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Jury finds O.J. Simpson guilty on all charges
Simpson faces up to life in prison
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LAS VEGAS — O.J. Simpson, who went from American sports idol to celebrity-in-exile after he was acquitted of murder in 1995, was found guilty Friday of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room.
The 61-year-old former football star could spend the rest of his life in prison. Sentencing was set for Dec. 5.
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A weary and somber Simpson released a heavy sigh as the charges were read by the clerk in Clark County District Court. He was immediately taken into custody.
The Hall of Fame football star was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 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.
The verdict came 13 years to the day after Simpson was cleared of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles in one of the most sensational trials of the 20th century.
"I don't like to use the word payback," defense 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."
Simpson's co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, also was found guilty on all charges in the Las Vegas case and taken into custody.
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 made no eye contact with the defendants as they entered the courtroom. They declined to answer questions after the verdict was read.
Galanter said his client had expected the outcome, and in a courthouse conversation with an Associated Press reporter on Thursday, Simpson had implied as much.
Simpson said he felt melancholy and that 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. The attorneys said they needed time to submit a voluminous record.
"I've sat through the trial," Glass said. "If you want a motion for new trial, send me something."
Stewart's attorney, Brent Bryson, promised to appeal.
"If there was ever a case that should have been severed in the history of jurisprudence, it's this case," he said of unsuccessful attempts to separate Stewart's case from Simpson's because of the "spillover" effect.
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. He said he did not ask anyone to bring a weapon and did not see any guns.
The defense 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 behind bars, and could bring as much as 30.
Simpson, who now lives in Miami, did not testify but was heard on a recording of the confrontation screaming that the dealers had stolen his property. "Don't let nobody out of this room," he declared and told the other men to scoop up his items, which included a photo of Simpson with former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.
Four other men charged in the case struck plea bargains that saved them from potential prison sentences in return for their testimony. Some of them had criminal records or were otherwise compromised in some way. One, for example, was an alleged pimp who testified he had a revelation from God telling him to take a plea bargain.
Memorabilia dealer Thomas Riccio, who arranged and secretly recorded the hotel-room confrontation, said he netted $210,000 from the media for the tapes.
Similarly, minutes after the Sept. 13, 2007, incident, one of the alleged victims, sports-memorabilia dealer Alfred Beardsley, was calling news outlets, and the other, Bruce Fromong, spoke of getting "big money" from the case.
Simpson's past haunted the case. Las Vegas police officers were heard in the recordings chuckling over Simpson's misfortune and crowing that if Los Angeles couldn't "get" him, they would.
During jury selection, Simpson's lawyers expressed fears that people who believed he got away with murder might see this case as a chance to right a wrong.
As a result, an usually large pool of 500 potential jurors was called, and they were given a 26-page questionnaire. Half were almost instantly eliminated after expressing strong feelings that Simpson should have been convicted of murder.
The judge instructed the jurors to put aside Simpson's earlier case.
In closing arguments, Galanter acknowledged that what Simpson did to recover his memorabilia was not right. "But being stupid, and being frustrated is not being a criminal," he said.
He added: "This case has taken on a life of its own because of Mr. Simpson's involvement. You know that. I know that. Every cooperator, every person who had a gun, every person who had an ulterior motive, every person who signed a book deal, every person who got paid money, the police, the district attorney's office, is only interested in one thing: Mr. Simpson."
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Darn. He was on the verge of finding the killers. I understand he also was close to locating the guy on the grassy knoll as well.
#1 Posted by thedudesview on October 4, 2008 at 5:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The "HAS BEEN" finally gets a small portion of what he deserved.
#2 Posted by marle on October 4, 2008 at 5:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone believe that he'll be released on bail pending his appeal?
#3 Posted by Naplestango on October 4, 2008 at 6:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Murderer.
#4 Posted by techie on October 4, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lucky number 13 for Nicole & Ron may they finally RIP. Poetic justice for the rest of us
#5 Posted by munchkinsdaddy on October 4, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now there's logic for you, if you get away with murder, you really can't honestly be guilty of any other crime because a jury, any jury, is not capable of "forgetting" the previoius crime. Surrounding yourself with thugs, forcibly entering a room, not letting the occupants of that room out, stealing items from that room and brandishing a gun sure sounds criminal (with intent) to me. Glad he got what he deserved for this crime.
#6 Posted by boatbum on October 4, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Boatbum, you got it!
No one who was actually innocent would have acted the way Simpson did in the years following the first trial.
His actions only show what arrogance has built inside of him.
#7 Posted by tderry on October 4, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The illegitimates mockery of the legal system in california came back to bite him in the ass BIG TIME.!! There is Justice afterall.!!
