posted on October 9, 2001 01:54:05 PM
Sorry, I just couldn't resist that title.
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Jury selection starts in O.J. Simpson rage case
By Frances Kerry
MIAMI, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Jury selection began on Tuesday in the trial of O.J. Simpson for alleged road rage with a Miami court seeking jurors who would not be swayed either way by the former football star's acquittal six years ago for the murder of his ex-wife and her friend.
Simpson, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie, caused a ripple of excitement as he arrived in the Miami-Dade County court house. He paused in the corridor to shake hands.
Simpson, who moved to Miami from California last year, faces felony and misdemeanor charges arising from a December 2000 roadside incident in the suburb of Kendall.
Another motorist, Jeffrey Pattinson, accused Simpson of running a stop light, berating him, then reaching into the car and snatching his glasses, scraping his skin as he did so.
Simpson, 53, said at the time Pattinson had honked and flashed his lights at him, and that he had simply walked away from Pattinson's car after Pattinson yelled at him. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at an arraignment in March.
Prosecutor Paul Mendelson said on Tuesday that state sentencing guidelines called for between two and 16 years jail time for the offenses and told the court the prosecution would seek a sentence within this range if Simpson was convicted.
The felony count was technically a burglary for allegedly taking the glasses from the car and carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. The misdemeanor count was for battery and has a maximum sentence of 364 days.
As jury selection got underway with an initial batch of 50 people, Judge Dennis Murphy said the process could take days or even several weeks. The judge made clear the key issue would be ensuring jurors were not swayed either way by what they thought of Simpson's previous criminal and civil trials.
Murphy stressed that Simpson's past was not on trial.
posted on October 9, 2001 06:03:41 PM
He should consider himself lucky when he reached in the window that he got his arm back. I know a lot of characters that would have kept it for a momento. These bullys seem to have some radar to know who they can pull this crap with.
posted on October 9, 2001 07:39:13 PMThe judge made clear the key issue would be ensuring jurors were not swayed either way by what they thought of Simpson's previous criminal and civil trials.
I know I'd be excused if I told the truth when asked if I was prejudiced on the case. No chance of OJ getting life for a charge of road rage is there?
posted on October 9, 2001 10:55:41 PM
OJ is screwed on this one (with reason!)...I can honestly say that if I was on the VERY first jury, I would have voited NG!!..The facts presented, (at least the facts the MEDIA presented) would have lead me to the "with out a doubt" phrase.....I get more blood on myself opening a 25# cyro-vac of Beef Inside Round than OJ was facing!! Di he do it?...HELL yes!! Did he do it alone??? NO FREAKIN WAY!!
Attack me NOW!! LOO
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
posted on October 10, 2001 03:03:44 AM
Can't argue. Last time I was attacked with a knive the place was a mess.Splatterville.
Tell us any further theories about help....
