LAS VEGAS — More than four years after the world last heard from O.J. Simpson in court, one of the nation's most famous prisoners spoke again Wednesday in a bid to win freedom from a sentence that could keep him behind bars until he dies.
Simpson took the stand to testify about his legal representation by attorney Yale Galanter in the case involving a strange hotel room confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers that led to a robbery-kidnap conviction.
Under questioning by his co-counsel, Patricia Palm, Simpson began discussing his background with Galanter.
"Yale had a good relationship with the media," Simpson said.
"I was in the media a lot. He was able to refute many of the tabloid stories," Simpson said with a laugh. "He sort of liked doing it; he told me he did."
The 65-year-old former football star and actor, now with short graying hair, receding hairline and dressed in drab prison blue scrubs, spoke clearly and confidently as he also recounted events leading up to the confrontation in a hotel room where the dealers had Simpson footballs and family photos. When he shifted in his seat to pour a cup of water, his shackles rattled.
5 things to know about Simpson's court date
WHY IS O.J. SIMPSON IN COURT?
The 65-year-old former football star and actor is serving nine to 33 years in a Nevada prison after a jury found him guilty in 2008 of leading the gunpoint robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room. Simpson wants a new trial because he says his longtime lawyer from Miami, Yale Galanter, failed to disclose that he knew about the plan in advance, told Simpson it was legal and provided bad advice at trial.
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
The proceeding, called a writ of habeas corpus, is not a trial. Clark County District Court Judge Linda Marie Bell started hearing testimony Monday on 19 separate claims of ineffective representation of counsel and conflict of interest. Simpson has to prove his lawyers botched his trial and the outcome could have been different. Bell may not make an immediate decision after the hearing expected to last until Friday.
WHAT ABOUT SIMPSON'S EARLIER APPEALS?
The Nevada Supreme Court denied Simpson's appeal in 2010. Simpson now maintains that by Galanter handling his appeal and oral arguments, the lawyer blocked Simpson from claiming Galanter had conflicted interests.
WILL SIMPSON TESTIFY?
Simpson is expected to testify Wednesday morning. He didn't even take the stand during his infamous 1995 trial in Los Angeles in which he was acquitted of killing ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman. It would be his first public account of the Las Vegas caper that led to his arrest. He still maintains he didn't know that two of the five men with him that night at the Palace Station hotel brought guns.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHERS?
Four co-defendants pleaded guilty to felonies, testified for the prosecution and got off with probation. Clarence "C.J." Stewart was convicted with Simpson and served more than two years in prison before the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that Simpson's fame tainted Stewart's conviction. Stewart was granted a new trial but avoided retrial by pleading guilty to two felonies and was freed. He's now living in Louisiana.