O.J. Simpson seeking new robbery trial

A US judge will take testimony and evidence on former American football star O.J. Simpson’s claim that he was so badly represented in his Las Vegas armed robbery and kidnapping trial that he should be freed from prison and get another trial.

District Court Judge Linda Marie Bell dismissed four of 22 grounds on which Simpson’s appeals lawyer seeks his release.

But the judge in Nevada agreed to consider 18 claims, including whether trial lawyer Yale Galanter had a conflict of interest and should not have handled Simpson’s case. Mr Galanter declined comment.

Simpson remains behind bars, serving nine to 33 years in prison.

He maintained he was trying to recover items stolen from him after his 1995 acquittal in the killings of his ex-wife and her friend.