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OJ to plead not guilty
28/11/2007 07:54 - (SA)
Las Vegas - OJ Simpson and two co-defendants are expected to plead not guilty on Wednesday to 12 charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room.
The former football star and his lawyers contend that no guns were displayed and that he intended only to retrieve items that had been stolen from him, including photographs, football awards and the suit he wore the day he was acquitted in 1995 of murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Prosecutors allege the heist in Las Vegas netted tens of thousands of dollars of sports collectibles that bore no connection to Simpson.
Simpson, 60, of Miami, Clarence "CJ" Stewart and Charles "Charlie" Ehrlich were bound over for trial this month after a 3 1/2-day preliminary hearing, which featured testimony from witnesses and three former co-defendants who took plea deals in return for their testimony.
Defence attorneys lost a bid during the preliminary hearing to get any charges dismissed, despite claims they were based on accounts by con artists and crooks.
Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter, said Wednesday's arraignment should be brief.
"If this goes like all other standard arraignments, it will last about five minutes," Galanter said.
But he added: "There's nothing in this case that has been standard."
Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass will juggle schedules for prosecutors, defence lawyers and herself in picking a trial date.
Galanter said he would seek a date "sometime next year" but declined to be more specific.
Defence lawyers may challenge an amended complaint filed Monday listing Stewart and Ehrlich as possible witnesses, but not Simpson.
Attorneys for Stewart and Ehrlich did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
- SAPA
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