O. J. Simpson Found Guilty in Robbery Trial

[Ab-Titchaz]

O. J. Simpson Found Guilty in Robbery Trial ​

O.J. Simpson and his attorney, Yale Galanter, listened as a guilty verdict was read at his trial in Las Vegas.​

By STEVE FRIESS
Published: October 4, 2008

LAS VEGAS — O. J. Simpson was found guilty late Friday on all 12 counts stemming from a confrontation in a hotel room last year, including armed robbery and kidnapping.

The verdict, which comes 13 years to the day after Mr. Simpson was acquitted in the highly publicized murders of his ex-wife and her friend, concluded a four-week trial that many have seen as a proxy for those unsatisfied by that 1995 outcome.

Mr. Simpson now faces 15 years to life for the kidnapping charge as well as a minimum of at least an additional 10 years in prison on the other charges. His attorney, Yale Galanter, said he would appeal.

After the verdicts were read, the judge revoked the bail for Mr. Simpson, a Heisman Trophy winner and an inductee in the National Football Hall of Fame. As his sister, Carmelita, wept and fainted in the front row, he was led away in handcuffs. Mr. Simpson is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 5.

“He’s extremely upset, extremely emotional,” Mr. Galanter said after his was escorted from the courtroom. “We knew this was going to be very difficult, we knew the jury was going to be very difficult, we knew the jurisdiction would be very difficult.”

Clark County District Attorney David Roger, the lead prosecutor in the case, said his office would not comment on the case until after sentencing. None of the jurors spoke to the media on Friday.

The charges arose after Mr. Simpson led five cohorts on a raid of a guest room at the Palace Station Hotel-Casino and departed with hundreds of memorabilia items related to the sports careers of Mr. Simpson and three other athletes.

The items were in the possession of two memorabilia dealers, Bruce L. Fromong and Alfred Beardsley, who were led to believe that a prospective buyer was coming to browse the goods. Instead, Mr. Simpson and his group burst into the room. According to several witnesses, at least one gun was brandished.

The presence of a weapon adds years to the minimum sentences for 9 of the 12 charges, which also included conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping, burglary, robbery, assault and coercion.

The jury of nine women and three men deliberated for 13 hours, mulling weeks of testimony as well as hours of surreptitious audio recordings of the planning and execution of the event by Thomas Riccio, a memorabilia auctioneer who arranged the confrontation.

There were no blacks among the jurors, a concern of the defense that Mr. Simpson’s attorneys said would likely be part of an appeal. Eight of 12 jurors were black when he was acquitted in 1995 on charges that he stabbed to death his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

Convicted alongside Mr. Simpson, 61, was Clarence Stewart, 54, one of the five men who accompanied Mr. Simpson in the raid. Mr. Stewart faces the same sentences.

Throughout the trial, Mr. Stewart’s attorney E. Brent Bryson asked repeatedly for Mr. Stewart to receive a separate trial because associating with Mr. Simpson was poisonous to the defense. Each of his severance motions was denied.

“If there was ever a trial in the history of American jurisprudence that should have been severed, it was obviously this trial,” Mr. Bryson said. “There’s a spillover effect here. There’s a gentleman by the name of O. J. Simpson who was sitting across the table. Mr. Simpson has a certain history that followed him into the courtroom and, unfortunately, it engulfed Mr. Stewart also.”

Mr. Simpson’s defense was that he sought only to retrieve personal keepsakes, like ceremonial footballs from his career in the National Football League and photographs of his family that were taken from his home years ago. Mr. Roger told the jury that he should have filed a civil lawsuit to regain the items if they were, in fact, stolen from him.

“We don’t want people going into rooms to take property,” Mr. Roger said in his closing arguments on Thursday. “That is robbery. You don’t go in and get a gun and demand property from people.”

Four of the 24 witnesses who testified were the other men who had accompanied Mr. Simpson and Mr. Stewart, all of whom have accepted plea deals from prosecutors in exchange for testimony. Two of them, Walter Alexander and Michael McClinton, carried guns in the incident, and one, Mr. McClinton, testified that he did so at Mr. Simpson’s request.

