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Simpson's Past Is Present In Court As Trial Begins

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Los Angeles Times

Published: September 16, 2008

LAS VEGAS - Expecting to sell O.J. Simpson collectibles to a wealthy buyer in a hotel room here, memorabilia dealer Bruce Fromong was instead shoved, patted down and threatened with a gun by associates of the former college and professional football star, Fromong testified Monday.

During the six-minute confrontation, Fromong said, Simpson shouted: "Don't let anybody out of this room. Nobody gets out of here."

Simpson, Fromong added, accused him of stealing the memorabilia, yelling, "I thought you were a good guy!"

Fromong described the chaotic alleged robbery during the opening day of Simpson's trial - a muted event compared to his "Trial of the Century" in Los Angeles, where Simpson was acquitted in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

Although more than 500 journalists requested credentials, only about 50 showed up Monday. And, unlike his murder trial, which attracted huge crowds, Simpson arrived to a man carrying a banner reading, "Jesus saves sinners from hell."

"The problem is not that you got your stuff back. The problem is you killed your wife," the man screamed.

Simpson couldn't escape his history inside the courthouse, either.

In opening remarks, Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens tied the alleged robbery of Fromong and another collectibles dealer to a civil jury's 1997 awarding of $33.5 million to the heirs of Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson.

Simpson hid valuable mementos with friends to avoid handing them over to Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, Owens said.

The 1968 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Southern California, believing some of the items ended up in Fromong's hands, decided to set up the sting operation, the prosecutor said.

Simpson, 61, faces a dozen charges. The most serious charge - kidnapping - carries a potential life sentence.

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