JustGav Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7767556.stm 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. 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". Simpson was later found liable for the deaths in a civil case and ordered to pay $33.5m (£19m) to Mr Goldman's family. 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 crime Conspiracy to kidnap Two counts of first degree kidnapping Burglary in possession of a deadly weapon Two counts of armed robbery Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon Profile: OJ Simpson Before sentencing, 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," said the judge. Wearing a dark blue jail uniform, Simpson 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 the former Buffalo Bills player. "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." But the judge rejected the apology, saying his actions amounted to "much more than stupidity". Judge Glass also denied defence motions for bail pending appeal, saying both defendants posed a risk of fleeing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Its about bloody time IMO. He shouldn't have got away with that awful crime of the murders of his wife etc. Maybe him and Boy George could share a cell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy07 Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Yeah he was guilty the first time,so justice has been done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiceRocket Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Suppose life has a way of evening things up. Bet he would've just got community service sentenced here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 He can apply for parole after seven years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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