O.J. Simpson is on trial for robbery and kidnapping charges nearly a year after police arrested him in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prosecutors say Simpson and five other men stormed into a Las Vegas hotel room last September 13 to recover sports memorabilia that Simpson said belonged to him. They say at least two men with Simpson had guns as they robbed two sports memorabilia dealers. The following dispatches come from our Paul Vercammen covering the trial.
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Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer
8:48a PT
Judge Jackie Glass ruled a lawyer for the Goldman estate will not testify for the prosecution in the O.J. Simpson case. (Get background info on David Cook)
Glass called Goldman lawyer David Cook’s relevance "marginal."
Glass added the Cook's testimony's prejudice against Simpson would "outweigh the probative value" of having the lawyer testify.
Cook was waiting in a nearby witness room and grabbed his roller bag of legal documents after his dismissal and headed toward the elevator.
"The judge made a ruling and if you read between the lines, I think she thought my appearance would bring up the Ghost of Christmas Past," Cook told CNN.
"If I testified, I could be reading the Manhattan phone book, and it would roll in images of Ron Goldman, Nicole Brown and Fred Goldman."
Cook's job is to try to find assets and obtain payment to the Goldman family from Simpson, as part of the 33 million dollar civil judgment the Goldman's won for the wrongful death of Ron Goldman.
Throughout the current armed robbery and kidnapping trial in Las Vegas, witnesses have testified about stolen or hidden caches of Simpson memorabilia.
"If O.J. Simpson thinks he is going to rent a U-Haul truck and drive off from here he is wrong," Cook said.
"None of this stuff is leaving Las Vegas, even if that means I have to get it from someone else."
Cook was alluding to tens of thousands of dollars of 5impson sports memorabilia that was in the hands of sports memorabilia dealer Bruce Fromong among others.
8:25a PT
Judge Glass ruled prosecution witness David Cook will not be permitted to testify in the O.J. Simpson Trial. Cook is an attorney representing Fred Goldman, father of murder victim Ron Goldman.
7:48a PT
O.J. Simpson entered the courthouse this morning not knowing if a lawyer for the Goldman family estate will take the stand in the armed robbery and kidnapping trial.
The defense is “strenuously objecting” to the testimony from lawyer David Cook, who doggedly chases Simpson’s assets.
Cook pursues Simpson’s assets to get payment of the 33 Million Dollar, civil judgment against Simpson for the wrongful death of Ron Goldman.
| carol |
September 24th, 2008 11:40 am ET I watched the arguments regarding the Cook issue on-line. It seemed to me like a no-brainer. I am sure the judge's ruling wanted to allow this testimony and that she sought a second opinion yesterday. She seemed almost annoyed that she had to make the ruling to exclude the testimony. |
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| Tim |
September 24th, 2008 11:59 am ET It's time for Simpson to go to jail. Just like Rodney King, he's had more "second chances" than anyone deserves. With all of these breaks, if he can't or won't stay out of trouble, then jail is where he belongs. For a long time! As for Goldman's lawyer, Goldman had his chances to make money off of O.J. and blew it. He initially blocked O.J.'s book from publication, then decided to change his vengeful mind and wanted it published$! Send them both "packing" and stop wasting time even reporting about them in tne future... |
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| Teri G |
September 24th, 2008 12:00 pm ET Hi Jami, I recall my Grandmother always stressing to me growing up Your reputation is judged by the company you keep, It only takes One Teri G. |
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| mohamed |
September 24th, 2008 12:02 pm ET O.J is an Idiot in my book need go jail |
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| mo |
September 24th, 2008 12:25 pm ET Goldman is a bloodsucker – he don't care about his kid, and had no contact with him prior to his death – he is after the money and feels no sorrow or loss in his son's death. He is the worst of the worst – like the oil companies greed and gouging of america |
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| Elizabeth |
September 24th, 2008 12:25 pm ET I am so sick of Fred Goldman. He has made a living & a career off of his dead son. He should be ashamed of himself. |
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| tyrone,aurora |
September 24th, 2008 12:27 pm ET how is it that only mr. alexander is the only witness so far that testified that oj told mr.mclendon to pull out the gun the gun i guess ehrlich didnt hear it. |
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| Brian |
September 24th, 2008 12:30 pm ET Good Luck O.J. my prayers are with you once again.... |
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| Kathy Kelley |
September 24th, 2008 12:33 pm ET I don't care if it is OJ or Keven from California.........if you have guns and show them at a robbery, it is armed robbery for every one involved, rather you knew ahead of time that someone had a gun. You say.......don't let anyone leave the room.......that is kidnapping. No matter who you are, I would think the charges would be the same. Even for OJ. Would it be on TV if it were Keven somebody, probably not, but that doesn' make it wrong that OJ was charged. |
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| tyrone,aurora |
