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OJ Simpson in bid for new robbery trial OJ Simpson in bid for new robbery trial
(35 minutes later)
American football legend OJ Simpson has asked a Nevada judge to grant him a new trial in the 2008 armed robbery case that left him serving a 33-year prison sentence.American football legend OJ Simpson has asked a Nevada judge to grant him a new trial in the 2008 armed robbery case that left him serving a 33-year prison sentence.
In his long-shot appeal, Simpson argues his defence lawyer was ineffective.In his long-shot appeal, Simpson argues his defence lawyer was ineffective.
The 65-year-old was convicted of the robbery of what he said were stolen articles of personal memorabilia.The 65-year-old was convicted of the robbery of what he said were stolen articles of personal memorabilia.
Separately, Simpson was acquitted of the murder of his former wife and her friend in Los Angeles in 1995.Separately, Simpson was acquitted of the murder of his former wife and her friend in Los Angeles in 1995.
The former National Football League running back is expected to testify during the five-day hearing, which began on Monday. The former defence lawyer, Yale Galanter, declined to comment ahead of his scheduled testimony. The former National Football League running back is expected to testify during the five-day hearing, which began on Monday.
Bad advice?Bad advice?
In 2007, the former football player and five other men confronted sport memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room. Simpson, who was shackled in court, is more than four years into a minimum nine-year prison sentence.
In 2007, the former football player was accompanied by five other men as he tried to reclaim family pictures and footballs peddled by sport memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room.
During the incident, two of Simpson's alleged co-conspirators carried guns.During the incident, two of Simpson's alleged co-conspirators carried guns.
Simpson - who was shackled during his latest court appearance - says Mr Galanter was ineffective at the subsequent trial because he had an personal interest in keeping private his own advice to Simpson. Simpson says former defence lawyer, Yale Galanter, was ineffective at the subsequent trial because he had an personal interest in keeping private his own advice to Simpson.
Mr Galanter, according to Simpson, had repeatedly assured him that he could take back items related to his sporting career - items Simpson believed had been stolen - as long as no-one trespassed and no force was used.Mr Galanter, according to Simpson, had repeatedly assured him that he could take back items related to his sporting career - items Simpson believed had been stolen - as long as no-one trespassed and no force was used.
The defence lawyer continued to conceal that he had been a witness to the crime, including during an appeal to a state court in 2010, Simpson says.The defence lawyer continued to conceal that he had been a witness to the crime, including during an appeal to a state court in 2010, Simpson says.
In a sworn statement outlining his planned testimony, Simpson says Mr Galanter "vigorously discouraged" him from testifying and never told him that prosecutors were willing to let him plead guilty to charges that would have brought a two-year minimum prison term.In a sworn statement outlining his planned testimony, Simpson says Mr Galanter "vigorously discouraged" him from testifying and never told him that prosecutors were willing to let him plead guilty to charges that would have brought a two-year minimum prison term.
"He consistently told me the state could not prove its case because I acted within my rights in retaking my own property," Simpson said."He consistently told me the state could not prove its case because I acted within my rights in retaking my own property," Simpson said.
Dr Norman Roitman, a Las Vegas psychiatrist, testified on Monday that Simpson's perception of what took place at the hotel room might have been muddled by football brain injuries as well as the effects of several vodka and cranberry juice cocktails.Dr Norman Roitman, a Las Vegas psychiatrist, testified on Monday that Simpson's perception of what took place at the hotel room might have been muddled by football brain injuries as well as the effects of several vodka and cranberry juice cocktails.
"In those situations, people may focus on objects in front of them and be oblivious to other things," Mr Roitman said."In those situations, people may focus on objects in front of them and be oblivious to other things," Mr Roitman said.
Appeals for a new trial because of ineffective counsel are seldom granted, but Simpson's history as a murder defendant in a widely-televised 1995 trial could affect the outcome, analysts say.Appeals for a new trial because of ineffective counsel are seldom granted, but Simpson's history as a murder defendant in a widely-televised 1995 trial could affect the outcome, analysts say.