#8 Posted by bsoeder on October 4, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard that his golf course was closing anyway.
#9 Posted by Saah1 on October 4, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He's a monster. I hope he gets life in prison.
#10 Posted by melbel1038 on October 4, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Might this story interest Judicial Terrorists and their bottomless-pie-hole clients? Might it foreshadow the future for www.viscontilaw.com, www.napleslaw.com, and www.silveriohall.com? Didn't they falsely accuse innocents, violate their rights and deprive them of liberty and wealth to cover for clients so avaricious they'd go up a pig's behind for a ham sandwich? Why do they think themselves exempt from justice?
As many above note, when others die for something so banal as ill gotten gain, justice has an uncanny way of working itself out, even if it takes while to do so.
Didn't OJ define the 90s? Murder, lie, loot - do 'whatever' - and have your 'dream team' of meretricious swine pull Judicial Terrorism to cover your tracks?
OJ flew high, didn't he? Top of the world, Ma! The Juice Man smirkingly hunted 'mystery killers' - into whose vacant eyes he gazed every morning as he shaved.
It's always swell for his type. Until it goes bad. And when it goes bad, it goes very bad.
OJ convicted himself. His type always does.
Kudos and gratitude to Mr. Goldman, who demonstrated the art of persistence regardless of what liars with law degrees, their Court courtesans and press prostitutes hurl. Didn't he prove yet again, goodness always wins - and thugs always come to an ignominious end?
Enjoy prison, OJ. To quote Dennis Lehane, it's the place to which you've been headed all your stupid life.
As with you, so with the rest.
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
04 October, 2008
"The wheel of the mill grinds
slowly - but it always grinds fine."
- Margaret Brislin Loughran
October, 1987
#11 Posted by paul_vincent_zecchino on October 4, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OJ likely lucked out on this one. I just read due to economic conditions the Nevada Department of Corrections has filed Chapter 11 and all prisoners are going to be sent home.
#12 Posted by LGoldstein on October 4, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Complete BS. The juice is innocent.
#13 Posted by rasputin on October 4, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PS -
We never know what life has in store, do we? Isn't it true that the giddy and their pimps with law degrees may cause us to believe that there's no justice? But the giddy never prevail, do they? Justice not only exists, it's filled with delicious irony, isn't it?
Thirteen years to the day, as some above note, between OJs sham 'not guilty' verdict and his sad comeuppance.
What delicious irony.
Isn't it true, the OJ's don't really live but instead exist in a world of terror and greed? Don't they 'do whatever' to feed their insatiable greed then live in terror that richly deserved Justice will find them?
And Justice always finds them, doesn't it?
What's with OJ's many 'friends'? Does it explain the 'overkill' clearly demonstrated during the killings of his wife and young Mr. Goldman?
A tad smarter, he'd be writing letters to Courts and State Police agencies in hope of shifting blame to Mr. Goldman.
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
04 October, 2008
#14 Posted by paul_vincent_zecchino on October 4, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who will get OJ's $24000.00 a month pension?
#15 Posted by KR on October 4, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#14 innocent of being innocent. That said, the kidnapping thing is BS. Understand if he wins the appeal he's moving to Naples.
#16 Posted by thedudesview on October 4, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Better late than never!
#17 Posted by ryersongirl on October 4, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He should have been put on death row years ago!
#18 Posted by glassman on October 4, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Karma takes awhile to come back but when it does, LOOK OUT!!
#19 Posted by Sanity on October 4, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BUH-BYE OOOOOOOOOOOOO J
#20 Posted by sunburnt on October 4, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a sorry human being. He had the world by the tale: money, fame, beautiful family and budding movie future. All that happened to him stems from the meanness by which he treated people. His wife to start with. They wouldn't be separated if he had treated her decent therefore no boyfriend Ron and the murder would not have taken place. After he got off from that, that same old mean attitude got him here. I bet his children and family are proud of him...NOT. That mean ol' murdering SOB is where he needs to be and put there by his own mean attitude.
Rot in HELL OJ
#21 Posted by ernstruntz on October 4, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Juice didn’t look too smug when the verdict was read in court. His phony world came crashing down finally. C-ya juice!
#22 Posted by RedRyder on October 4, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like OJ was railroaded. Of course, that's what's going to happen when you stand on the tracks and thumb your nose at the train. And what kind of stupid lawyer admits during closing arguments that what his client did wasn't right? On second thought, maybe it will help OJ's argument for an appeal on grounds of incompetent counsel. Let's hope they stay true to the Las Vegas adage that "the house always wins."
#23 Posted by nosebreather on October 4, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Best news I've read in a LONG time. Justice is finally served.
