LAS VEGAS, United States (AFP) — Twelve years after being acquitted for double murder in a verdict that stunned the world, O.J. Simpson faces another court-room battle to avoid prison after being ordered to stand trial on robbery and kidnapping charges here Wednesday.
Simpson -- who was the prime suspect in the murder of his ex-wife and her friend in 1994 -- could be jailed for life if convicted on the most serious charges relating to an alleged armed robbery in Las Vegas on September 13.
The 60-year-old former American football hero is accused of storming into a casino hotel room with a gang of gun-toting cohorts and seizing sports memorabilia from two dealers worth an estimated 100,000 dollars.
Two of Simpson's accomplices, Charles Ehrlich and Clarence Stewart, were also ordered to stand trial on charges that include robbery, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon.
Las Vegas Judge Joe Bonaventure made the ruling after a four-day preliminary hearing to determine if there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.
Bonaventure's decision came despite savage attacks on the credibility of prosecution witnesses by defense lawyers.
"The ultimate determination of credibilty of the witnesses should be left to the jury," Bonaventure said.
"I cannot make a determination that the credibility of the witnesses was so incredible and so fantastical to dismiss the charges at this time."
Simpson's attorneys were unfazed by the decision, saying it had been expected. The hearing had been useful for the opportunity to cross examine prosecution witnesses, Simpson attorney Yale Galanter said.
"I have never been in a case where every witness has seen some financial incentive, every witness is made out to be a liar, every witness had a criminal past," said Galanter, who vowed Simpson would not accept a plea bargain.
"The only thing I regret is that we didn?t have a jury seated right now to hear the testimony we just heard."
Galanter said Simpson?s conduct had been "completely, totally, 100 percent lawful." When asked if it was smart, the attorney smiled and repeated: "Lawful."
Prosecutors declined to comment following the hearing. The three suspects are scheduled to enter their pleas on November 28 with a trial likely in late 2008.
Three other men involved in the alleged heist made plea deals in October and agreed to testify for the prosecution, tightening the case against Simpson.
Simpson told reporters following his arrest in September that he had only been recovering personal items stolen from him during the incident. He also repeatedly denied knowing that any members of his entourage were carrying guns.
However, witnesses during the evidentiary hearing told the court that Simpson had specifically asked them to bring firearms to the confrontation with memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley.
"(Simpson) kind of leaned forward and said 'Do you think you can get some heat? You know just in case things go wrong. Can you bring some heat?,'" Simpson's friend and golf partner Walter Alexander testified on Tuesday.
One of the most famous American football players of his generation during a glittering 1970s career that saw him set several records, Simpson was the chief suspect in the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman.
Nicole, who had filed for divorce from Simpson in 1992 citing his "abusive behavior," was attacked so savagely that she was almost decapitated.
Simpson, who has always vehemently denied the killings, was acquitted of murder after a racially charged Los Angeles trial in 1995, a verdict that was greeted with outrage across America.
Simpson was subsequently found liable for the deaths in a 1997 civil suit and was ordered to pay damages to the victims' families totaling 33.5 million dollars.
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