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Jury Hears Tape In Simpson Case

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The Associated Press

Published: September 20, 2008

LAS VEGAS - Jurors in O.J. Simpson's armed robbery and kidnapping trial on Friday heard a recording of the football star angrily accusing two memorabilia dealers of stealing his mementoes and saying, "Don't let nobody out of this room."

On the witness stand introducing the audio was Thomas Riccio, the collectibles dealer who arranged the meeting at the Palace Station casino hotel room, made the secret recording and testified that he never expected what happened.

"The guy with the bald head, Michael McClinton, pulled out a gun," Riccio said. "And it got crazy from there."

Asked what he was thinking, he said, "This is overkill - big time overkill. They didn't have to do this."

McClinton, who made a plea bargain and agreed to testify against Simpson, is the only participant identified so far as having a gun in the room.

"I never at any time wanted a gun in my room. I am anti-gun," Riccio said.

Listening through headphones, the jurors heard McClinton order people to bag the memorabilia spread out on the bed.

Throughout the confrontation, memorabilia dealer Alfred Beardsley kept trying to curry favor with Simpson, saying, "I don't have a problem with you, man. Are you mad at me?"
Beardsley later called 911 and reported he had been robbed at gunpoint by Simpson and a group of "thugs." He also threatened to call the news media, saying they would arrive faster.

The other memorabilia dealer, Bruce Fromong, was heard saying he was going to his truck to get a gun.

As a result of the Sept. 13, 2007, confrontation, Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart face 12 charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. They have pleaded not guilty.

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