OJ SIMPSON’S lawyer said yesterday the disgraced actor and former American football star was being isolated from other prisoners for his own safety while focusing on a motion for a new trial and appeal against his conviction for kidnapping and robbery.

A prisoner in Texas committed suicide this morning in his death-row cell, less than 18 hours before he was scheduled to be executed, a prison official said.

A death row inmate escaped from a county jail in Texas after he obtained civilian clothing and a fake ID badge, authorities said.