The O.J. Simpson robbery-kidnapping trial kicked off on Monday in Las Vegas but was nonetheless interrupted when the first key witness, a sports memorabilia dealer who had previously suffered from heart disorders, clutched his chest while testifying, urging those present at the trial to call paramedics.

Bruce Fromong is one of the alleged victims in the O.J. Simpson case. He had been on the witness stand for several hours before he explained that he was not feeling well and Judge Jackie Glass was forced to send the jury out of the room in order to permit paramedics to provide the witness medical care.

Medical technicians examined Bruce Fromong outside the courtroom, however, and left without transporting the 54-year-old man to a hospital.

“He did not want to go out of here on a gurney,” said his legal representative, Louis Schneider, as quoted by The Associated Press.

The sports memorabilia dealer has suffered four heart attacks during the past year and, in spite of the fact that his attorney said that his client was “done for the day,” he explained that Fromong could continue his testimony on Tuesday.

Court subsequently carried on with the testimony of a witness from Palace Station, the hotel casino where The Juice and five other men supposedly stole various objects from Fromong and another dealer.

The former football star and the only remaining co-defendant, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including robbery, coercion, assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping.

A jury selection for the trial had been made earlier, so that jurors did not take O.J. Simpson’s past into account. The ex-football player was involved in the so-called “Trial of the Century,” as he was the prime suspect in the 1994 murders of his former spouse, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. However, he was eventually acquitted.

“That’s a different case and different facts, but the effect of the judgment is something you may consider,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens told the panel, as reported by the AP.

Regarding the present trial, defense attorney Yale Galanter said that his client was only trying to recuperate personal belongings, such as pictures of his late parents, which had been stolen from him, and had no intention of committing a crime.

On the other hand, Bruce Fromong, who said that he was waiting for an anonymous buyer, testified that Simpson entered the hotel room accompanied by several men, including an individual who pointed a gun at him. In addition to this, the key witness said he had known Simpson and that the former athlete seemed surprised to see him there.

“He shouted, ‘How could you sell my stuff? I thought you were a good guy. You stole my stuff,’” Fromong testified.

The prosecutor said in an opening statement that he was in the possession of a recording of the hotel room confrontation, which supposedly shows that threats and force were employed in the raid. Moreover, he referred briefly to Stewart in his statement, claiming that O.J. Simpson’s pal merely helped The Juice by bringing a truck in order to transport the items. His legal representative, Robert Lucherini, explained that his client is the only co-defendant who has not taken a plea deal, as he has nothing to offer the prosecution.