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OJ Simpson given lengthy sentence | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Ex-US football star OJ Simpson has been jailed for up to 33 years for the kidnap and armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas. | |
Describing Simpson as arrogant and ignorant, Judge Jackie Glass said the evidence against him was overwhelming. | Describing Simpson as arrogant and ignorant, Judge Jackie Glass said the evidence against him was overwhelming. |
He and an accomplice, Clarence Stewart, were convicted on 12 counts in October. | |
Simpson, who could be eligible for parole in nine years, made an emotional plea at the Las Vegas court sentencing, saying he was "sorry" and "confused". | |
In 1995, the former Buffalo Bills player was acquitted of murdering his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman in what was dubbed "the trial of the century". | In 1995, the former Buffalo Bills player was acquitted of murdering his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman in what was dubbed "the trial of the century". |
Emotional plea | Emotional plea |
Simpson and Stewart were among six men who seized the two memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in Las Vegas' Palace Station hotel in September 2007. | |
The six were attempting to reclaim items linked to Simpson's sporting career that the former National Football League star said still belonged to him. 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 weapon Profile: OJ Simpson | The six were attempting to reclaim items linked to Simpson's sporting career that the former National Football League star said still belonged to him. 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 weapon Profile: OJ Simpson |
Four of his accomplices made plea-deals in return for testifying against Simpson, and he and Stewart were found guilty on all 12 charges brought against them. | Four of his accomplices made plea-deals in return for testifying against Simpson, and he and Stewart were found guilty on all 12 charges brought against them. |
After 13 days of testimony in October, jurors said they were convinced of the men's guilt having heard audio recordings secretly made of the robbery. | After 13 days of testimony in October, jurors said they were convinced of the men's guilt having heard audio recordings secretly made of the robbery. |
"Don't let nobody out of this room!" Simpson was heard to say on the tape, as he ordered the other men to scoop up items worth thousands of dollars. | "Don't let nobody out of this room!" Simpson was heard to say on the tape, as he ordered the other men to scoop up items worth thousands of dollars. |
Before sentencing on Friday, Judge Glass said "the potential for harm to occur" in the room where the robbery took place was "tremendous". | Before sentencing on Friday, Judge Glass said "the potential for harm to occur" in the room 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," she said. | "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," she said. |
Wearing a dark blue jail uniform and with his hands shackled to his waist, 61-year-old Simpson apologised and pleaded for leniency. | |
"I didn't mean to hurt anybody and I didn't mean to steal from anybody," said Simpson 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 with a trembling voice and tears in his eyes. |
"I did not know that I was doing anything illegal... I thought that I was confronting friends and retrieving my property." | "I did not know that I was doing anything illegal... I thought that I was confronting friends and retrieving my property." |
But Judge Glass rejected the apology, saying Simpson's actions amounted to "much more than stupidity". | But Judge Glass rejected the apology, saying Simpson's actions amounted to "much more than stupidity". |
'There's never closure' | 'There's never closure' |
After his 1995 acquittal, Simpson was found liable for the deaths of Mrs Simpson and Mr Goldman in a civil case, and ordered to pay $33.5m (£23m) to Mr Goldman's family. What we have is satisfaction that this monster is where he belongs: behind bars Fred Goldman | After his 1995 acquittal, Simpson was found liable for the deaths of Mrs Simpson and Mr Goldman in a civil case, and ordered to pay $33.5m (£23m) to Mr Goldman's family. What we have is satisfaction that this monster is where he belongs: behind bars Fred Goldman |
During Friday's hearing, Judge Glass emphasised her sentence had nothing to do with the earlier case. | During Friday's hearing, Judge Glass emphasised her sentence had nothing to do with the earlier case. |
But outside court, Mr Goldman's father said he was thrilled with the lengthy sentence. | But outside court, Mr Goldman's father said he was thrilled with the lengthy sentence. |
"There's never closure," said Fred Goldman. "Ron is always gone. What we have is satisfaction that this monster is where he belongs: behind bars." | "There's never closure," said Fred Goldman. "Ron is always gone. What we have is satisfaction that this monster is where he belongs: behind bars." |
Judge Glass also denied defence motions for bail pending appeal, saying both defendants posed a risk of fleeing. | Judge Glass also denied defence motions for bail pending appeal, saying both defendants posed a risk of fleeing. |