Las Vegas NowSimpson Jurors Relied on Taped Evidence, Not Witnesses

Simpson Jurors Relied on Taped Evidence, Not Witnesses

Several jurors in the O.J. Simpson trial said they decided to speak out Sunday night because they wanted to set the record straight. The jurors called a news conference to talk about their decision to find Simpson guilty on all 12 counts.

Jurors said some media reports suggesting they may have found Simpson guilty as payback for the acquittal in the double murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman, caused them to talk.

Jurors say the 1994 murders and Simpson's acquittal never came up during jury deliberations. "There was multiple evidence we considered," said Michelle Lyons, juror.

Another juror admitted on her jury questionnaire that she did think Simpson may have been guilty of the murders but she said that didn't enter her mind in this case, "There was so much evidence against him in this case, it didn't matter." 

Read Court Documents Including the Jury Questionnaires

"We've been painted as an all-white jury that hates O.J. That couldn't be further from the truth," said Dora Pettit, one of the nine female jurors.

Another said that questioning the make up of the jury is preposterous because the attorneys on both sides selected the 12 jurors out of a pool of 500 people.

The jurors did say they did not find the witnesses credible and relied heavily on the taped recordings. They did say that if Simpson or Clarence C.J. Stewart had testified, it would not have made any difference in their decision. They did say they state would have had a weak case if it wasn't for the taped recordings.

The 61-year-old former Hall of Fame football star will be in court for his sentencing on December 5. He is facing life in prison. In the meantime, Simpson is being kept in isolation from other prisoners for his own safety, and is focusing on future hopes which hinge on a motion for new trial and a strong bid for appellate reversal of his conviction on kidnapping-robbery charges, his lawyer said Sunday.

Attorney Yale Galanter told The Associated Press he will continue to pursue a request for Simpson to be released on bond pending appeal.

Meanwhile, Galanter said Simpson will be living a lonely life, advised by his lawyers to do no media interviews and allowed to see only family members and a few friends placed on a special list at the jail.

Slideshow: O.J. Simpson Trail Courtroom Players

"He is in isolated custody and being protected from other inmates," Galanter said aboard a plane as he prepared to return to his Miami office. "The jail is taking very special precautions to make sure he is safe."

Galanter said that this will make for a difficult incarceration for the gregarious Simpson, because "it limits his contacts with other humans." Galanter said the appeal cannot be filed until after Simpson is sentenced.

"We are planning to fast track that as much as possible. You can expect the notice of appeal to be filed five minutes after sentencing," he said.

The 61-year-old Hall of Fame football star was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges for gathering five men a year ago and storming a room at a hotel-casino to seize Simpson sports mementos -- including game balls, plaques and photos -- from two collectors. Prosecutors said two of the men with him were armed; one said Simpson had asked him to bring a gun. "I visited him yesterday and he is OK," Galanter said. "He's disappointed and a bit melancholy. We talked about our future plans for the case."

Galanter said he believes Simpson has a strong argument for reversal of his conviction because of legal errors made during the trial, beginning with the jury selection process.

"I think it's one of the strongest appeals I've seen in my career from the standpoint of legal factors. The O.J. factor is something else," he said. He said issues to be raised on appeal will include the elimination of all African-Americans from the jury and the inclusion of jurors who believed that Simpson should have been convicted of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in a 1995 Los Angeles trial.

Juror Fred Jones acknowledged to the Los Angeles Times that he thought Simpson killed his ex-wife and her friend, but said he put that aside when considering the Las Vegas case. "We went out of our way not to mention that," Jones said. "That was never, never in our thoughts." Jury foreman Paul Connelly said the murders "really didn't come up" as the jury deliberated. "I honestly believe in my heart of hearts that it did not" affect the verdict," Connelly told the Los Angeles Times.

Galanter said he would also challenge rulings by Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass during the trial which limited his cross-examination of witnesses and the admission of disputed evidence and comments by the judge.

Lawyers for Simpson's co-defendant, Clarence "C.J" Stewart have said they also plan a strong appeal with focus on their claim that he was prejudiced by having to stand trial with Simpson. They had filed numerous motions to sever the two trials, claiming that Simpson's notoriety would infect Stewart's case. A motion for new trial for both defendants will be filed before Judge Glass by Friday, Galanter said. It is seen as having little chance of success.

Galanter said that Simpson's adult daughter, Arnelle, will stay at his Florida home for now, to look after things. She was present in the Las Vegas courtroom for the last days of his trial.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)