O.J. Simpson Granted Parole After Serving Nine Years For Armed Robbery

O.J. Simpson has been granted parole after serving nine years behind bars for a 2007 armed robbery, meaning the former NFL footballer and acquitted defendant in one of the most sensational murder trials of all time will walk free from October this year.

Simpson, 70, was originally sentenced to 33 years in prison over the Las Vegas incident. Simpson and four others attempted to steal sporting memorabilia from dealers at gunpoint – memorabilia that Simpson believes rightly belonged to him.

In 2013, a parole board ruled Simpson would be able to serve the minimum sentence.
Appearing before the four-person parole board via video link, Simpson expressed remorse over the incident. “I haven’t made any excuses in the nine years I’ve been here and not trying to make an excuses now,” he said.
The parole board ruled in his favour due to his behaviour behind bars, a record clear of criminal convictions, and a commitment to rehabilitation programmes addressing his behaviour. 
Bruce Fromong, the robbery’s victim and long-time acquaintance of Simpson, also spoke in his favour at the hearing. Fromong said that Simpson was “misguided” about the memorabilia in his possession, and that “O.J. is my friend, always has been, and I hope will remain my friend.”
His successful parole hearing has already proven controversial in the United States, where the not guilty verdict handed to Simpson in 1995 over the murder of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman remains an intensely contentious issue. 

Source: ABC.
Photo: Pool / Getty.

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