O.J. Simpson, equipped with a new set of lawyers, was in a courtroom on Monday, in hopes of reducing his current 33-year sentence, the Associated Press reported. Simpson reportedly is seeking to convince a judge that his former attorney Yale Galanter should not have been the one to represent him in his armed robbery-kidnapping case that sentenced him to 33 years in prison.
Simpson claims that Galanter, who he paid nearly $700,000 for legal services, failed to disclose that he knew about the plan to advance, told Simpson it was legal and provided bad advice at his trial. "To me, the claims are solid. I don't know how the court can't grant relief," said Patricia Palm, his appeals lawyer said.
Pam filed a nearly 100 page petition, which dissects Galanter's "promises, payments and performance as Simpson's lawyer in the trial that ended with a jury finding Simpson and co-defendant guilty of 12 felonies," CBSlocal.com reported.
Judge Linda Marie Bell has agreed to hear 19 of the 22 allegations of conflict-of-interest and ineffective counsel brought upon by Simpson's new legal team. The five-day proceeding is neither a trial nor appeal, merely the judge listening to testimony to determine whether Simpson deserves a new trial.
During his last trial, Simpson contended that his attorned "vigorously discouraged" him not to testify, and never told him that prosecutors were willing to let him plead guilty to charges that would have gotten him a minimum of two years in prison.
In September 2007, a group of men led by Simpson entered a room in the Palace Station hotel in Las Vegas, stealing various sports memorabilia at gun point, news reports said. Simpson was arrested for his involvement in the robbery and held without bail.
He admitted taking the items, which he said had been stolen from him, but denied breaking into the room. Simpson also denied the allegation that he or the people with him carried weapons.
One year later, Simpson was found guilty of all ten charges, and was soon sentenced to 33 years in prison with eligibility for parole in nine years.
"He consistently told me the state could not prove its case because I acted within my rights in retaking my own property," Simpson said in a sworn statement. Simpson also said his lawyer never told him a plea deal was on the table. Simposn is due to testify Wednesday.
