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OJ Simpson testifies in courtroom bid for freedom OJ Simpson testifies in courtroom bid for freedom
(about 1 hour 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, 65, convicted in 2008 of a Las Vegas hotel robbery of what he said was stolen personal memorabilia, said he did not knowingly break the law.
The 65-year-old was sentenced in 2008 for up to 33 years for the Las Vegas hotel robbery of what he said was stolen personal memorabilia. He is currently serving a nine to 33-year sentence over the 2007 incident.
Simpson was acquitted of the murder of his former wife and her friend in 1995. Simpson was famously acquitted of the murder of his former wife and her friend in Los Angeles 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. The current five-day hearing 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' 'No talk of guns'
On Wednesday, Simpson is expected to answer questions on each of the 19 points in support of his request from his lawyers. Simpson's new lawyer said earlier his client was "excited about telling his story".
He is then expected to face cross-examination from government lawyers who want to keep him in prison. The former star NFL running back turned actor 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.
"It's going to be a long day," said one of Simpson's lawyers, Patricia Palm. Simpson - who appeared older and heavier after five years behind bars - said from the witness box on Wednesday that he had only tried to reclaim what he believed were stolen goods.
"He's going to have to testify to every point in the petition. But they can't do a little mini-retrial." "It was my stuff. I followed what I thought was the law," he told the court. "I didn't break into anybody's room and didn't attack or muscle anyone."
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 the men with Simpson carried guns.
During the incident, two of Simpson's alleged co-conspirators carried guns. "There was no talk of guns at all," Simpson told the Nevada court, saying he did not ask anyone to bring weapons.
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. He was also asked about his relationship with former defence lawyer Mr Galanter, who Simpson says was ineffectual at the trial.
He claims Mr Galanter had a personal interest in keeping private his own advice to Simpson.
"Yale had a good relationship with the media," said Simpson. "I was in the media a lot. He was able to refute many of the tabloid stories."
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 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 it was Mr Galanter's decision for Simpson not to testify.
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 "shoestring" defence could not afford to hire expert witnesses.
Simpson is expected to answer questions from his legal team on each of the 19 points in support of his request.
He is then set to face cross-examination from government lawyers who want to keep him in prison.
Back in 1995, in what was dubbed the trial of the century, Simpson was acquitted of the stabbing murders a year earlier of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
A civil jury in a wrongful death lawsuit later found him liable for their deaths, awarding their families $33.5m (£22m) in damages.