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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| OJ Simpson sentenced to 15 years | OJ Simpson sentenced to 15 years |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Ex-US football star OJ Simpson has been jailed for 15 years for the kidnap and armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas hotel. | |
| Describing Simpson, 61, as arrogant and ignorant, District Judge Jackie Glass said the evidence was overwhelming. | Describing Simpson, 61, as arrogant and ignorant, District Judge Jackie Glass said the evidence was overwhelming. |
| Simpson made an emotional appeal prior to sentencing at the Las Vegas court, saying he was "sorry" and "confused". | Simpson made an emotional appeal prior to sentencing at the Las Vegas court, saying he was "sorry" and "confused". |
| His accomplice, Clarence Stewart, was also sentenced to 15 years. Both men were convicted in October. | |
| They were found guilty on 12 charges relating to the robbery and holding of the memorabilia dealers at Las Vegas' Palace Station hotel in September 2007. | |
| 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". | 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". |
| Emotional plea | Emotional plea |
| The two defendants 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. | |
| OJ SIMPSON SENTENCED 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 Profile: OJ Simpson | OJ SIMPSON SENTENCED 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 Profile: OJ Simpson |
| Before sentencing, Judge Glass said "the potential for harm to occur" in the room at the Palace Station hotel where the robbery took place was "tremendous." | |
| "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. | "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. |
| The former Buffalo Bills player had earlier pleaded for leniency from the judge with a trembling voice and tears in his eyes. | |
| "I didn't mean to hurt anybody and I didn't mean to steal from anybody," said Simpson. | |
| "I did not know that I was doing anything illegal... I thought that I was confronting friends and retrieving my property. So I am sorry. I am sorry for all of it." | "I did not know that I was doing anything illegal... I thought that I was confronting friends and retrieving my property. So I am sorry. I am sorry for all of it." |
| Judge Glass denied defence motions for bail pending appeal, saying both defendants posed a risk of fleeing. | Judge Glass 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. | 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. |