The verdicts are read in O.J. Simpson's armed robbery and kidnapping trail.

Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer

The O.J. Simpson three-ring, huge crowds, big show, never materialized during his Las Vegas trial.
“Juice” was just a media afterthought, with his men behaving badly case buried by election stories and dispatches of an economic meltdown.

The media parking lot was two thirds empty.

So no O.J. Media circus under bright lights, but instead a twisted sideshow seemingly rolled in off a flatbed truck with the freaks climbing onto the unpaved road.

The witness stand became the dimly lit stage for all manner of jaw-dropping mutants.
They took their turns — obscenity gushing gunmen, double-talking hucksters, fawning admirers.
All of them linked somehow to the formerly acquitted major football and minor acting star.
The witness stories meandered like ivy grows, just moving forward and tangled.
But the freaks told a tale that sent Simpson directly to jail, do not pass go and get the hell out of Judge Jackie Glass’ courtroom.

Walk out of the wooden front doors room courtroom 15A and you look upon a picture postcard of the Las Vegas strip.

Simpson got no last look.

There was no last bombastic walk before the cameras in handcuffs either.

They hauled perhaps the world’s most infamous defendant through a side door, a tunnel and into jail across the street.

The Friday Night in Las Vegas was warm and windy and filled with theories of superstition and bad karma.
A Las Vegas jury threw the book at Simpson, knocking him out exactly 13 years after he was acquitted of double murder.

The jury deliberated 13 hours.

There wasn’t a black cat in the courtroom, but there was a blackout, a momentary flicker of darkness in the side show tent when the power went out.

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Tim Hart
CNN Senior Photojournalist

Wanted to share these images from the courthouse yesterday - to give you a behind the scenes look at what it was like covering the trial:

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At most of O.J. Simpson’s court dates many people with messages used the occasion to get attention from the media. But on verdict day the crowds were almost not-existent.
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Spaces on the closed street outside the Clark County Regional Justice Center were usually full for many of O.J. Simpson’s court appearances. But when the case went to the jury much of the news media did not go to the courthouse leaving empty spaces.
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Simpson was tried and convicted in the Clark County Regional Justice Center’s courtroom 15A, which has a view of the Las Vegas strip right outside the door. A view that was O.J. Simpson’s last as a free man before he was convicted on 12 felony count Friday night.
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Although there was less media covering O.J. Simpson’s third trial, reporters still had to work outside of the courtroom because of space limitations.

A courtroom video monitor during closing arguments in the O.J. Simpson trial on Thursday in Las Vegas.

5:36p PT
Ted Rowlands
CNN Correspondent

After 8 hours of deliberation and working through lunch the OJ Simpson jury has told the judge they want to continue. According to Clark County Courts Administration Spokesman Michael Sommermeyer jurors can continue working into the night if they wish. “We’re bringing in dinner” Sommemeyer told a group of reporters outside the courtroom.

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4:04p PT
Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer

The jury in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery and kidnapping trial is back deliberating, after asking a question of Judge Jackie Glass.

“The jury did want to ask the judge a question. a procedural question,” said court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer.

“The judge told the jurors to refer back to their jury instructions.”

Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer

10:04a PT

Judge Jackie Glass, wearing jeans and a blue polo shirt, gave a brief tour of her courtroom Friday morning to two adults and three young children.

The judge showed the two nine-year-old cub scouts and a seven-year-old girl her gavel and bench.
Glass joked about what she tells lawyers from her chair.

“They yell objection,” Glass explained. “Then you yell sustained. Now sit down.. Or no, no, no.”
The cub scouts were visiting the court as part of a quest to get a citizenship patch.

Glass has kept a lid on the high-powered attorneys in the trial, often reprimanding them for their behavior.

9:24a PT
The jury in the 0.J. Simpson robbery trial has begun deliberating on the fifteenth floor of the Clark County Regional Justice Center.

The panel of nine women and three men includes one Latina. None of the jurors are African-American.

Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer

6:37p PT
The jury in the O.J. Simpson-Clarence Stewart kidnapping and armed robbery trial will begin deliberating tomorrow at 8:30 am.

Prosecutor Chris Owens told the nine women and three men
In his closing arguments the “offense is against the peace and dignity of the state of Nevada.”

Owens called Simpson arrogant and said he was motivated by spite and anger.

