- Title: O.J. Simpson apologizes during parole hearing
- Date: 20th July 2017
- Summary: LOVELOCK, NEVADA, UNITED STATES (JULY 20, 2017) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) O.J. SIMPSON SITTING WITH ATTORNEY DURING PAROLE HEARING (SOUNDBITE) (English) O.J. SIMPSON, SAYING: "I hadn't prepared any (closing remarks) except that I've come here. I've spent nine years making no excuses about anything. I am sorry that things turned out the way they did. I had no intent to commit a crime. I came here. I tell the inmates all the time, 'I don't want to hear about your crime. Argue in court. Here, we're all convicts. I'm a convict. Do your time and don't do anything to extend your time.' I told the warden when I got here-- Mr. Lagrange I think it was, Miss Carpenter and Miss Megan -- that I would be no problem. I believe in this jury system. I will honor what the jury said and I will be no problem and I think I kept my word. As I said, I've done my time. I'd just like to get back to my family and friends, and believe it or not, I do have some real friends. I don't think I could have represented this prison -- I don't think any inmate has ever represented it better than I. I did my time. I tried to be helpful to everybody. And, as I said, (crime victims) Bruce (Fromong) and (Alfred) Beardsley-- I made up with them years ago. I'm sorry it happened. I'm sorry it was in Nevada. I wish (Thomas) Riccio had never called me. I thought I was glad to get my stuff back but it just wasn't worth it. Nine years away from your family is just, just not worth it and I'm sorry. Thank you." SIMPSON STANDING UP AND SITTING IN CORNER AS ROBBERY VICTIM BRUCE FROMONG TAKES SEAT TO TESTIFY ON HIS BEHALF
- Embargoed: 3rd August 2017 19:17
- Keywords: O.J. Simpson parole hearing apology
- Location: CARSON CITY AND LOVELOCK, NEVADA, UNITED STATES
- City: CARSON CITY AND LOVELOCK, NEVADA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime,Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QIX1L3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS NOTE: FOR FILE VIDEO OF SIMPSON AND THE PRISON WHERE HE IS BEING HELD, PLEASE SEE STORIES 2202 AND 3244
Former U.S. football star O.J. Simpson on Thursday (July 20) apologized for his crime and asked a Nevada state parole board to set him free after nine years in prison for a botched armed robbery of his own sports memorabilia in a Las Vegas hotel room.
The 70-year-old Simpson, acquitted in a sensational double-murder trial that gripped America two decades ago, appeared before the board by live video feed from Lovelock Correctional Center, about 100 miles (161 km) from the parole board's office in Carson City.
"I'm sorry it happened... I thought I was glad to get my stuff back but it just wasn't worth it. Nine years away from your family is just, just not worth it and I'm sorry," he said during a hearing that lasted for more than an hour and 15 minutes.
He was joined by supporters including his daughter, sister and one of his robbery victims. The board, which normally takes days to render a decision, had said it would take about 30 minutes to deliberate and would announce its ruling on the same day in light of the high-profile nature of Simpson's case. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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