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September 29, 2008
Witness: Simpson was "set up"
Posted: 06:30 PM ET
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Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer

The O.J. Simpson trial adjourned until Wednesday morning in observance of the Jewish Holiday, but not before "set up" was again uttered from the witness stand.

Alfred Beardsley, in handcuffs and prison garb, reiterated that he thought Simpson was "set up" in the alleged armed robbery and kidnapping at the Palace Station Hotel.

Beardsley was recalled by the defense and has maintained he was not a victim of the alleged robbery to get sports memorabilia.

Beardsley was imprisoned for a parole violation.

21 Comments
More about: Crime & Punishment •  O.J. Simpson Trial •  Paul Vercammen •  T1
21 Comments
Susannah   September 29th, 2008 7:01 pm ET

I hope that everyone watching this trial is hearing what I'm hearing. What I am hearing is a defense that is putting on a case that they knew they could not win. Notice how today, their witnesses were on and off - even the police.

The bottom line is that OJ's lawyers should have made a deal. The tapes and the witnesses all tell the same story - that they went up there to get "OJ's stuff" and that "he told us to bring guns and look menacing."

Granted, most of the witnesses for the prosecution - as well as the victims have reputations lower than crocodile piss - the one thing that is consistent is their story.

Simpson was clearly the ringleader in this. And his attorney's attempts to say otherwise have failed. And they will likely fail with the jury.

Like Simpson's buddy Alfred Bearsley who testified briefly for the defense today, it appears that OJ Simpson can look forward to wearing a blue jail jumpsuit as well. One can only hope.

T.R. Donovan   September 29th, 2008 7:02 pm ET

Beardsley is clearly an opputunist who wholly seeks things out to better his inward interests; such the case now where he's "pulling" for Simpson. He did say he was robbed, but flip-flops so he can jockey for Simpson's approval, in case he may benefit pending a possible accquital.

"Hey OJ! Remember, I was the good guy at your trial? Remember?"

Rose from Calif   September 29th, 2008 7:31 pm ET

SUPRISE, SUPRISE, SUPRISE, what else is new? How can somebody be arrested for taking back that was stolen from them? This sounds like a SeT-UP. Who records their phone calls unless they are going to use it for their personal use?

Becky   September 29th, 2008 7:35 pm ET

Look, so what if he was set up, lied to, or misled, that doesn't give him the right to act the way he did. Maybe the situation was set up but nobody made Mr. Simpson go in screaming, yelling explitives, telling people not to move. If he would have just called the police like every citizen has the right to do, then the guns,knowing or not knowing, or even a set up wouldn't even matter. As for Mr. Beardsley, he's an idiot with a capital I. I heard the tapes like eveyone else and what I heard was " call the police we have just been roobbed at gunpoint by O.J. Simpson" You can't change that fact even if you want to change your story and stay on friendly terms with O.J. That's only because if O.J gets equitted he can still be friends with him and O.J can sign all kinds of things for him to help him make money and help his reputation in his business. I'm not buying it Beardsley!

Elizabeth Ford   September 29th, 2008 7:56 pm ET

"...it appears that OJ Simpson can look forward to wearing a blue jail jumpsuit as well."

Must be a Nevada thing. They wear bright orange where I'm from....

Kim   September 29th, 2008 9:35 pm ET

Why did O.J. get arrested for trying to take back stuff that belonged to him? Why didn't O.J. file a police report in LA for the stolen goods? If he had reported these items stolen WHEN they were stolen then all he would have to do is call the police in Las Vegas and tell them he had a report with the stolen items listed and that he wanted them to go with him to the hotel to retrieve his belongings. How would the police know that these items were stolen from O.J.? With out a police report the LVPD did not know with any certainty that these were O.J.'s things. Do you think if someone robbed you and took your stuff to a pawn shop or just sold them on the streets that you could just go and get your stuff back? Even if the person knew that they had recieved stolen goods do you think they would just hand it over to you? I'm sure they would ask you to prove it was yours. If this was a set up then O.J. is involvd in setting it up. He needs to go to jail.

Donna Clark   September 29th, 2008 10:03 pm ET

I don't what trial you are watching but the defense did an excellent job of taking these liars and opportunists apart. Alexander and both McClinton are liars. They are over 50 and they act like juveniles. The state did not prove their case and it is an all white jury which is probably prejudiced. The Judge is even against OJ. You heard the police say LA couldn't get him but Nevada would.

K in FL   September 29th, 2008 10:09 pm ET

Sure sounds like a set up to me....can anyone tell me how Riccio retrieved his recorder from a SECURED crime scene?.......
I sure hope the defense ask the detective this question when it is their turn to present their case.

Do I think Simpson should be charged with something? Yes! should he be facing life in prison? No!....

As usual the DA overcharged the case hoping that something will stick. ......I didn't know gunmen were given deals when part of the charges is armed robbery.

