The 70-year-old Simpson, acquitted in a sensational double-murder trial that gripped America two decades ago, appeared before a state parole board by live video feed from Lovelock Correctional Centre, about 161 kilometres from the parole board’s office in Carson City, Nevada. His robbery conviction in 2008 was for his attempt at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to steal Simpson memorabilia that he said belonged to him in the first place.
Simpson told the commissioners that he’s missed 36 birthdays with his children while behind bars and missed their college graduations, and if he was to be paroled, he said he wants to spend as much time as he can with his family.
Nobody has ever been convicted for the murders of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, and Fred Goldman told GMA ahead of Simpson’s parole hearing that his family will probably “never get the justice” they so desire.
That was the question, as cameras focused on a gray-haired, still-charming Orenthal James Simpson, near tears as he thanked members of a Nevada parole board Thursday afternoon.
O.J. Simpson was granted parole by the Nevada board of commissioners Thursday after a unanimous vote at a hearing and may be free as soon as October 1. He talked about missing time with his family, and about his religious faith, insisting that “I’ve basically spent a conflict-free life”. “No sir, I did not”, Fromong said.
“He is a good man”.
The commissioners said they did not take into consideration the notoriety still surrounding Simpson’s 1995 acquittal from charges he murdered his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman and a civil court decision that found him liable for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages.
Simpson’s eldest child, 48-year-old Arnelle Simpson, also testified on his behalf, saying her father is not ideal but realises what a mistake he made and has spent years paying for it.
The panel believes Simpson won’t stay out of the spotlight, but encouraged him to keep away from social media.
The chairwoman of the parole commissioner said, “No comment here”.
It took a long while for him to say the words “I’m sorry” to the parole board. Just when we think we’ve put it all in perspective, he pops up against to remind of how far we haven’t come.