O.J. Simpson was only interested in recovering personal memorabilia he believed had been stolen from him during an alleged armed robbery, a Las Vegas court heard on Friday.
Tom Riccio, one of two collectibles dealers accusing Simpson of armed robbery, testified that the star ignored other items, including lithographs of football legend Joe Montana and mementos autographed by baseball stars Duke Snider and Pete Rose, during the September hotel raid.
Riccio said, “I don’t think he had any interest in any of that (other items).”
Simpson‘s attorney, Yale Galanter, argued that this proves his client only wanted to take back what he thought legally belonged to him.
Riccio’s testimony came on the second day of the preliminary hearing to determine whether Simpson and his co-defendants Clarence ‘C.J.’ Stewart and Charles Ehrlich should be tried on charges including armed robbery and kidnapping.
On Thursday, the other sports memorabilia dealer, Bruce Fromong, shocked the courtroom by revealing he’s considering a TV movie deal surrounding the events of the robbery–and that he wants Jack Nicholson to play him.
Fromong also told the hearing that during the incident he was held at gunpoint by one of Simpson‘s associates, and had his new cell phone confiscated by the former football star.
Also on Thursday, the courtroom was played a tape recording, made by Riccio, of the alleged robbery, during which prosecutors claim Simpson and his associates can be heard screaming profanities at the memorabilia dealers.
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