OJ Simpson faces life in prison over Las Vegas kidnap

Oct 5 2008 By Bruce Walker

SHAMED OJ Simpson faces life in jail after being found guilty of kidnapping and armed robbery in Las Vegas.

He looked stunned after a jury unanimously found him guilty of 12 charges including kidnap, assault with a deadly weapon, and robbery after a three-week trial.

He was convicted exactly 13 years after being cleared of murdering his ex-wife and her friend in America's "trial of the century".

The former American football star kidnapped two sports memorabilia dealers and robbed them at gunpoint in a room at the Palace Station hotel and casino in Las Vegas in September 2007.

Simpson, 61, who now lives in Miami, Florida, will not know his fate until he appears for sentence at the Clark County District Court in December.

It will mark the lowest point of a momentous fall from grace for the former actor and National Football League star.

In 1995 he was cleared of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman in a verdict that shocked the world. He was later found liable for the deaths in a civil case and ordered to pay 33.5million (s19m) to Mr Goldman's family.

In the latest case, deputy district attorney Chris Owens said Simpson took a gang of men to the Palace Station to retrieve items related to his sporting career.

He had lost them while trying to hide them from the Goldmans. The former star and co-defendant Clarence Steward were both found guilty of 12 charges.

These were two counts of first degree kidnapping, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of coercion with a deadly weapon, burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit a crime, kidnapping and robbery.

When the verdicts were read out, Simpson - wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and grey tie - blew out his cheeks, sighed heavily and nodded.

Moments later his hands were cuffed behind his back and he was led out of the court by a Clark County marshal.

Judge Jackie Glass, who rejected several mistrial motions and kept a tight rein on the proceedings, had earlier warned jurors against trying to punish Simpson over the death of his former wife.

The judge said if they were looking to become famous because of the trial "then this is not the case for you".

Before proceedings started, one prospective juror was dismissed after she told the court she "felt Simpson got away with murder".

In 2006, Simpson wrote a book called If I Did It, which set out how he might have murdered his wife, had he been so inclined.

But the book was withdrawn and pulped by HarperCollins shortly before it was due to be published.