Owens said there was plenty of evidence to find both defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the crimes allegedly committed during a memorabilia sting at a Palace Station Casino hotel room.

Simpson’s attorney Yale Galanter painted a picture of his client being targeted by money hunting liars and police out to get him.

Galanter stressed Simpson just wanted family heirlooms back.

Galanter asked, “Does anyone truly believe that O.J. Really had the intent to commit a crime?”

Stewart attorney Brent Bryson told the jurors there are lots of (prosecution) smoke screens and innuendo, but no proof his client committed a crime.

Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer

In the halls of the Clark County Regional Justice Center, you can run into O.J. Simpson. He won’t answer any questions about his trial.

But he will talk about his affinity for Las Vegas.

“The people in Las Vegas have just been tremendous. This is the first time I have come here that I have spent time off the strip in the neighborhoods. The people have been fantastic.

“A lot of people think I might move to Las Vegas. The truth is when I decided to move from L.A., It was between Las Vegas and Miami. Miami worked out well. Both kids (Nicole Brown Simpson’s children with O.J.:Justin, 20 years old, and Sydney, 22 years old) are honor students and are in college.

“I don’t want to say where they are. People at school don’t know I’m they’re dad. I was walking with my daughter (Sydney) and some radio guy says ‘O.J. was spotted on campus with his new main squeeze and they just keep getting younger and younger.’ They had no idea it was my daughter.”

“But I now have a new respect for the citizens of Las Vegas. I like Las Vegas — great golf courses, great restaurants.”

Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer

The testimony in the O.J. Simpson kidnapping and robbery trial exploded with an 11th hour loud cry for a mistrial from defense lawyers.

Lead detective Andy Caldwell blurted out, “Mrs. (Sabrina) Scotto,” (the wife of key defense witness Tom Scotto) was allegedly kicked out of the Simpson preliminary hearing for witness tampering.

Only after a recess and court review, was it determined that Caldwell was talking about Mrs. Scotto and not Mr. Scotto.

Before sorting out the Scotto mess, a visibly angered judge Glass immediately stopped the trial and moved the jury out of the courtroom.

While she denied the motion for a mistrial, Glass firmly admonished Caldwell saying “you put my case in jeopardy with the defense calling for a mistrial.”

Glass then warned Caldwell about giving “spontaneous answers.”

Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter said he could not “unring the bell” after Caldwell’s alleged witness tampering comment before the jury.

Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer

10:45a PT
O.J. Smpson’s friend testified Wednesday that two former co-defendants in the case tried to extort money from him.

Tom Scotto told the jury that alleged gunmen in the kidnapping and robbery trial, Michael McClinton and Walter Alexander, wanted 50 thousand dollars in exchange for testimony favorable to Simpson.

McClinton and Alexander made plea deals with prosecutors that could result in them receiving no prison time.

According to Scotto, he knew McClinton was a “street thug.”

The witness testified McClinton threatened him saying “we (Scotto and Simpson) better come up with 50 thousand dollars or else.”

Scotto also said an angry McClinton warned “I’ll shoot everybody up.”

Scotto owns an auto shop in Florida and was in Las Vegas last year to get married, when Simpson was arrested here on kidnapping, armed robbery and other charges.

7:50a PT

O.J. Simpson’s close friend Tom Scotto is expected to testify for the defense today in the armed robbery and kidnapping trial.

Simpson arrived minutes ago with his lawyers who indicated Scotto could be on the stand for “a long time.”

Simpson traveled to Las Vegas last year to attend Scotto’s wedding, but was arrested before the ceremony with five other men involved in a sting at the Palace Station Hotel to recover sports memorabilia the ex-football star says was his.

Defense lawyers are expected to ask Scotto about whether former codefendants in the case allegedly suggested to him they could give favorable testimony to Simpson, if they got “help,” meaning money.

The defense team for C.J. Stewart plans to call five witnesses.

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.

Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer

The defense in the O.J. Simpson kidnapping and armed robbery trial tipped off which witnesses it may soon begin calling.

Simpson defense attorney Yale Galanter revealed in open court that four of his witnesses include Las Vegas police officers Rod Hunt and C. Tucker.

Hunt previously testified for the prosecution.

The Simpson defense team will also call Simpson’s close friend Tom Scotto.

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