Posted on 11/14/2007 4:42:03 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LAS VEGAS - O.J. Simpson must face trial on kidnapping, armed robbery and other charges stemming from an alleged sports memorabilia heist, a justice of the peace ruled Wednesday.
Justice of the Peace Joe M. Bonaventure ruled after a preliminary hearing of the charges and arguments against the case by attorneys for Simpson and co-defendants Clarence "C.J." Stewart and Charles "Charlie" Ehrlich.
"This is what we expected," Simpson told The Associated Press before he left the courtroom. "If I have any disappointment it's that I wish a jury was here. As always, I rely on the jury system."
No charges in the 12-count complaint against the three men were dropped.
Kidnapping convictions could result in a life sentence with possibility of parole. Armed robbery convictions would mandate some time in prison.
The case stemmed from a Sept. 13 confrontation in a casino hotel room where Simpson and a group of men allegedly stole items from two sports memorabilia dealers.
The defendants were ordered to arraignment on Nov. 28.
Bonaventure ruled hours after listening to 3 1/2 days of testimony by witnesses.
During closing arguments of the hearing, a defense lawyer contended that the case was based on the accounts of "crackheads and groupies and pimps and purveyors of stolen merchandise and gun carriers and con artists and crooks."
"These guys are bad. The court can't ascribe any credibility to what came out of their mouths," said attorney John Moran Jr., who represents Ehrlich.
"Every witness up there was looking to sell testimony and make money off of this case," Moran said.
He described three other men who accepted plea deals to testify against Simpson as "rats," and urged the judge to say that "rats don't get a better deal."
Bonaventure turned to prosecutors and said, "You did not address the credibility issues."
Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens offered no defense of their character but said, "It's not like the state went out and found the witnesses. These are people aligned with O.J. Simpson. These are the people he surrounds himself with."
He said their credibility is supported by audio and video tapes and the fact they corroborated each other.
Moran argued that Ehrlich, the seeming bystander to the hotel room incident, should have his case dismissed.
"Standing around where a crime is committed does not rise to the level in Nevada of being a perpetrator," he said.
Simpson's lawyer, Gabriel Grasso, said Simpson clearly did not intend to steal anyone else's property and "the intent issue in this case is paramount." He also argued there was "not a scintilla of evidence" to support a kidnapping charge.
He accused prosecutors of "overcharging" the case and said such charges as conspiracy, assault and coercion were merely a "piling on" of charges in the hope something will stick.
Moran noted that the two men who said they brought guns to the hotel room were given plea deals likely to win them probation while those who had no guns were facing possible trial.
Simpson, 60, has maintained that no guns were displayed during the confrontation, that he never asked anyone to bring guns and that he did not know anyone had guns. He has said he intended only to retrieve items that had been stolen from him by a former agent, including the suit he wore the day he was acquitted of murder in 1995 in the slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
Simpson and the other defendants did not testify in their own defense at the hearing.
The final prosecution witness, Alfred Beardsley had to be brought from a California jail where he is serving time for a probation violation in a domestic violence case.
Beardsley, one of the two dealers trying to sell Simpson memorabilia in the hotel room, has been described by other witnesses as "loony" and a Simpson groupie who idolizes him. He kept shifting his eyes over in Simpson's direction as he testified but Simpson did not return his gaze.
Beardsley, who testified that he appeared on many TV shows after the incident, said he was the one who called 911 to say he had been robbed.
Under cross-examination by one of Simpson's lawyers, he blamed Simpson for the incident.
"Your client was foolish enough to let it happen," he said. "He was a high-profile person and people were waiting for him to screw up. And he screwed up."
O.J. Simpson returns to the courthouse after a break in his preliminary hearing at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Nevada November 14, 2007. Simpson and two co-defendants are facing charges relating to an alleged robbery at a Las Vegas hotel room in September 2007. REUTERS/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES)
What haPPens in Vegas..
