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OJ Simpson faces Vegas sentencing OJ Simpson sentenced to 15 years
(about 3 hours later)
American football star and actor OJ Simpson could face life in a Nevada jail when he is sentenced in Las Vegas on Friday. US football star and actor OJ Simpson has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for armed robbery, conspiracy to kidnap and assault with a deadly weapon.
The former Buffalo Bills running back was convicted in October on 12 charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to kidnap and assault with a deadly weapon. Describing Simpson, 61, as arrogant and ignorant, District Judge Jackie Glass said the evidence was overwhelming.
He was found guilty of robbing two dealers of sports memorabilia in 2007. Simpson made an emotional appeal prior to sentencing at the Las Vegas court, saying he was "sorry" and "confused".
The armed robbery charges carry a mandatory jail sentence, and kidnapping carries a possible life term. His accomplice, Clarence Stewart, was also sentenced to 15 years after the two were convicted on 12 charges.
Simpson, 61, who denied the charges and is expected to appeal, was remanded in custody pending sentencing by Judge Jackie Glass. The charges related to the robbery and holding of two sports memorabilia dealers at the Palace Station hotel in Las Vegas in September 2007.
He was acquitted in 1995 of murdering his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. In 1995, Simpson was acquitted of murdering his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman in what was dubbed "the trial of the century".
That verdict shocked many in the US and was dubbed "the trial of the century". 'Trial of the century'
Simpson was later found liable for the deaths in a civil case and ordered to pay $33.5m (£19m) to Mr Goldman's family. Simpson and Stewart had seized the memorabilia dealers in an attempt to reclaim items linked to the former National Football League star's sporting career, which Simpson claimed still belonged to him.
'Six years' OJ SIMPSON SENTENCE Conspiracy to commit a crimeConspiracy to kidnapTwo counts of first degree kidnappingBurglary in possession of a deadly weaponTwo counts of armed robberyTwo counts of assault with a deadly weapon class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7002759.stm">Profile: OJ Simpson
In the latest trial, Simpson was found guilty of kidnapping two sports memorabilia dealers and holding them at the Palace Station hotel in Las Vegas in September 2007. OJ SIMPSON CONVICTIONS Conspiracy to commit a crimeConspiracy to kidnapTwo counts of first degree kidnappingBurglary in possession of a deadly weaponTwo counts of armed robberyTwo counts of assault with a deadly weaponTwo counts of coercion with use of a deadly weapon class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7002759.stm">Profile: OJ Simpson Before sentencing, Judge Glass said: "The potential for harm to occur in that room was tremendous."
The former National Football League star had seized the pair in an attempt to reclaim items in their possession related to his sporting career, which Simpson claimed still belonged to him. "You went to the room, you took guns... you used force, you took property... and in this state that amounts to robbery with a deadly weapon," said the judge.
A Las Vegas jury found both Simpson and his accomplice, Clarence Stewart, guilty on all charges. Neither man testified at the trial. Prior to sentencing, Simpson pleaded for leniency from the judge with a trembling voice and tears in his eyes.
It remains unclear whether Simpson will address the court during sentencing, but Stewart was expected to speak, his lawyer said. "I didn't mean to hurt anybody and I didn't mean to steal from anybody," said the former Buffalo Bills player.
"Best-case scenario we're hoping for is six years," said the lawyer, Brent Bryson. "That's the bottom-end number before being eligible for parole." "I did not know that I was doing anything illegal," he said. "I thought that I was confronting friends and retrieving my property. So I am sorry. I am sorry for all of it."
Judge Glass dismissed two counts of coercion with use of a deadly weapon.
But she denied defence motions for bail pending appeal, saying both defendants posed a risk of fleeing.
After his acquittal in the 1995 case, Simpson was later found liable for the deaths in a civil case and ordered to pay $33.5m (£19m) to Mr Goldman's family.