Former football star O. J. Simpson’s kidnapping-robbery trial was off to a rocky start Monday in a Las Vegas courtroom as one key witness kneeled under the pressure of testimony and sought medical help for his overwhelmed heart.

Star witness Bruce Fromong, a sports memorabilia dealer and alleged robbery victim who resides in Las Vegas, was on the stand Monday, testifying about the so-called September 2007 attack he suffered at the hands of former football star O. J. Simpson, when he had a heart attack scare.

According to the New York Daily News, Fromong clutched his chest and asked for medical help during cross-examination from Simpson’s attorney. His testimony was interrupted as Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass sent the jury out of the room and he received the medical attention he asked for.

Fromong’s attorney said the man has suffered four heart attacks since the incident. “He has 50% heart capacity,” the attorney added.

Fromong said that he and Simpson had long known each other and were friends, that he did not expect to see him in that hotel room and that Simpson never actually threatened him physically.

O. J. Simpson is accused of having entered Fromong’s room at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino together with several other men, of whom at least one was armed and threatened Fromong and another dealer present there.

The 61-year-old former athlete faces twelve charges in connection with this incident, including kidnapping, which carries a potential life sentence, robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, coercion and conspiracy, to name just a few.

Simpson maintains that he did not steal anything that night. His attorney, Yale Galanter said Monday in opening remarks that the Sept. incident was not a robbery but a “recovery,” as Fromong was allegedly in possession of personal items of Simpson’s, such as photographs of his children and late parents.

In opening remarks, Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Chris Owens portrayed the event as a premeditated burglary, complete with threats and use of physical force, as proven by audio tapes.

Simpson and co-defendant Clarence “C. J.” Stewart have pleaded not guilty to the dozen charges. Simpson alleges he did not ask any of the men who participated to bring weapons and did not know anyone was armed at the time.

Jury selection was completed last week, with Judge Glass being adamant that the jurors put aside O. J. Simpsons’ past, specifically his well-publicized murder trial of more than a decade ago.