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The judge agreed Friday to postpone until September O.J.
Simpson’s trial on charges of robbery and kidnapping, as the defense attorneys
claimed that they don’t have enough time to prepare the case.
The former football player and two co-defendants had been
due to appear in court in April after they had been charged for a dozen charges
stemming from the armed robbery of his own memorabilia from two collectors at a
Las Vegas
casino.
According to court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer, district
Court Judge Jackie Glass delayed the trial with five months, until September 8,
admitting that it took longer than expected for prosecutors to examine tape
recordings, transcripts and fingerprints and to hand them over to the defense
to prepare the trial. The defense attorneys also requested the judge to throw
out other charges, but Judge Glass rejected their motion, the Associated Press
reports.
She also informed that she won’t grant a second delay in trial,
under any circumstances: “There will be absolutely, positively no reason” for
another delay,” Judge Glass said.
The judge did not rule on whether or not O.J. will be tried
separately or with his co-defendants, Charles Ehrlich and Clarence
"C.J." Stewart. They are accused of robbing at gunpoint sports
memorabilia from two collectibles dealers in September at a Las-Vegas
hotel-casino. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. O.
J. Simpson maintains that he was retrieving the objects that belonged to him, and
that no guns were involved.
The judge admitted that there has been little evidence as
far as kidnapping charge is concerned, but pursuant to a November preliminary
hearing, the evidence met the “slight or marginal evidence” threshold to be
presented to the jury.
Three other accomplices in the robbery, Walter Alexander,
Charles Cashmore and Michael McClinton were also charged in the case initially,
but later agreed to plead guilty and testify for the prosecution, Reuters
informs.
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