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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 has testified at a Nevada court hearing on his request for a new trial in an armed robbery case. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| He is currently serving a nine to 33-year sentence over the 2007 incident. | He is currently serving a nine to 33-year sentence over the 2007 incident. |
| Simpson was famously acquitted of the murder of his former wife and her friend in Los Angeles in 1995. | Simpson was famously acquitted of the murder of his former wife and her friend in Los Angeles in 1995. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Ineffectual' lawyer | |
| One of Simpson's new lawyers said earlier his client was "excited about telling his story". | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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." | "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." |
| During the incident, two of the men with Simpson carried guns. | During the incident, two of the men with Simpson carried guns. |
| "There was no talk of guns at all," Simpson told the Nevada court, saying he did not ask anyone to bring weapons. | "There was no talk of guns at all," Simpson told the Nevada court, saying he did not ask anyone to bring weapons. |
| He was also asked about his relationship with former defence lawyer Mr Galanter, who Simpson says was ineffectual at the trial. | 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. | 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." | "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 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 it was Mr Galanter's decision for Simpson not to testify. | 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 "shoestring" defence 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | A civil jury in a wrongful death lawsuit later found him liable for their deaths, awarding their families $33.5m (£22m) in damages. |