Mr. Simpson said he did not know that the two would carry weapons and never saw any guns displayed during the incident.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/us/04simpson.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin

 

[BAK]

Hatimaye wazungu wamempata maana walikuwa bado wana usongo naye kutokana na kuachiwa huru katika kesi ya mauaji yaliyotokea LA 1994. Prosecutors walihakikisha hakuna hata mweusi mmoja katika jury. Najua atakata rufaa lakini ana safari ndefu sana.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Hatimaye wazungu wamempata maana walikuwa bado wana usongo naye kutokana na kuachiwa huru katika kesi ya mauaji yaliyotokea LA 1994. Prosecutors wahakikisha hakuna hata mweusi mmoja katika jury. Najua atakata rufaa lakini ana safari ndefu sana.

The compostion of the Jury made me know watamfunga tu...kila mtu mweupe jamani.Hata akikata rufaa he will still do time,its just a matter of how long.Umeona baada ya verdict Judge alim-deny bail akasema "mtie ndani"...Judge mwenyewe pia anashkuru kumfunga jamaa.

The scary bit ni kua amepatikana guilty of the serious charge of kidnapping which carries the ultimate sentence of life.Kuna kazi hapa na pia watu weusi are not for him like the last time around.

 

[Ladslaus Modest]

Pamoja na kuwa hakupatikana na kosa la kumuua aliyekuwa mkewe na mpenzi wake mwaka 1994 huko LA; lakini mie nafsi yangu inaniambia kulikuwa na mkono wake katika hayo mauaji.
Na sasa amepatika na kosa la utekaji nyara, basi hili kosa itabidi afungwe maisha, bila kusahau kuwa "kuna damu inayomilili ambayo aliimwaga".

 

[Nkamangi]

Hivi, hiyo robbery ilikua for fun au was he pressed for cash? si angeuza hizo trophy jamani?

 

[Ladslaus Modest]

Hivi, hiyo robbery ilikua for fun au was he pressed for cash? si angeuza hizo trophy jamani?

Arobaini yake imefika

 

[Spear]

Wapi oj wazee walituachia wasaa na kutwambia kuwa moja shika si saba nenda rudi amekwisha sasa hana cha rufaa wa jukwaa atamlizikia huko (kuchamba kwingi mwisho huondoka M)

 

[BAK]

The compostion of the Jury made me know watamfunga tu...kila mtu mweupe jamani.Hata akikata rufaa he will still do time,its just a matter of how long.Umeona baada ya verdict Judge alim-deny bail akasema "mtie ndani"...Judge mwenyewe pia anashkuru kumfunga jamaa.

The scary bit ni kua amepatikana guilty of the serious charge of kidnapping which carries the ultimate sentence of life.Kuna kazi hapa na pia watu weusi are not for him like the last time around.

WOS, Judge anafurahia kumfunga jamaa maana kishaingia kwenye vitabu vya history na pia kajipatia umaarufu mkubwa kwa wazungu wenziye. Kifungo cha maisha na kosa alilofanya hata haviendani lakini ndiyo sheria za Marekani siku zote zinawakandamiza weusi.

 

[BAK]

Pamoja na kuwa hakupatikana na kosa la kumuua aliyekuwa mkewe na mpenzi wake mwaka 1994 huko LA; lakini mie nafsi yangu inaniambia kulikuwa na mkono wake katika hayo mauaji.
Na sasa amepatika na kosa la utekaji nyara, basi hili kosa itabidi afungwe maisha, bila kusahau kuwa "kuna damu inayomilili ambayo aliimwaga".

Kumbuka katika kesi ya kwanza Prosecutors walijifunga goli wenyewe walipoamua Juice ajaribu zile gloves zilizookotwa katika eneo la mauaji. John Cochrane yeye alishazijaribu kabla na kuona zinambana. Akajua kwamba kwa Juice hazitapita maana ana mikono mikubwa kuliko Cochrane (RIP) hivyo hakuweka pingamizi la OJ kujaribu zile gloves. Na JC akashuka na msemo wake uliopata umaarufu mkubwa "If it does not fit you must acquit" na prosecutors waliboronga vitu vingi tu katika uchunguzi wao an OJ kwa kuwa alikuwa na ngawira aliweza kuwa na jopo zuri sana la mawakili.

 

[BAK]

Hivi, hiyo robbery ilikua for fun au was he pressed for cash? si angeuza hizo trophy jamani?

OJ aliambiwa kwamba kuna sale na katika sale hiyo baadhi ya vitu vitakavyouzwa ni vya OJ ikiwamo picha ya marehemu mama yake na vitu vyake vingine. Yeye hakwenda pale kuiba bali alienda kuchukua vitu vyake, lakini hao alioandamana nao inasemekana kuna mmoja alikuwa n bastola na walikuwa wakifuata amri za OJ nini cha kufanya ili achukue vile vinavyomhusu. Pamoja na kuwa kulikuwa na vitu vyake sheria haimruhusu kuyafanya aliyoyafanya ili kupata vitu vyake. Kwa hiyo ukiangalia utaona haukuwa wizi lakini alivunja sheria.

