Former US football star and actor OJ Simpson has been granted parole after nine years in a Nevada prison.<\/p>\n
“Thank you!” said the 70-year-old, bowing his head as the board approved him for release.<\/p>\n
Simpson, who was acquitted for a double murder in 1995, has been serving time for armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and 10 other charges.<\/p>\n
He is set to walk free in October after being convicted of a 2007 confrontation at a Las Vegas hotel.<\/p>\n
The former Hall of Fame running back was found guilty in 2008 – exactly 13 years to the day after he was famously acquitted for the killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.<\/p>\n
He and a group of five others stormed into a hotel room to confront two sports-memorabilia collectors and seize items that he claimed belonged to him from his career.<\/p>\n
The hearing for Prisoner 1027820 took place at the Lovelock Correctional Facility, a medium-security prison in the Nevada desert.<\/p>\n
Simpson told parole officials that the objects he took from the Las Vegas hotel room were later ruled by officials to legally belong to him.<\/p>\n
“I’ve spent a conflict-free life,” the prisoner said to the board.<\/p>\n
However, Simpson admitted spousal abuse in 1989 after police responded to a domestic violence call at his home.<\/p>\n
According to police records, his wife had run from the house screaming to officers: “He’s going to kill me!”<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Bruce Fromong, who one of Simpson’s victims in the robbery, testified in favour of his release.<\/p>\n
“I’ve known OJ for a long time,” said Mr Fromong. “I don’t feel that he’s a threat to anyone.<\/p>\n
“He’s a good man. It’s time to give him a second chance. It’s time for him to go home to his family, his friends.”<\/p>\n
Simpson appeared to dab a tear during Mr Fromong’s testimony.<\/p>\n
The prisoner told the commissioners he had helped establish a Baptist prayer meeting in prison, adding: “I could have been a better Christian.”<\/p>\n
The prisoner also rejected suggestions he had an alcohol problem.<\/p>\n
“I’ve done my time,” he said. “I’ve done it as well and as respectfully as anybody can. I think if you talk to the wardens they’ll tell you.<\/p>\n
“I’ve not complained for nine years. All I’ve done is try to be helpful\u2026 and that’s the life I’ve tried to live because I want to get back to my kids and family.”<\/p>\n
In 2013 the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners granted him parole on some of his convictions, but for not the more violent charges.<\/p>\n
The prisoner’s daughter, Arnelle Simpson, choked up as she told the parole board: “My experience with him is that he’s like my best friend and my rock.”<\/p>\n
She added: “He is remorseful, he truly is remorseful.”<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former US football star and actor OJ Simpson has been granted parole after nine years in a Nevada prison. “Thank you!” said the 70-year-old, bowing his head as the board approved him for release. Simpson, who was acquitted for a double murder in 1995, has been serving time for armed robbery, assault with a deadly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[107],"tags":[112,9531,9532,594],"yoast_head":"\n