Simpson is going back to court for a 5-day hearing starting from Monday, May 13, which apparently will be his last chance to gain freedom.
- May 13, 2013
AceShowbiz - O.J. Simpson will head back to court room on Monday, May 13, to fight for his freedom in a session which apparently will be his last chance to get his freedom back. In the hearing, Simpson is going to try to have his sentence reversed and get a new trial for the 2008 confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers.
Simpson said that bad legal advice he received from his former lawyer Yale Galanter contributed to his conviction for armed robbery assault and kidnapping, CNN reported. According to Simpson, Galanter explained to him that taking back property belonged to him was within his rights "so long as there would be no trespass and no physical force used against the persons with the property."
Simpson's new lawyer wrote in a paper submitted to court, "Simpson also contends that Galanter did not advise Simpson that carrying out the plan could subject him to criminal charges, regardless of the ownership of the property."
According to Associated Press, Simpson also accused Galanter of failing to inform him of a plea deal that would have gotten him two years in prison. "Had I understood that there was an actual chance of conviction, I would have accepted such an offer," Simpson said in the statement.
In addition, Simpson blamed Galanter for not putting him on the stand for his own defense. "There was no evidence presented to adequately challenge the state's evidence of criminal intent and knowledge of the guns or the bad character evidence to which the jury was exposed," the statement read. Simpson also accused Galanter of having conflicts of interest.
In regards to Simpson's claims, prosecutor stated, "Other than Simpson's bare allegations, the record does not support any conflict of interest." CNN reported that Galanter only spoke to Simpson after the confrontation with the dealers. Galanter has not responded to comment.
Simpson, a 65-year-old former NFL player, was accused of leading a group of people at the Palace Station hotel to use force, threats and guns to take back his properties from two dealers. He is currently in his fourth year of 33 years service and will be eligible for parole in 2017.