 

[WomanOfSubstance]

WOS, Judge anafurahia kumfunga jamaa maana kishaingia kwenye vitabu vya history na pia kajipatia umaarufu mkubwa kwa wazungu wenziye. Kifungo cha maisha na kosa alilofanya hata haviendani lakini ndiyo sheria za Marekani siku zote zinawakandamiza weusi.

BAK,
u HAVE SAID IT ALL... siku zote aliyemnyonge katika jamii yeyote ndiye anaonja madhila ya sheria... uwe mweusi, maskini au marginalised utaipata utakapokumbana na sheria na hasa pale ambapo upande mwingine kakaa mwenye uwezo!
Angalia ishu ya EPA-WIZI BIG TIME! Linganisha na wizi wa kibaka --anayekwapua shilingi 10,000/= ili aweze kula! Angalia nani wanakamtwa na rushwa... Hakimu wa primary court anayepokea shilingi 20,000/= kisha linganisha na anayepokoea vijisenti kwenye deal ya kuwaumiza watanzania wote. NANI ANAFUNGWA???Mifano ni mingi tu.

 

[uporoto01]

Huyu walikua wanamtafuta siku nyingi na sasa kajiingiza kwenye 18 zao.Miaka mingi wazungu waliamini alimuua mke wake na sasa kawapa sababu ya kumpoteza kabisa. Tukubali nae hakutumia akili kuvamia watu na silaha.

 

[BAK]

Hii vipi tena imewekwa kwenye burudani? duh!!!!

 

[Pundamilia07]

OJ amelipata alilokuwa analitafuta.
Haingii akili nchi yenye utawala wa kisheria ambazo angeweza kuzifikia, badala yake anaingizwa katika mtego kupitia lile genge alilokuwa ameandamana nalo. Katika watu ambao alikuwa amendamana nao ndiyo hao waliokuwa na blue-print nzima ya mpango wa kumuingiza 'king' OJ. Na genge lote limeachiwa linakula 'pensheni' sasa hivi.

OJ pia alijisahau kuwa bado yeye ni 'kipusa' na anawindwa kwa udi na uvumba. Huo ndiyo mwisho wake, alikuwa na nafasi kubwa ya kujifunza kutokana matukio mengi tu yanayowapa non-whites.
Nina mwonea huruma anakokwenda ndiko walipotakiwa aende miaka 13 iliyopita ni kwamba wanaona amechelewa kufikishwa tu.

 

[Mwazange]

Hatimaye wazungu wamempata maana walikuwa bado wana usongo naye kutokana na kuachiwa huru katika kesi ya mauaji yaliyotokea LA 1994. Prosecutors walihakikisha hakuna hata mweusi mmoja katika jury. Najua atakata rufaa lakini ana safari ndefu sana.

Mimi kwa kiasi fulani nailaumu legal defence team yake, kwani jurrors sio prosecutor pekee ndiye anayewachagua, kwani hawakufanya research ya kujua kwamba wazungu walikuwa wanamwinda for 13years? Wangeingiza blacks kwenye timu ya jurrors kungekuwa na matokeo mengine sasa hivi.....

 

[Pundamilia07]

Mimi kwa kiasi fulani nailaumu legal defence team yake, kwani jurrors sio prosecutor pekee ndiye anayewachagua, kwani hawakufanya research ya kujua kwamba wazungu walikuwa wanamwinda for 13years? Wangeingiza blacks kwenye timu ya jurrors kungekuwa na matokeo mengine sasa hivi.....

Kwa mujibu wa kesi hii, mazingira ya ushindi yalikwisha tafitiwa kwa muda mrefu na OJ ameingizwa katika mtego ambao ni mgumu kujinasua. Mahali ambapo alitakiwa kukwepa ni kutojipeleka katika ile hoteli. Vinginevyo, matayarisho ya safari yake hii itakayoanza rasmi Dec 5 yalikwishafanyika siku nyingi, hata ingekuwa kuna jurors weusi tu, kuchomoka katika hili ni vigumu. He is now paying the cost of his ignorance.

