Judge warns potential jurors for OJ Simpson trial

The judge trying OJ Simpson over kidnapping and armed robbery today warned prospective jurors against trying to punish the former American football star over the death of his wife.

Simpson was cleared of murdering his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in the so-called “trial of the century” 13 years ago.

Judge Jackie Glass told hundreds of prospective jurors at the Clark County District Court in Las Vegas that if they were looking to become famous because of the trial “then this is not the case for you”.

The 61-year-old former NFL star faces a life sentence if found guilty of the kidnapping and armed robbery charges which relate to the alleged theft of sports memorabilia at the Palace Station Casino in Las Vegas on September 13 last year.

Two potential jurors said they could not put aside what they knew about the 1995 Los Angeles murder case and were dismissed. A dozen others were dismissed because of hardship.

The judge also rejected a bid by Simpson’s defence team to ask prospective jurors if they consider him a murderer.

“My determination is no, we are not going there,” she said.

Judge Glass said questionnaires filled out by potential jurors had asked whether they were familiar with Simpson’s other trials and the verdicts in them.

She added: “We are not here to re-litigate those cases.”

Simpson’s low-key arrival at court today was a sharp contrast to 13 years ago when the media, protesters and supporters followed his every move in a televised trial.

The former American football star, who has said he puts his faith in the jury, declined to answer questions from reporters this morning, but smiled and waved when one person called out “Good luck!”.

A motion by two major news organisations to make public the blank jury questionnaire was rejected. But the judge said she would research the law and possibly reconsider.

Judge Glass said the questionnaire had been extensive – 116 questions in 26 pages – and it resulted in elimination of more than half of the original 500 prospective jurors.

The judge said she would not allow defence lawyers to probe potential jurors’ opinions in depth because it would take too long.

“If we start going into the whys and hows of everything, we will be here for three weeks and we’re not going to do that,” she said.

“I’m certainly going to ask their opinions. But we’re not going to go behind it and get the why.”

Defence lawyer Yale Galanter later told the potential jurors that Simpson had pleaded not guilty.

“At no time has he committed anything wrong, and that’s what this is all about,” Mr Galanter said.

Four of the five men who accompanied Simpson to the casino – Charles Cashmore, Walter “Goldie” Alexander, Michael “Spencer” McClinton and Charles Ehrlich - accepted plea deals and agreed to testify for the prosecution.

The fifth, Clarence “CJ” Stewart, is his co-defendant and the pair both pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, coercion and conspiracy charges on November 28.

Judge Glass, US prosecutors and defence lawyers used 26-page questionnaires to identify prospective jurors with biases and cut a jury pool of 500 to fewer than 250.

Jury selection still could take a week or longer, court officials said.

Simpson, who lives in Miami, Florida, has denied any knowledge of guns being involved in the confrontation with memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley on September 13 last year.

He has said he intended only to retrieve items that had been stolen from him by a former agent.

In court, once the 12-member jury panel and four alternates are seated, the suit Simpson wore on October 3 1995 – when he was acquitted of the murders of his wife and her friend – will be at the centre of the case.

A civil jury later found him liable, but he has refused to pay the $33.5m in damages.

In 2006, Simpson wrote a book called 'If I Did It', which set out how he might have murdered his wife, had he been so inclined.

But the book was withdrawn and pulped by HarperCollins shortly before being published.

In August last year, a Florida bankruptcy court gave the rights to the book to the Goldman family, who published it under the title 'I Did It: Confessions Of the Killer'.

During previous hearings, Alexander admitted he would have slanted his testimony in Simpson’s favour if the price was right.

“Alexander offered to sell his testimony to the highest bidder,” Mr Galanter said.

“This is a cast of very nefarious characters.

“And the truth is, these items were not memorabilia. The law has always provided a right, dating back to our founding fathers, to recover personal property.”

The trial is expected to last five weeks.