O.J. Simpson booking photo
The Las Vegas judge who presided over former NFL star O.J. Simpson’s kidnapping and armed robbery trial declined a request from the defense for a new trial today. About a month ago, on October 3, a jury deliberated about 13 hours before convicting Simpson and his golfing buddy Clarence Stewart on all 12 counts. Both defendants were jailed immediately.
The charges stem from a raid by Simpson and a group of cohorts on two sports collectibles dealers in a Vegas hotel room back in September of 2007. The defense claimed Simpson was just trying to get some personal items back that had been stolen from him. However, the prosecution argued it was an armed robbery with the Simpson gang ripping off a $100 thousand worth of football memorabilia.
Today, the defense tried to convince Judge Jackie Glass to order a new trial because of an alleged comment made by the jury foreman about Simpson getting off in the 1995 double-murder Los Angeles trial. Judge Glass ruled the defense did not have a strong enough case for a retrial.
Simpson and Stewart face up to life in prison. They are due to be sentenced on December 5.