September 24th, 2008 12:35 pm ET with this witness it also seems that where everybody was situated is a bit out of whack |
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| carolyn evans |
September 24th, 2008 1:00 pm ET Of course, everyone can sympathize with the agony the Goldman family is likely to forever feel over the loss of their loved one, but the zeal with which they appear to be running after OJ's assets raises the question of whether the issue is about wanting the man to suffer consequences for his role in the death of Ron Goldman or if this is simply about money. Mr. Cook's efforts to testify in a case where the relevance of his testimony is not just marginal but non existent, his role as asset tracker and his statements about OJ's property are distasteful and denigrate the memory of Ron Goldman |
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| Catawungus |
September 24th, 2008 2:42 pm ET Hey, just because OJ murders 2 people, and then hides assets to prevent the civil damages from being accessed... and then goes and robs at gunpoint one of the people who has possession of stuff he claims is his, (but which he denied owning)... just because his crimes are connected is NO reason to deny testimony from someone that can connect those dots for the jurors. It is HIS fault that his crimes are connected, not the fault of the victims. Time to let the victims have a voice, even if it is some accountant/lawyer talking about property that is owed. |
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| ebony |
September 24th, 2008 2:55 pm ET Do we honestly belive someone is going to really give him a fair trial?? Even the jury itself will have his previous trial in the back of there minds. He wasen't charge gulity of his previous allegations, so we shouldn't treat him as if he did; regardless of what we feel or belive. You really have to look at something like this with an open mind instead of doing what we may think is the most logical thing to do. |
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| Keith |
September 24th, 2008 3:14 pm ET I hear that this oj vendetta of the goldmans is what destroyed kim goldman's marriage. |
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| melody |
September 24th, 2008 3:22 pm ET I certainly hope this will be O.J. Simpson"s "last hurrah". There is not a doubt in my mind that he knew there were going to be guns that night. He is so full of himself that he truly believes the crap he spouts. After all, when you can murder two people and get away with it what's a little robbery? |
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| MJP |
September 24th, 2008 3:34 pm ET Well, I guess the court has a good point in excluding him. Although, allowing him to testify in this case could be a good reminder of the fact that OJ has a pattern of taking illeagle action and getting off because he is a celeb. |
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| Gary Jackson |
September 24th, 2008 4:01 pm ET I agree with Kathy, any one person in entry group has a gun they are all in the same group! They entered another man's castle, took his property,bullied them, and carried out the goods, Now what is the question?? If it is his let his lawyer go thru the process and get it back, or better yet give it to the Goldman's. Should be treatted like a bank robbery, they all walked out togather. If OJ is asigned to the wood working shop-make me a foot stool and sign it please and don't tell the Goldmans! |
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| Ray |
September 24th, 2008 5:42 pm ET "Getting away with murder," are you kidding me? There are justifiable, excusable, accidental and malicious murder; each carrying a different penalty according to the degree of the murder. OJ did not, I repeat DID NOT commit any of the above. As for "Robbery" thats nothing less than a joke, larceny lost its degree when two or more persons steals from another, fear is the factor that. changes the degree. Stealing without administering fear is called larceny, stealing by administering fear is called robbery, the keyword here is "steal." Did OJ steal anything? The only thing OJ is guilty of is, stupidity! |
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| Judy |
September 24th, 2008 5:57 pm ET If Goldman was granted 33 million and some or all possessions then Goldman has every right to be where his property is, and to take control of said property. |
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| Judy |
September 24th, 2008 6:45 pm ET Of course he is going to shake his head no and act surprised, he is a actor (not a good one but just the same). I want him to go to prison, he already should have been there, and this would not be happening. Its sad to think that he can lie, steal and kidnap let alone kill two people and there are still people out there that think he is deserving of any respect. |
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| aida |
September 24th, 2008 7:10 pm ET I respect the Goldman's tremendously. They have class and they don't compare to Simpson's class one bit. Even if they don't win anything, they will still shine above this loser. They don't need the garbage photos and memorabilia at all. Who wants to hang a photo of Simpson at home? Not even in the garage, perhaps in the dog house. I think Simpson will be free again because he buys everyone, but the Goldman's will always be the respected decent people that they have portrayed from the beginning. Whoever criticizes them, belongs to the Simpson group, and that is saying a lot! |
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