OJ Simpson to appeal guilty verdict

Calcutta News.Net
Saturday 4th October, 2008

OJ Simpson's lawyer says his client, who has been found guilty on kidnapping and armed robbery charges, will appeal the decision of the court.

Outside the court, Yale Galanter, said he wasn’t surprised his client had been forced to pay the price for his notoriety.

A jury in the United States found Simpson guilty on all charges against him, 13 years to the day after Simpson was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend.

Judge Jackie Glass denied a request for Simpson to be released on bail and he was led away in handcuffs.

He will be sentenced in December and could face life in prison.

The Las Vegas jury deliberated for more than 13 hours on Friday before reaching their verdict.

Another man, Clarence Stewart, a co-defendant in the case, was also found guilty.

Simpson, 61, was accused of storming into a hotel room with a gun-carrying accomplices and seizing sports memorabilia from two dealers.

Simpson, claimed he had only been recovering personal items which had been stolen from him, and said he was unaware that anyone was armed.

But, four of Simpson's accomplices struck deals with the prosecution and testified against him.

One of the most famous American football players the 1970’s, Simpson was the prime suspect in the brutal murders of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994.

He was acquitted of murder after a racially charged Los Angeles trial in 1995.

Simpson was subsequently found liable for the deaths in a 1997 civil suit and was ordered to pay damages to the victims' families totaling $US33.5 million.

Have your say on this story