O.J. Simpson Loses Conviction Appeal

10 November 2008

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O.J. Simpson has lost his bid for a retrial in relation to kidnapping and armed robbery charges after a Nevada judge dismissed his lawyer's allegation of jury misconduct.

Simpson was found guilty on all 12 counts on 3 October (08), stemming from a heist he took part in at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last year (Sep07).

The verdict came 13 years to the day since Simpson was acquitted of the double murder of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

That's problematic for our clients, who are black.

He and his co-defendant Clarence Stewart filed an appeal against their convictions, with one motion objecting to the selection of Paul Connelly as jury foreman. Their attorneys claimed Connelly had been dismissed from a previous job after marking a racially disparaging comment, and alleged that his attitude could have impaired his judgement in the trial.

Stewart's lawyer Brent Bryson told Clark County District Court on Friday (07Nov08), "That's problematic for our clients, who are black."

Bryson further alleged that Connelly had told the media after the pair's conviction that he thought former American football star Simpson should have been imprisoned for the 1994 killings of Brown Simpson and Goldman. Connelly has since claimed his comments were taken out of context.

But during the hearing, Judge Jackie Glass disagreed with the allegations, telling Bryson, and Simpson's lawyer Yale Galanter, "I find that nothing has risen to a level of juror misconduct.

"They face life sentences, mandatory prison. Your motions are being denied."

Simpson, 61, and Stewart are currently being held in a Las Vegas jail until sentencing on 5 December (08).

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