Las Vegas NowMotions for a New Trial Filed in O.J. Simpson Case

Motions for a New Trial Filed in O.J. Simpson Case

Exactly one week after being convicted of 11 felonies, attorneys for O.J. Simpson have filed a motion for a new trial. The attorneys cite seven specific points of error.

Simpson's local attorney, Gabe Grasso, filed the motion with the court clerk Friday afternoon.

One of the key reasons for a new trial is one legal experts were predicting from the very beginning. The judge allowed the state to dismiss two African Americans from the jury pool, leaving the ultimate jury of 12 with no black members.

The 11 page document requests a new trial before District Court Judge Jackie Glass.

Simpson's attorneys argue that the reasons given by prosecutors to dismiss two African Americans in the jury pool were not "race neutral," as required by federal law.

The motion also says the court "impermissibly restricted" questioning of jurors about Simpson's prior murder case in California. Five of the 12 jurors said in questionnaires they believed Simpson's 1995 acquittal was wrong.

"It was easy to define robbery and burglary, but conspiracy definitely took us the longest," said juror Michelle Lyons.

During a news conference after the case, jurors said they relied solely on the video and audio recordings of the incident and not conflicting witness testimony.

"‘Piece in the hall.' We heard three times in the discussion at Little Buddha, 'Piece in the hall, Piece in the hall. Did you pull that piece in the hall?' We heard it quite clearly and we heard it more times than anyone had heard it," said Lyons.

And, jurors say they found the 911 call moments after the incident to be very convincing.

Simpson's attorneys also say the judge should have allowed jurors the option of what is called a "lesser included offense." For example, instead of robbery, jurors should have also been given the option of larceny.

The motion for a new trial applies only to O.J. Simpson. Attorneys for co-defendant C.J. Stewart have previously said they will also seek a new trial.