Simpson Robbery Case Goes to Vegas Jury
October 03, 2008
USA TODAY - By William M. Welch
LAS VEGAS -- A prosecutor showed jurors the mug shot of O.J. Simpson with the word "guilty" stamped across it in red ink Thursday as he said in closing arguments that the former actor and football player instigated the armed robbery and kidnappings of two sports dealers a year ago.
He is the person who put these crimes together," District Attorney David Roger said of Simpson.
He is the one who recruited these individuals to help him commit the crimes," Roger said.
Simpson's fate now rests with the jury of nine women and three men, who were to begin deliberations today.
Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart are charged with taking items -- Simpson's personal memorabilia -- from a pair of collectibles dealers at a casino hotel in September 2007.
Both have pleaded innocent to a dozen counts including conspiracy, kidnapping and armed robbery. Each man could face five years to life in prison if convicted.
Defense lawyer Yale Galanter told jurors that Simpson never intended to commit a robbery but was reclaiming "sacred" mementos of his career and life.
The only thing on Mr. Simpson's mind when he went in that room at the Palace Station was to recover his family heirlooms," Galanter said. "There was never an attempt to commit a crime."
Galanter told jurors that police and prosecutors brought charges against Simpson because of his celebrity and notoriety status.
The case has never been about a search for the true facts. This case has taken a life of its own because Mr. Simpson is involved," Galanter said, standing behind Simpson and placing his hands on the defendant's shoulders.
They wanted to get him, and they didn't care what they had to do to get him."
In 1995, Simpson was acquitted in Los Angeles of criminal charges that he murdered his ex-wife and her friend the previous year. He was later found liable for the deaths in a civil case.
Simpson and Stewart did not testify in this trial, and jurors were instructed not to consider that fact when judging the case. (c) Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc.
LAS VEGAS -- A prosecutor showed jurors the mug shot of O.J. Simpson with the word "guilty" stamped across it in red ink Thursday as he said in closing arguments that the former actor and football player instigated the armed robbery and kidnappings of two sports dealers a year ago.
He is the person who put these crimes together," District Attorney David Roger said of Simpson.
He is the one who recruited these individuals to help him commit the crimes," Roger said.
Simpson's fate now rests with the jury of nine women and three men, who were to begin deliberations today.
Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart are charged with taking items -- Simpson's personal memorabilia -- from a pair of collectibles dealers at a casino hotel in September 2007.
Both have pleaded innocent to a dozen counts including conspiracy, kidnapping and armed robbery. Each man could face five years to life in prison if convicted.
Defense lawyer Yale Galanter told jurors that Simpson never intended to commit a robbery but was reclaiming "sacred" mementos of his career and life.
The only thing on Mr. Simpson's mind when he went in that room at the Palace Station was to recover his family heirlooms," Galanter said. "There was never an attempt to commit a crime."
Galanter told jurors that police and prosecutors brought charges against Simpson because of his celebrity and notoriety status.
The case has never been about a search for the true facts. This case has taken a life of its own because Mr. Simpson is involved," Galanter said, standing behind Simpson and placing his hands on the defendant's shoulders.
They wanted to get him, and they didn't care what they had to do to get him."
In 1995, Simpson was acquitted in Los Angeles of criminal charges that he murdered his ex-wife and her friend the previous year. He was later found liable for the deaths in a civil case.
Simpson and Stewart did not testify in this trial, and jurors were instructed not to consider that fact when judging the case. (c) Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc.
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