OJ Simpson faces court hearing over bail claim

OJ Simpson will be brought before a judge next week to answer allegations that he broke the terms of his bail in a Las Vegas armed robbery case.

A hearing will be held on Wednesday at the request of Clark County District Attorney David Roger, who is preparing a motion to revoke former football star Simpson’s bail, according to a clerk for District Court Judge Jackie Glass.

“We understand he’s in the custody of his bail bondsman in Florida right now, and will be brought to Las Vegas for the hearing,” said Elana Pitaro, a clerk for Judge Glass.

WSVN-TV in Miami later showed footage of Simpson walking through Miami International Airport.

“I can’t talk to you guys. I cannot talk to you guys,” Simpson said before boarding the plane.

A bail bondsman at 'You Ring We Spring' bail bonds in North Las Vegas declined to comment.

Simpson was freed on September 19 on $125,000 (€84,500) bail following his arrest after he and several friends were said to have burst into a Las Vegas hotel room and robbed two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint.

Simpson’s lawyer, Yale Galanter, did not comment.

Simpson allegedly called one of his co-defendants in the robbery case in contravention of his bail conditions, a court official said later.

Prosecutors say Simpson, identifying himself as “Miguel”, telephoned Clarence “CJ ” Stewart on November 16 and expressed frustration with Stewart’s testimony at a preliminary hearing, court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said.

That was two days after a Las Vegas judge ruled that Simpson, Stewart and another co-defendant should stand trial on 12 charges, including kidnapping and robbery.

Simpson has maintained that he was retrieving items that belonged to him. He and the two other men are scheduled to stand trial on April 7.

Simpson was acquitted of murder in 1995 over the killing of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

Simpson arrived in Las Vegas on a commercial flight from Florida with his bail bondsman, Miguel Pereira.

In an interview later, Pereira said he was unhappy because he had not been paid for handling Simpson’s earlier bail, and that he gave prosecutors a message Simpson wanted him to take to a co-defendant because he did not want to face criminal charges.

“He left a message instructing me to do something violating a court order,” Pereira said after escorting Simpson from his home in Miami. “I don’t want to get involved in such a dilemma or a criminal act.”

Simpson’s lawyer denied the allegations.

“OJ did not try to persuade anybody to contact a witness,” Galanter said.