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| OJ Simpson testifies in courtroom bid for freedom | OJ Simpson testifies in courtroom bid for freedom |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former football star and actor OJ Simpson is testifying at a Nevada court hearing on his request for a new trial in an armed robbery case. | Former football star and actor OJ Simpson is testifying at a Nevada court hearing on his request for a new trial in an armed robbery case. |
| Simpson is expected to answer questions for at least a day. His lawyer said he was "excited about telling his story". | Simpson is expected to answer questions for at least a day. His lawyer said he was "excited about telling his story". |
| He was sentenced in 2008 for up to 33 years for the Las Vegas hotel robbery of what he said were stolen articles of personal memorabilia. | |
| Simpson was acquitted of the murder of his former wife and her friend in 1995. | Simpson was acquitted of the murder of his former wife and her friend in 1995. |
| The five-day hearing before a judge seeks to determine if Simpson's complaints of ineffective representation by his original lawyer, Yale Galanter, will win him a new trial. | |
| 'A long day' | 'A long day' |
| On Wednesday, Simpson is expected to answer questions on each of the 19 points in support of his request from his lawyers. | On Wednesday, Simpson is expected to answer questions on each of the 19 points in support of his request from his lawyers. |
| He is then expected to face cross-examination from government lawyers who want to keep him in prison. | He is then expected to face cross-examination from government lawyers who want to keep him in prison. |
| "It's going to be a long day," said one of Simpson's lawyers, Patricia Palm. | |
| "He's going to have to testify to every point in the petition. But they can't do a little mini-retrial." | "He's going to have to testify to every point in the petition. But they can't do a little mini-retrial." |
| 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. | 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 says his former defence lawyer, Mr Galanter, was ineffective at the subsequent trial because he had a 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 also convinced the football player not to testify at his own trial and did not mention a plea deal from prosecutors that would have reduced his prison sentence, Simpson said. | The defence lawyer also convinced the football player not to testify at his own trial and did not mention a plea deal from prosecutors that would have reduced his prison sentence, Simpson said. |
| The court has already heard testimony from Mr Galanter's co-counsel, Gabriel Grasso. Mr Grasso has testified that the decision to have Simpson not testify was Mr Galanter's decision. | The court has already heard testimony from Mr Galanter's co-counsel, Gabriel Grasso. Mr Grasso has testified that the decision to have Simpson not testify was Mr Galanter's decision. |
| The lawyer also accused Mr Galanter of lining his own pockets while telling him the defence was "operating on a shoestring" and could not afford to hire expert witnesses. | The lawyer also accused Mr Galanter of lining his own pockets while telling him the defence was "operating on a shoestring" and could not afford to hire expert witnesses. |