The last time O.J. Simpson made an appearance in a court room was four years ago when he was sentenced 9 to 33 years for armed robbery. Now Simpson, looking a bit older and a lot larger, returned to court in an effort to get a new trial.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and Buffalo Bills star is no longer known for his time on the gridiron as much as he is known for his time spent in a courtroom. When Simpson was on trial for the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman he never took the stand, nor did he take the stand in the 2008 armed robbery trial. Today was the first time Simpson took the stand.
Simpson took the stand to claim that his former attorney, Yale Galanter, gave him bad advice during the 2008 trial that led to Simpson's incarceration. Simpson maintains that he didn't steal anything; he was only acting to get his own memorabilia back in his possession, according to the BBC.
"It was my stuff. I followed what I thought was the law," Simpson testified. "I didn't break into anyone's room and I didn't attack or muscle anyone."
Simpson claims Galanter had told him that he could legally take back the memorabilia as long as he did not trespass and no force was used, according to the BBC.
Simpson also said his lawyer hid a potential plea deal from him and that it was Galanter's decision that Simpson didn't testify in the original trial, reports ABC News.
Simpson got choked up when he recalled the memorabilia he recovered, or stole depending on which side of the story you believe.
"Look at this stuff. Some of the stuff I didn't really realize was gone," Simpson said. "These were things I hadn't seen in 10 years."
Before the robbery Simpson recalled that he had a few Bloody Marys followed by some Jack Daniels on the rocks. It was because of the drinks that he chose not to drive, a fact that Simpson believes should have been brought up by Galanter at the trial, according to the New York Daily News.
Galanter is expected to share his side of the story on Friday, according to ABC News.
If Simpson is unable to gain a new trial his next shot at freedom will be when he comes up for parole in 2017.