McClinton is just covering his own A$$. by his own admission he takes his gun with him everywhere, I think he just switched his story and said he was told to bring the gun for C.Y.A. purposes.

Aren't all of these grown men with minds of their own?....so they commit a crime just because someone ask them to?

gloria   September 29th, 2008 10:49 pm ET

Rose from Calif. you are either black or stupid. He killed two people and got away with it. If he wanted his stuff back, go to the police and file a complaint like everyone else. Instead, he gets his gangster buddies to bring 2 guns and get them back. Sounds like a robbery to me. I hope they put him away for life.... and talking about lives, Rose you should get one too!

Ron , West Coast   September 29th, 2008 11:01 pm ET

Simpson set himself up. He should be very much aware of that fact.
How many people do you know that gets aquitted in a double murder case ?
O

Karen   September 29th, 2008 11:10 pm ET

OJ OJ
So much time and money has been spent. It's such a waste.

Let's just look/listen to the facts, Oj wants the case tried. Let it and then let the chips fall where they may. I personally hope that the chips fall so heavy on top of OJ's head that they wipe his smurk off his face, as his head is shoved further down his neck.

Jane   September 29th, 2008 11:44 pm ET

Based on the recent questions submitted by the jurors it seems they are tuning in to the idea that this is/was a set up. I was 100% convinced OJ committed the murders of his wife & Goldman...Just as I am 100% convinced this is a set up and a ridiculous waste of tax payer money!

carol kesling   September 29th, 2008 11:53 pm ET

o.j. is a serial defendent !!!! every few years he has to rear his ugly self and cause some more grief wherever he goes !!!! he doesnt know when he has it MADE!!!!!!!! this is the 4th time he has been on trial, and he keeps pushing his luck..... this judge isnt putting up with any of there nonsense !!!!! yale galanter has definitelly MET HIS MATCH!!!!!

Devin   September 30th, 2008 1:10 am ET

Apparently everybody on this board is white because they want to convict him for a previous crime, even if they know it was a setup. Only in America.

Erik   September 30th, 2008 4:07 am ET

OJ thinks he is above the law and can get away with anything why do you think he is smiling so much,this is just a big joke to him and a way for him to have his name thrown around tv some more.As far as the recorded phone calls i think it is all a pile of crap,he knew them guns were there and is trying to fake some phone calls to clear his name.
After what happened last time I cant wait to see some justice come out of this.oh by the way his last run in with the law was a setup as well and every other time has been a setup,poor OJ why is everyone trying to set him up all the time.

david n.   September 30th, 2008 9:17 am ET

OJ will get off again just because he is OJ. Peolpe say he was set up. Not by the police. It was his friend who told him about his STUFF. If you are so stupid to try to go into a hotel room with 5 other men and think it's alright to take back what you been hiding from other people who should owned it in the first place he is diffently wrong and should do the time if any.

Michael   September 30th, 2008 9:57 am ET

Gloria, you sound like a sore loser, equating black with being stupid will not give you the verdict you want because you are a racist who has no interests in justice. My friend pay attention to the evidence presented, and stop being hateful. I bet you think you are better than O.J. It seems to me your anger should be towards the prosecutors for putting on a very bad case.

Kathie,Ontario. Canada   September 30th, 2008 9:57 am ET

Most of these comments are made by people who DON"T watch the
whole trial.. They base their opinions on the snippets you see on TV
and what the anchors and talking heads tell you what to think and
believe.
Riccio did go to the LA police, the FBI and the Vegas police to try
and get help in recovering the merchandise. They said they weren't
interested in helping. Do you really think any police agency would
jump at the chance to help OJ with anything? LOL
The person who organized and set in motion this whole sting
operation was RICCIO....the only one to get off scott free, besides
the two self professed gunmen, who both expect probation.

Guru   September 30th, 2008 10:13 am ET

Beardsley is an OJ sycophant who changed his story so his hero wouldn't get mad at him. OJ wasn't set up. He knew what was going to happen. He's not as stupid as he's trying to portray in this case. If anyone was set up it was Beardsley and Fromong.

Brenda   September 30th, 2008 10:38 am ET

They were all set up by RIcco. He figured how to make a few dollars and knew this was a great way to do so. I didn't think I would ever say those words about OJ Simpson. Because he sure was not set up for the murders in June 1994. He killed those two pepople and got away with it. But, that is no reason to convict him of something else, just to get him. The other jury should not ever sleep for the rest of their lives, or if they do, Nocole and Ron's faces should haunt them. Because, they did not get JUSTICE at all.

John K   September 30th, 2008 10:43 am ET

I would love to know O.J."s grade point in college couldnt have been too high and I doubt he graduated having learned much other than golf! The sad part about this guy is like so many athletes he is taken advantage of by everyone who befriends him! I hope he gets acquited in this case because the whole case doesnt pass the smell test!

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