#24 Posted by Mony on October 4, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad his crook lawyers in the first case might never get justice. Lawyers are hired liars. They distort truth and facts with the hopes of getting a guilty person set free. If you or I made statements like these swine make in court we would be charged with perjury. Perjury is legal is you are a lovely human being lawyer. My only memory of any lawyer ever getting justice is the one local child molesting lawyer that shot himself.
Crook lawyers get elevated to crook judges. This is why the system will always be corrupt. The only way this country will ever be the America we once knew would be to kill all the lawyers and politicians (most of them started out as lovely human being lawyers).
The system is not about truth or justice. It is about how much money they can swindle you out of "defending your rights". Look at the dirtbag lawyers that advertise on TV. Nice slogans like "we fight for you" and "you deserve justice". When they swindle you out of 40% of any money received are you REALLY that stupid to believe they give a blasted about justice? Did you ever see one of these swine take a case where there was no big money to be made--but the merits of the case showed that an innocent person got screwed?
So OJ got found guilty? So what? The biggest criminals in the courthouse are the attorneys and judges--and they are rarely ever tried for screwing up this country.
#25 Posted by emmagee_dealer on October 4, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Obama, Obiden, and OJ: quite the backfield!
Or as some would call it: The Ultimate Oreo!
#26 Posted by chickendog on October 4, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This was caused by the legal system to begin with. Divorced agreements, child custody,restraining orders, all of it in his ex wives favor. She ran around town acting like a paid for professional whatever. Now he is set up again by criminals. I hope he wins his appeal and moves far away. This should be a message for all those who want to involve themselves in mixed relationships. Listen up you gangsta want to be girls.
#27 Posted by privateroad on October 4, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good comments Doc Z. I remember the slow "chase" all too well. I was doing an investigation and out on the road when the story broke. It was surreal. Now, to finally see this one who thought he was well above the law, be brought to justice is a real treat. He may have gotten away with murder, but as you said, his behavior did him in anyway.
#28 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on October 4, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lovely human being obama--a lawyer
his affiliates:
rezko--convicted slumlord (whom obama made money off of)
weathermen underground leader--and terrorist bomber
so this piece of crap obama has shown his true character by the people he associates with
he will get the black vote because he is black
he will get the young uninformed vote with his nice rhetoric for change
either way--he is still a lovely human being lawyer--empty suit--and a fraud. he is the perfect candidate for our new socialist system.
the USSA--united socialist states of america
#29 Posted by emmagee_dealer on October 4, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#30 you're on the wrong board.
#30 Posted by thedudesview on October 4, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I want to watch his sorry face as the guilty verdict was read as many times and I had to watch the innocent murder charge.
#31 Posted by furball on October 4, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The conviction on kidnapping is shaky, although technically correct with strict interpretation. (I would not have voted for conviction on that charge.)
It doesn't matter much though. Nevada judges are famous for their "Judge Roy Bean" sentences. I'll be surprised if the judge doesn't make several of the other convictions "consecutive", thus insuring a life sentence.
Doesn't hurt this ex-cops feelings one bit. Justice was served.
#32 Posted by 676 on October 4, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#27, 28, you couldn't carry Obama's intellectual, or physical, jock strap. You losers are about to lose once again. LOL
#33 Posted by 676 on October 4, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Karma. Gotta love it.
#34 Posted by teachurkids on October 4, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey.... hold up a second folks... don't be so happy and crazy about OJ. After all, he was the first to rush for over 2000 yards in a season.. that's one get out of jail free card... he used it... but he get's a second one for the role Nordberg in the movie the Naked Gun. I know I know, you forgot that one... I'll let it slip this time.
#35 Posted by 12monkeys on October 4, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sorry #676. You must be incarcerated.
You are probably right because there is nothing there! Just like Obama's plan?and certainly his attendance in the Senate and Obiden's knowledge of the US Constitution, and OJ's search for the killer!
It will be America's loss!
#36 Posted by chickendog on October 4, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I find it quite odd that OJ would even consider doing what he did, knowing the consequences of this action. Perhaps there was something in that "memorabilia" that he just had to "retrieve" at any cost for whatever reason, perhaps even some "incriminating" ..... argh ..... sorry folks, I watch too many Monk shows, but like I said, very, very weird. I am really glad he was convicted.
#37 Posted by EstatesDweller on October 4, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I got my Christmas present early. Hope he gets life.
#38 Posted by genedavidson on October 4, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
there will be a high price on his head in prison, a real trophy, he wont last long, there is justice, 100% lovely human being, payback are heck!
#39 Posted by nealr on October 4, 2008 at 9:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As usual the liberal losers are making him the victum!!
#40 Posted by waldini202 on October 5, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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