 

[Mwalimu]

It was a set up kutoka mwanzo na yeye akaingia mkenge kiulaini, mmoja wa washitakiwa wenzake aliingia deal na prosecutors ili atoe ushahidi dhidi yale na hiyo ndo iliyommaliza kabisa.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Hii vipi tena imewekwa kwenye burudani? duh!!!!

Mkuu,

Unajua O.J. was both a sports figure and an entertainment figure.Nd'o maana
nimeitundika humu.

Regards.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

OJ Simpson seeks new robbery trial in Las Vegas ​

This Friday Oct. 3, 2008, photo, supplied by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, shows O.J. Simpson after being taken into custody for the 12 counts he was found guilty for.​

By KEN RITTER, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 5 minutes ago



LAS VEGAS - O.J. Simpson's lawyers cited judicial errors and insufficient evidence Friday in seeking a new trial for the former football star, who was convicted of kidnapping and robbing two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a casino hotel room

"Simpson should be granted a new trial," attorney Gabriel Grasso wrote in a motion faulting Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass' decisions during jury selection, her limitations on cross-examination of witnesses during trial and her instructions to jurors before deliberations.

In a separate filing, a lawyer for co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart said Stewart suffered from being tried with Simpson, who was acquitted more than a decade ago of killing his ex-wife and her friend. Attorney Brent Bryson also alleged misconduct by the jury foreman, whom he quoted as saying he thought Simpson should have been given a life sentence for murder.

If the foreman "believes that Mr. Simpson is a murderer, and that Mr. Stewart is associated with Mr. Simpson, that bias would spill over" and affect the juror's ability to be impartial, Bryson wrote.

Jury foreman Paul Connelly has made remarks disputing such an interpretation of his post-verdict comments.

In documents filed with Glass, Grasso and Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter also protested that the judge refused to grant enough time to fully review transcripts and videotapes of the trial, which led to guilty verdicts against Simpson and Stewart on Oct. 3.

"She didn't give us the time we need to do a full-fledged motion," said Galanter, who lost a bid to extend the seven-day deadline.

Galanter said he would file a more detailed appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court, the state's only appellate court, if Glass denies a new trial.

Prosecutors were expected to submit written opposition this month, according to court documents.

Simpson, 61, and Stewart, 54, are due for sentencing Dec. 5. The jury convicted them of all 12 charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, in the hotel room confrontation more than a year ago.

Both men are jailed in Las Vegas. They face five years to life in prison on each of their two kidnapping convictions, and a mandatory sentence of at least two years or up to 30 years on each of the two armed robbery convictions.

Simpson's motion for a new trial alleges Glass improperly allowed prosecutors to use pre-emptory challenges to remove two prospective black jurors before the final jury was seated.

Both Simpson and Stewart are black. The final jury of nine women and three men included one woman who identified herself as Hispanic, but no blacks.

Simpson's lawyers asserted there was not enough evidence to support first-degree kidnapping convictions and faulted questions used to cull the jury from a pool of 500 prospects.

Grasso alleged that Glass blocked them from telling jurors that they could consider lesser charges of larceny or second-degree kidnapping against Simpson, or that the former NFL star believed when he confronted memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley that he was retrieving items that belonged to him.

Grasso also claimed the judge allowed biased jurors to be seated after they were questioned about Simpson's acquittal in the 1994 slayings in Los Angeles of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Five of the 12 eventual jurors said they disagreed with the murder acquittal, Grasso wrote, complaining that defense attorneys weren't allowed to ask them how they reached their opinion.

Glass sought during the trial to limit references to Simpson's 1995 acquittal. But there were references to that case and to a 1997 civil judgment holding Simpson liable for the slayings and ordering him to pay $33.5 million.

Stewart lawyers lost several requests to sever Stewart's trial from Simpson's. Bryson's documents referred to those decisions but focused on accusations of misconduct by Connelly, the jury foreman.

Bryson pointed to answers on Connelly's jury questionnaire and to comments he said the foreman made during a post-verdict news conference.

"We all have opinions; some people think he should have been given life 13 years ago," Bryson quoted Connelly as saying. "That was my opinion, but I think that's reserved for the court to decide."

Connelly has said he was asked two different questions at the news conference and his answers were consistent with his responses on his jury questionnaire — that the courts had acquitted Simpson of murder and he agreed with that verdict.

Connelly has said that he was asked two different questions at the news conference and that his answers were consistent with his responses on his jury questionnaire — that the courts had acquitted Simpson of murder and that he agreed with the verdict.

___

AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

[media]http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081011/ap_on_re_us/oj_simpson[/media]