The O.J. Simpson Kidnapping/Robbery Case
“Guilty on all counts” was the verdict of a Las Vegas jury which, ironically, came 13 years to the day after O.J. Simpson was acquitted on double murder charges in California. Although hardly “the trial of the century,” this Las Vegas verdict may have been the beginning of the final chapter in a long history of legal cases starring O.J. Simpson.
Simpson’s History
Arguably one of the greatest football running backs of all time, Simpson starred at USC, won the Heisman, played 10 years in the NFL and ultimately made it to the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. After his sports career, Simpson became a TV and movie actor, as well as a popular pitchman for Hertz.
The Double Murder and Civil Cases
As everyone will remember, O.J. played the starring role in the “trial of the century” which arose out of the 1994 brutal stabbing murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The 1995 trial lasted for months and the drama unfolded before our eyes on TV with an all-star defense team, including Johnnie Cochran and F. Lee Bailey, winning a not guilty verdict despite what appeared to be overwhelming evidence of O.J.’s guilt.
Not long after the not guilty verdict, Ronald Goldman’s family filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit. Unlike the criminal jury, the civil jury found O.J. liable for the murder of Ronald Goldman and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages, the vast majority of which remains unpaid.
The Las Vegas Kidnapping/Robbery Case
The Las Vegas case involved items of sports memorabilia that O.J. had lost when trying to hide them from seizure by the Goldman family to pay the wrongful death verdict. An associate of O.J., Thomas Riccio, learned that memorabilia dealers who were staying at the Las Vegas Palace Station Hotel and Casino had some of the lost O.J. memorabilia. Riccio talked to O.J. and agreed to set up a “raid” in which a “purchase” would be arranged but, in reality, O.J. and others would retrieve the items.
On September 13, 2007, O.J. and several associates went to the Palace Station. Although the testimony was contradictory, witnesses who participated in the “raid” and who took plea bargains stated that O.J. told them to bring handguns and that the guns were pointed at the dealers during the raid. In addition, audiotapes of the raid included a voice which sounded like O.J.’s saying “Don’t let nobody out of this room . . . . Mother f—–, you think you can steal my s— and sell it.”
After the others involved in the raid cut deals with the prosecution and pled guilty to lesser charges, the charges filed against O.J. and his co-defendant, Clarence Stewart, included conspiracy (planning a crime with others), kidnapping (holding someone against their will), robbery (theft by means of force or threats), burglary (entering a home with the intent to commit a crime), assault with a deadly weapon and other charges. The theme of the prosecution’s case against O.J. was that he planned and participated in the raid which involved holding people against their will with the use of handguns and the taking of personal property which included O.J. and other sports memorabilia. O.J.’s defense, although he did not testify, tried to prove that O.J. was only retrieving his own personal property and that he did not know that guns were involved. Unlike at his double murder trial, O.J. did not have the all-star criminal defense team. His former defense attorney, Johnnie Cochran (”If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit”) died in 2005 of an inoperable brain tumor.
The Las Vegas Verdict
After weeks of testimony and the presentation of secret audio recordings, the Las Vegas jury found both O.J. and his co-defendant, Clarence Stewart, guilty on all 12 charges. Although appeals are pending, O.J. was immediately incarcerated and likely faces stiff sentencing, which is scheduled for December. The kidnapping conviction could result in a life sentence. Robbery has a mandatory 2 year sentence and the other charges carry 1 to 6 year sentences.
Tim is a graduate of Widener University School of Law (J.D.) and the Temple University Beasley School of Law (Master’s Degree in Trial Advocacy). Tim focuses his practice in Personal Injury law, including car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian accidents, slip and falls, dangerous products/products liability cases and medical malpractice. Tim is a partner in the Chester County, PA, law firm of MacElree Harvey and has offices in Kennett Square and West Chester, PA, and Centreville, DE. Tim is the author of numerous publicatins on Personal Injury law and writes a Blog providing news and information on Personal Injury law at www.macelree.com/traynelaw and is a columnist for The Kennett Paper writing a column titled “Legal LInes.” Tim has also published two books on Personal Injury law: “A Lawyer’s Guide to Purchasing Car Insurance” and “A Lawyer’s Guide to Personal Injury Cases.” In 2007, Tim was named by Main Line Today magazine as one of the area’s Top Personal Injury Litigators. In addition, Tim is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum which recognizes the “Top Trial Lawyers in America,” with membership limited to attorneys who have won million dollar awards and settlements on behalf of their clients.Tim can be reached by phone at 610-840-0124, by email at trayne@macelree.com or on his Blog at www.macelree.com/traynelaw.
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