In this Oct. 3, 2008 file photo, O.J. Simpson reacts as he is found guilty on 12 charges, including felony kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas. Simpson was denied a new trial Friday, Nov. 7, by the Nevada judge who presided over his conviction. (AP Photo/Daniel Gluskoter)
By AFRO Staff
(November 11, 2008) - O.J. Simpson was denied a new trial Friday by the Nevada judge who presided over his conviction in the gunpoint robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room.
The judge also denied requests to release Simpson and Stewart on bail pending sentencing Dec. 5.
During the hearing, Stewart's lawyer raised a new allegation of misconduct by the jury foreman, Paul Connelly, alleging that Connelly was dismissed from a job after making racially disparaging statements.
“That's problematic for our clients, who are black,'' Stewart’s lawyer said, according to The Associated Press.
Another challenge, also denied, alleged that the judge improperly allowed prosecutors to use pre-emptory challenges to remove two prospective Black jurors before the final panel was seated. The jury of nine women and three men included one woman who identified herself as Hispanic, but no Blacks.
Simpson, 61, and Stewart, 54, were convicted Oct. 3 of kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, in a Sept. 13, 2007, hotel room confrontation. Each faces five years to life in prison on each of their two kidnapping convictions, and a mandatory sentence of at least two years or up to 30 years on each of the two armed robbery convictions.