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[[Image:SIMPSON.jpg|thumb|right|Simpson during his murder trial]]

[[Image:SIMPSON.jpg|thumb|right|Simpson during his murder trial]]

'''O. J. Simpson''' ('''Orenthal James Simpson''') (July 9, 1947 - ) was an [[NFL|American Football]] player of [[San Francisco]], [[California]]. Among his many awards, he most notably is a [[Heisman Trophy]] winner, an [[NFL]] Player of the Year and a Hall of Famer.<ref name="football">{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=195|title=O.J. SIMPSON|work=Official Site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame|accessdate=2007-09-16|language=English}}</ref> In 1973, he also became the first running back to rush for over 2,000 yards.<ref name="football" />

'''O. J. Simpson''' ('''Orenthal James Simpson''') (July 9, 1947 - ) was an [[NFL|American Football]] player of [[San Francisco]], [[California]]. Among his many awards, he most notably is a [[Heisman Trophy]] winner, an [[NFL]] Player of the Year and a Hall of Famer.<ref name="football">{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=195|title=O.J. SIMPSON|work=Official Site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame|accessdate=2007-09-16|language=English}}</ref> In 1973, he also became the first running back to rush for over 2,000 yards.<ref name="football" /> Simpson was the paid spokesman for Hertz Rent-a-Car.

In 1994 Simpson was notoriously tried for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. Represented by Johnnie Cochran Jr., and a team of other attorneys, including Robert Shapiro, it was often referred to as the "Trial of the Century",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/OJ/daily/9510/10-03/index.html|language=English|accessdate=2007-09-16|title='Not guilty'|date=1995-10-03|work=CNN}}</ref> Simpson was acquitted. Three years later he was found liable in a Civil Court, where he was ordered to pay a combined judgement of $33.5 million to the Goldman family and to the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson, the beneficiaries of which are her children with Simpson, Sydney and Justin.<ref>http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10634610</ref><ref name="Published2">{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20759477/|work=MSNBC|title=Goldmans say they're punishing O.J. with book|accessdate=2007-09-16|language=English}}</ref>  

In 1994 Simpson was notoriously tried for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. Represented by Johnnie Cochran Jr., and a team of other attorneys, including Robert Shapiro, it was often referred to as the "Trial of the Century",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/OJ/daily/9510/10-03/index.html|language=English|accessdate=2007-09-16|title='Not guilty'|date=1995-10-03|work=CNN}}</ref> Simpson was acquitted. Three years later he was found liable in a Civil Court, where he was ordered to pay a combined judgement of $33.5 million to the Goldman family and to the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson, the beneficiaries of which are her children with Simpson, Sydney and Justin.<ref>http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10634610</ref><ref name="Published2">{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20759477/|work=MSNBC|title=Goldmans say they're punishing O.J. with book|accessdate=2007-09-16|language=English}}</ref>  

In 2008, Simpson was convicted of multiple felonies and faces up to life in jail. Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, cited the all-white jury as a factor in the conviction. During jury-screening, almost half of the jurors admitted that they believed Simpson had committed the 1994 murders, while the remaining jurors claimed they 'didn't know' or refused to answer the question, leading Galanter to suggest that the conviction was 'payback' for being unable to convict Simpson in 1994.

In 2008, Simpson was convicted of multiple felonies and faces up to life in jail. Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, cited the all-white jury as a factor in the conviction. During jury-screening, almost half of the jurors admitted that they believed Simpson had committed the 1994 murders, while the remaining jurors claimed they 'didn't know' or refused to answer the question, leading Galanter to suggest that the conviction was 'payback' for being unable to convict Simpson in 1994.

On Friday, Dec 5, 2008 O.J. Simpson was sentenced to prison for his part in an armed robbery in a [[Las Vegas]] hotel in September 2007.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081205/ap_en_ot/oj_simpson</ref> He was sentenced to "at least 15 years" which means he could be eligible for parole after nine years, or serve as many as 33 years.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/oj_simpson</ref><ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/us/06simpson.html</ref>

On Friday, Dec 5, 2008 O.J. Simpson was sentenced to prison for his part in an armed robbery in a [[Las Vegas]] hotel in September 2007.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081205/ap_en_ot/oj_simpson</ref> He was sentenced to "at least 15 years" which means he could be eligible for parole after nine years, or serve as many as 33 years.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/oj_simpson</ref><ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/us/06simpson.html</ref> On July 20, 2017, Simpson was granted parole.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/20/us/oj-simpson-parole-hearing-live/index.html|title=O.J. Simpson goes free: Live updates|work=CNN|accessdate=July 31, 2017}}</ref>

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==References==