OJ Simpson faces new criminal trial

LAS VEGAS – More than a decade after his acquittal on murder charges, OJ Simpson will again stand trial in a case certain to capture the national spotlight.

The former football star said he wasn’t surprised when a justice of the peace ordered him on Wednesday to defend himself against charges including kidnapping and armed robbery in a suspected sports memorabilia heist. He also said he trusted jurors to do what’s right.”If I have any disappointment it’s that I wish a jury was here,” Simpson told The Associated Press before he left the courtroom.”As always, I rely on the jury system.”Justice of the Peace Joe M Bonaventure refused to dismiss any charges in a 12-count complaint against Simpson and co-defendants Clarence ‘CJ’ Stewart and Charles ‘Charlie’ Ehrlich, which stem from a September 13 confrontation in a Las Vegas casino hotel room.Prosecutors accuse Simpson of leading the suspected armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers.The defendants are to enter their pleas on November 28.Three of the men who accompanied Simpson, including two who said they carried guns, took plea deals and testified for the prosecution during the 31?2-day preliminary hearing.Defence attorneys characterised the witnesses as con artists and crooks out for a buck.Bonaventure said the testimony was an issue to be weighed by the court and that the defence had raised questions of “bought” testimony.He said there were a number of motive and credibility issues, but that they were ‘not so incredible or implausible’ to keep the case from a jury.A kidnapping conviction could result in a life sentence with possibility of parole.An armed robbery conviction would require some time in prison.Simpson will spend the next two weeks in Miami golfing and spending time with his family before returning to Las Vegas to be arraigned, attorney Yale Galanter said.The trial could begin within 60 days, but Chief Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith said coordinating court and lawyers’ calendars could push it back six months or longer.Galanter, who rejected the idea of a plea agreement, estimated it would take a year to bring the case to trial.Stewart’s lawyer, Robert Lucherini, said he may seek to have his client’s trial separated from Simpson’s.”We’re disappointed, but we understand the judge’s decision,” Lucherini said.Ehrlich’s attorney declined to comment.Outside the courthouse, Galanter argued that Simpson was trying only to reclaim family heirlooms and that he believed no crime was committed.Nampa-APHe also said he trusted jurors to do what’s right.”If I have any disappointment it’s that I wish a jury was here,” Simpson told The Associated Press before he left the courtroom.”As always, I rely on the jury system.”Justice of the Peace Joe M Bonaventure refused to dismiss any charges in a 12-count complaint against Simpson and co-defendants Clarence ‘CJ’ Stewart and Charles ‘Charlie’ Ehrlich, which stem from a September 13 confrontation in a Las Vegas casino hotel room.Prosecutors accuse Simpson of leading the suspected armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers.The defendants are to enter their pleas on November 28.Three of the men who accompanied Simpson, including two who said they carried guns, took plea deals and testified for the prosecution during the 31?2-day preliminary hearing.Defence attorneys characterised the witnesses as con artists and crooks out for a buck.Bonaventure said the testimony was an issue to be weighed by the court and that the defence had raised questions of “bought” testimony.He said there were a number of motive and credibility issues, but that they were ‘not so incredible or implausible’ to keep the case from a jury.A kidnapping conviction could result in a life sentence with possibility of parole.An armed robbery conviction would require some time in prison.Simpson will spend the next two weeks in Miami golfing and spending time with his family before returning to Las Vegas to be arraigned, attorney Yale Galanter said.The trial could begin within 60 days, but Chief Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith said coordinating court and lawyers’ calendars could push it back six months or longer.Galanter, who rejected the idea of a plea agreement, estimated it would take a year to bring the case to trial.Stewart’s lawyer, Robert Lucherini, said he may seek to have his client’s trial separated from Simpson’s.”We’re disappointed, but we understand the judge’s decision,” Lucherini said.Ehrlich’s attorney declined to comment.Outside the courthouse, Galanter argued that Simpson was trying only to reclaim family heirlooms and that he believed no crime was committed.Nampa-AP