrest as an opportunity to "get" him and avenge his acquittal. Prosecutors said Simpson's ownership of the memorabilia was irrelevant; it was still a crime to try to take things by force.
"When they went into that room and forced the victims to the far side of the room, pulling out guns and yelling, 'Don't let anybody out of here!' - six very large people detaining these two victims in the room with the intent to take property through force or violence from them - that's kidnapping," prosecutor David Roger said.
Kidnapping is punishable by five years to life in prison. Armed robbery carries a mandatory sentence of at least two years in jail, and could bring as many as 30. Sentencing was set for December 5.
Biography
From idol to social exile
- Early life: Orenthal James Simpson was born in one of San Francisco's roughest neighbourhoods, the Potrero Hill housing projects, on July 9, 1947. As a youngster, Simpson suffered from rickets and had to wear leg braces. He recovered from the disease but it left him bowlegged.
He developed into a star football player at Galileo High School. At the University of Southern California, he led his team to a national championship and won the coveted Heisman Trophy. In 1973, with the Buffalo Bills, he became the first pro running back to record 2,000 rushing yards in a season.
After his football career, Simpson appeared in movies, including some of the "Naked Gun" series, and commercials.
- Battered image: Simpson saw his carefully honed image battered beyond recognition after his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman, a waiter at the restaurant where she had just dined, were found stabbed and slashed to death in front of her Los Angeles home on June 12, 1994.
Suspicion quickly fell on Simpson and he was arrested after leading police on a freeway pursuit broadcast live on US national television. He was acquitted of murder charges on October 3, 1995, after a televised trial.
The victims' families brought a wrongful death suit against Simpson, and in 1997 a civil court jury found him liable for the deaths. Simpson was ordered to pay the families $33.5 million (Dh123 million) in damages.
Simpson, who moved to Florida with his two younger children, has done little to satisfy the judgment despite years of collection efforts by the victims' families.
- Reuters
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