NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2007
Think O.J. Is Jail-Bound? Not So Fast
Experts Call Him The "Teflon Defendant" Because He Is Able To Avoid Convictions
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Play CBS Video Video Experts On Simpson Case
Harry Smith speaks with Court TV's Lisa Bloom and CBS legal analyst Mickey Sherman about O.J. Simpson's arrest for his suspected involvement in an armed robbery.
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Video Holdup Victim On O.J. Case
Julie Chen speaks with alleged robbery victim Bruce Fromong about the bizarre holdup that led to O.J. Simpson's arrest.
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Video O.J. Simpson Arrested
O.J. Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas on charges of alleged armed robbery of sports memorabilia, in a bizarre case that has put the former NFL player behind bars. Jeff Glor reports.
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This is the booking photo of O.J. Simpson when he was arrested on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime and burglary with a firearm. (AP/Las Vegas Metropolitan P.D.)
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Court TV anchor Lisa Bloom and CBS News legal analyst Mickey Sherman discuss what could become of The Juice. (CBS/The Early Show)
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The former star running back was arrested Sunday night in Las Vegas on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime and burglary with a firearm, police said. The district attorney said he expected Simpson to ultimately be charged with seven felonies and one gross misdemeanor. If convicted of the booking charges, Simpson would face up to 30 years in state prison on each robbery count alone.
His most famous legal problem has been called the trial of the century, when Simpson, 60, stood trial for the 1994 murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman.
"There's some big differences between this case and the murder case a dozen years ago -- has accomplices, there's a tape and O.J. admits he was there -- those are three strong factors for the prosecution," Court TV anchor Lisa Bloom told The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith. "O.J. says he didn't have the gun on him. But this is a conspiracy case and he's the mastermind."
But in this case, O.J. doesn't enter into this situation with the same negative perceptions that he did 12 years ago.
"Last time, it was the murder of two very innocent people," CBS news legal analyst Mickey Sherman said. "Here, at worst, at worst, he ripped off or robbed two vultures who participated in keeping items stolen from him."
Although the memorabilia may actually belong to Simpson, Bloom said that does not give Simpson, a former Heisman Trophy winner, the right to play Rambo. Nonetheless, she said Simpson is a "Teflon defendant" and charges never seem to stick to him.
Since being acquitted of murder, Simpson has a long list of legal troubles:
An audio recording, released by TMZ.com, of the alleged robbery identifies an enraged Simpson uttering obscenities to an unknown person. "You think you can steal my (expletive) and sell it?" says the voice identified as Simpson.
"What that tape says, he's in control, a mastermind, enraged and calling the shots," Bloom said. "Nobody gets to leave."
It won't be hard for the prosecution to assemble a jury as Sherman says that people will be clamoring to decide Simpson's next case because it means they get 15 minutes of fame. But in order to get the jury to find him guilty, Bloom says that the prosecutor should look to the Michael Vick case for inspiration.
"Just like thousands of other ordinary conspiracy cases, get the small fry to flip first and go after O.J.," she said.
Sherman says it is important for prosecutors to acknowledge that the victims are also shady characters. But whoever is going up against Simpson has to be ready for a fight.
"We know he will have terrific defense counsel," Bloom said.
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- Oh PLEASE.....can I be on the jury....please oh please oh please.....I will make sure he is never a free man again!!!!!!
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- If there is any justice in this world, we will soon see that murderer in PRISON...NOT SEGREGATED ON DEATH ROW, BUT AMONG THE GENERAL POPULATION WHERE THE PRISONERS CAN MAKE HIS LIFE A LIVING HELL. It won''t begin to equal the living hell he has put the Goldman and Brown families through...but at least it will be a start. CONVICT THIS EVIL MAN!!!!!!
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- thats the thing about it, most people are awake, and once again it the same o same o racist thing..if this is the best the defense you can come up with???
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- I am so glad he is in jail...please put me on the jurry....justice will prevail. He is so guilty...I know two people in their grave are smiling now.
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- I sure hope the prosecution learned their lesson from his murder trial and will be very careful who they allow to sit on his new jury. I think we all know why he was acquitted in his murder trial.
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- This guy is crazy I guess he feels like since he got away with double murder he too will get away with robbery... Lets see how the Justice system will handle this? Of course he is in a different state... The voice we hear on the audio is the same voice that I bet Ron Goldman and Nicole heard as well..
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