OJ Simpson is allowed to have one hand free as he argues for new armed robbery trial
In an effort to curtail the prison term he is serving for the armed robbery of sports memorabilia from a Las Vegas casino hotel, former football great O.J. Simpson is arguing for a new trial in a Nevada courtroom.
His lead counsel, Yale Galanter, is being portrayed as cavalier about preparing the case and a source of poor advice to Simpson. These charges are being made by lawyer Gabriel L. Grasso, who was involved in the 2008 trial; Simpson himself; and additional witnesses, according to ABC News, the Associated Press and KXNT. Galanter is expected to testify later.
Meanwhile, the judge presiding over the matter has agreed that Simpson may have one hand free in order to take notes and sip from a water container.
The 65-year-old is serving a 9- to 33-year sentence in the Clark County District Court case. Already known for his football career and as an actor and celebrity, he became even more well-known after a highly publicized murder trial in which he was acquitted in 1994 of the slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and a male friend. He was subsequently found civilly liable in a $33 million wrongful death case.
Simpson is expected to testify himself on Wednesday, reports CNN.
USA Today and a Reuters article supplemented by other reports and published by the Chicago Tribune provide additional background about Simpson and his current appeal.
See also
ABAJournal.com: “Lead Counsel in OJ Simpson Case Sues 3 Lawyers for Claimed Slander in Legal Fee Dispute”
ABAJournal.com: “OJ Simpson Habeas Petition Blames Football Great’s Ex-Counsel for Armed Robbery Conviction”
ABAJournal.com: “OJ Simpson was ‘somewhat intimidated’ by his lawyer, witness says in new trial bid”
ABAJournal.com: “O.J. Simpson: I gave $500K to lead lawyer for costs; he was supposed to defend me for free”
Updated at 12:45 p.m. to change wording in sentence and on May 16 to link to subsequent ABAJournal.com post.
