OJ Simpson begins court appeal
OJ Simpson is due back in court for the first time since he was jailed for robbery, hoping to win an appeal against his conviction and sentence of up to 33 years.
The former US sports star and actor intends to argue that his lawyer at the Las Vegas trial in 2008 had a conflict of interest and gave bad advice. Simpson and a co-defendant were convicted of 12 felonies.
Simpson is now represented by Patricia Palm, who says claims against John Galanter, Simpson’s former lawyer, “are solid”.
Mr Galanter is due to give evidence at the new hearing and has declined to comment.
Simpson now says that Mr Galanter knew ahead of time about Simpson’s plan to retrieve what he thought were personal mementoes, and that the lawyer met Simpson in Las Vegas to discuss the plan the night before he and five other men confronted two sports memorabilia dealers and a middleman in a casino hotel room in September 2007. Simpson still says he had no idea two of the men were carrying guns.
Simpson claims he sought to retrieve what he thought were family photos and personal belongings stolen after his 1995 acquittal in the murders of his wife and her friend in Los Angeles.
Mr Galanter said the plan was within the law, as long as no one trespassed and no force was used, Simpson said.
Simpson also claims Mr Galanter “vigorously discouraged” him from giving evidence at his trial, and never told him that prosecutors were willing to let him plead guilty to charges with a minimum sentence of two years.
“He consistently told me the state could not prove its case because I acted within my rights in retaking my own property,” Simpson said in a statement outlining what he plans to say in court this week.
