LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas judge ran the table on OJ Simpson yesterday, ordering the football-superstar-turned-pariah to stand trial on kidnapping and armed-robbery charges that could send him to jail for life.
“This is what we expected,” Simpson said before he left the courtroom. “If I have any disappointment, it’s that I wish a jury was here. As always, I rely on the jury system.”
Simpson, who is accused of using armed goons to shake down two memorabilia dealers, is scheduled to return to Sin City for a Nov. 28 arraignment hearing, along with co-defendants, Clarence Stewart and Charles Ehrlich.
Justice of the Peace Joseph Bonaventure rejected Simpson’s argument that he was just trying to retrieve personal items, but left the door open for his lawyers to use that defense at trial.
“The ownership at this point is at least questionable,” Bonaventure said. Simpson’s trial could begin in 11 months.
The ruling followed testimony by one of the alleged victims, who said America is thrilled to see OJ Simpson back on trial after he was infamously acquitted in 1995 of killing his ex-wife and her friend.
“People have been waiting for him to screw up and he screwed up,” Alfred Beardsley said as he testified at the hearing to determine if Simpson should stand trial for kidnapping and armed robbery stemming from a Sept. 13 room invasion at a casino hotel.
Beardsley is one of the sports-memorabilia dealers who Simpson believed had some of his football keepsakes – and whom he allegedly confronted with a squad of armed goons.
After he testified, lawyers for Simpson and his alleged cohorts, as well as prosecutors, gave their closing arguments.
John Moran Jr., Ehrlich’s lawyer, called the prosecution witnesses, including Beardsley, liars, pimps and untrustworthy stool pigeons.
“One thing is crystal clear . . . that this court has seen our judicial system disrespected by perverted testimony,” Moran said.
Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter said the tough cross-examination of DA witnesses at the hearing worked in the defense’s favor.
“We haven’t seen some of their [prosecution] cards, we’ve seen all of their cards. They have called every essential witness in this case,” Galanter said.
“If we had a jury seated now, my client would be on the way home and this thing would be over.”