I’d watch for a Wesley Snipes-style motion to move venue to OJ-friendly people. And then OJ will go from business suit to dashiki and doo rag
O.J. Simpson rubs his face during his preliminary hearing at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Nevada November 14, 2007. Simpson and two co-defendants are facing charges relating to an alleged robbery at a Las Vegas hotel room in September 2007. REUTERS/ Isaac Brekken/Pool (UNITED STATES)
If there was a jury there, Mr. Simpson, it would not be called a hearing, it would be called a trial. - and you would not be so glib.
We shall see. We shall see.
Woo-hoo ping!
I hope he gets what he deserves.
With all the evidence they have, if they’d have decided otherwise, we’d have to assume judicial incompetence—or corruption. I don’t see any way this guy’s gonna walk on this one. (Plus, the trial won’t be held in L.A. this time!)
Somewhat interesting. However, when anything OJ comes on the tube, I change the channel. ‘Had enough of him first time around.
“If I have any disappointment it’s that I wish the Goldman-Brown-Simpson jury was here.”
See ya in 20 to 30 murderer.
“.....the two men who said they brought guns to the hotel room were given plea deals likely to win them probation......”
I soooo hope these 2 violate their plea agreement in a way that doesn’t allow the main maggot to walk but gets them locked up as well.
looks like the boy is pushing max-density...
Good news bump.
I’m going to try to patronize this guy’s restaurant over the holiday season, since I’ll be in the area, for what he did regarding O.J.
Jeff Ruby Denies OJ Simpson Service
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=25276914-5de4-495d-a1d2-dc597eff5780
I suppose this means Greta Van Susteren will have guaranteed employment for the foreseeable future.
Break out the Peter Pan and grape jelly.
He’s toast!
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1994 : "Ooops! Now how can I pull this off? I know! Play the race card!"
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2007: "When you're happy and you know it clap your hands....."
I am convinced now, against a lifetime of belief, that
THERE IS NO GOD!!!
I cannot stand another OJ trial. This will be bigger than any circus Barnum and Baily EVER put on. I would rather see his ass free than to see another trial.
if he goes someones gonna try shiv him, become big man on campus if you got the juice for offing his wife.
Looks like a William Shatner wannabee.
Heard this could result in a life sentence.
This is a state case, not a federal one, so the most a motion to change venue could accomplish would be to move the case to another county in Nevada.
“Heard this could result in a life sentence.”
You are so right. The BIG problem with that is it is OUR life sentence if we have to go through another 2 year trial.
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO........
Frankly...I don;t think anyone cares....and they’ll just show up again for the endgame call.
O.J. is counting on another ignorant, anti-justice, racist black jury to set his sorry ass free again....
I doubt Las Vegas will seat the same type jury...
I'm wanting them to lock his swarmy smart murderous ass up for life.
I also want to pick his cell mate...
A 400 pound criminally insane white homosexual rapist.
Looking back on when I Was a little nappy headed boy. Then my only worry was for christmas what would be my toy. Even though we sometimes ...
He does kind of look like Stevie Wonder. Well, maybe not to Stevie Wonder.
I wonder if he goes to the big house this time....Most likely...Vegas is not like LA...I would hope they have common sense....
OJ should get the "worst judge in the nation" for his trial. A Clinton appointee and Federal Judge named Vanessa Gilmore. She is a "sister" who holds court like some kind of Living Color episode.
OJ would love it.
-- Last, but not least, "But presumably, you are going to just go back and get a letter from the Attorney General telling me to kiss their butt basically."
* She has thrown her keys in open court at an attorney (I believe it might have been an AUSA) for calling her "ma'am";
* She ordered an AUSA to have John Ashcroft personally write her a letter explaining the DOJ's reasons for seeking the death penalty against one defendant but not others [the Williams case, discussed in more detail below];
* When she didn't like the particular font counsel used, she told him that she threw his motion in the trash without reading it, and then she ruled against him;
* During trial she is happy to make findings contrary to stipulations of the parties; and
* She encourages ex parte contact with the court and attempts to prevent record-making: any discovery "motions" must be way of a one-page letter to the court. She will then have a hearing which she considers an "oral motion to compel." She will happily rule without actually seeing any of the discovery propounded.
