O.J. on ice

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Posted By: Dave S

Not that I'm a fan, but wondering if anyone here thinks Mr. Simpson and his co-defendant will be getting a fair trial in Nevada from an all-white jury?

Also, does anyone know anything about the "memorabilia dealers" who he is accused of stealing his stuff from?



Las Vegas jury seated in O.J. Simpson's trial
By LINDA DEUTSCH – 1 day ago

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A jury has been selected to decide whether O.J. Simpson and a co-defendant kidnapped and robbed two sports memorabilia dealers last year in Las Vegas.

Twelve jurors and six alternates were seated Thursday after four days of sometimes contentious questioning by defense lawyers.

Most prospective jurors have said they disagree with Simpson's 1995 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

But they insist they can be fair in the latest case.

Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart have pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges.

Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass says she wants to begin opening statements Monday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The judge in the robbery and kidnapping trial of O.J. Simpson and a co-defendant approved the last of 40 jury prospects Thursday, including a man who wrote on his jury questionnaire that the former football star was "a murderer and got away with it."

Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass told lawyers to return later in the day to exercise peremptory challenges and choose the final 12 jurors and six alternates.

Defense attorneys clashed with the judge in the final hours of four days of jury questioning when she refused to remove a retired policeman who repeatedly said Simpson was a murderer. He said he filled his questionnaire with such statements for shock value.

"I wanted to scare you so I wouldn't have to be here," he told defense attorney Gabriel Grasso. "I was hoping they would say, 'Oh, this guy is crazy,' and they would move on."

But the man said he later decided he wanted to serve and would put his opinions about Simpson aside and give him a fair trial.

"I'm a firm believer in the system," he said. "He won. He's a free man until he comes here."

The potential juror had written that co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart was a murderer, too, but said he made a mistake. Stewart's lawyer unsuccessfully challenged him for cause.

The man also said a friend of his took a photo with Simpson after his 1995 murder acquittal and sent it out as a Christmas card.

"I thought it was funny," the man said.

Asked if he stood by his statement that Simpson got away with murder, he said, "I did mean it. It was an honest answer. But it was used to get out of serving. Now is now. Today is today. Everyone is starting with a clean slate."

Judge Glass approved his inclusion in the jury pool. District Attorney David Roger told protesting defense lawyers that if they didn't like the man, they could use a peremptory challenge to remove him.

Peremptory challenges are reserved for removing prospective jurors without stating a cause. The final pool of prospects included a number of people who disagreed with Simpson's acquittal in the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. But all said they could put that aside and weigh the Las Vegas case on its own merits.

Simpson, 61, is accused with Stewart, 54, of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes for allegedly stealing items from two sports memorabilia dealers in a hotel room confrontation last year. They have pleaded not guilty.

In another development, the judge issued an order refusing to release questionnaires filled out by the jurors who make up the panel. She said she had promised the panel she would keep their answers secret.

Glass said she would release a blank copy of a jury questionnaire, but only after the jurors are seated.

Attorneys Colby Williams and Donald Campbell, representing AP and the Review-Journal, said Thursday that they filed an emergency motion asking the Nevada Supreme Court to review Glass' decision.

Supreme Court clerks in Carson City did not immediately respond to an after-hours call seeking to determine if the motion was received.

"Prohibiting access to the completed questionnaires runs afoul of the First Amendment's guarantee of access to voir dire proceedings in criminal trials and precludes the media from reporting newsworthy events in a timely manner," the document said.

Review-Journal Editor Tom Mitchell called Glass' ruling "nonsense."

"She's saying she's going to abide by a promise she never should have made," Mitchell said. "What is the reason for the secrecy anyway? We're supposed to have public trials."

Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.