*I watched Judge Gilmore during much of the first Enron Broadband trial and I was absolutely mortified at her lack of professionalism, ability and common intelligence (legal or otherwise). She ran that courtroom like a bad "In Living Color" sketch with a heavy dose of eye rolling, screaming, "talk to the hand" mentality. She is an embarrassment to the justice system and the profession as a whole. She is a living example of why we should never allow lifetime appointments!
*Many lawyers in Houston can tell you stories of Judge Gilmore's antics. I attended a CLE on class actions last Fall at a posh Houston restaurant. Judge Gilmore was one of four judges who spoke. After the discussion, I headed down to the front door to get my car from the valet. There were several people in front of me, including a state court judge who had been on the panel, and even more people behind me. Then we heard a commotion from the back. "Excuse me, y'all don't mind if I cut. Excuse me, y'all don't mind if I cut." As the crowd behind me separated, Judge Gilmore appeared, repeating that same line with the a big smile on her face. She cut right to the front of the line, even ahead of the state court judge in front of me who had waited patiently like everyone else for her turn. Sadly, few of my colleagues were surprised to hear that Judge Gilmore did such a thing; the bar has acclimated to her antics. So sad . . .
Vegas is not like LA...I would hope they have common sense....
Harry rEid is a Senator in Nevada.. I wouldn’t hold my breath on the verdict. ;-)
Where’s that crying guy? “Leave O.J. alone, he’s only human!”
“Too bad this is a state trial and not a Federal one in Texas.”
I agree! Texas would weave the rope to hang his sorry a$$! I I think the country would get pay per view to watch it!
“I hope he gets what he deserves.”
He is. He’s one of the most despised people in the U.S.
“Where’s that crying guy”
OJ is only crying cause he got caught! He thought he was above the law. Why? Just cause he got away with murder?
Ever hear of “The Telltale Heart”? It is coming for OJ!!!
“I don;t think anyone cares”
Unless you live in a frickin cave my friend you will hear/read/see/smell/feel 1 hour a day of another OJ Simpson trial. You will not be able to escape it. NO NO NO NO.....
Not with Judge Gilmore they wouldn't!
She was basically sued by the circuit, and they won because she used illegal tactics to try and protect a black man from facing the death penalty.
Clinton judicial appointees - the gift that keeps on giving - like Herpes.
Change of venue? To where? Carson City? Reno? Beatty?
Could there STILL be federal charges? As the state case proceeds?
I know we will all have to watch the trial...I want to watch OJ burn!!!!
Like I said....”The Telltale Heart” read the book by Edgar Allen Poe!!! That is what is/has been happening to OJ. It does not happen overnight, but the pain on him is slow and forthcoming...
I am loving this!
Good.
skypilot I have to believe that not all judges in Texas are like that!! Texas has a harsh record for putting criminals away. Texas even puts more criminals to death than just about any other state. Which is fine by me...Don’t mess with Texas!!
I was thinking more along the lines of Idi Amin. *SHIVER*
I am not a lawyer, I do not know. I just hope they trow the book at him!
“I just hope they trow the book at him!”
Yes, AN OLD book, LIKE THE 10 Commandments TABLETS! Get it over with BEFORE it starts.
Describing OJ to a tee.
“Yes, AN OLD book, LIKE THE 10 Commandments TABLETS! Get it over with BEFORE it starts.”
It would do OJ no good! When God was passing out conscience, OJ was out for a beer.
O.J. to get away with it again.....
Bill Clinton's staff testified?
“Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens offered no defense of their character but said, ‘It’s not like the state went out and found the witnesses. These are people aligned with O.J. Simpson. These are the people he surrounds himself with.’”
In other words...you are who you roll with.
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