O.J. Simpson: Last chance at new trial starts Monday

O.J. Simpson is expected to make the legal equivalent of a hail Mary pass on Monday in a Las Vegas courtroom, asking a judge to grant him a new trial on grounds his former attorney mishandled his case.

The most public glimpse of Nevada inmate No. 1027820 since his conviction will begin on Monday when Simpson arrives in Clark County District Court for the start of his five-day hearing.

Simpson, 65, is serving a nine-to-33 year sentence at Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada after he was convicted in 2008 of leading a sports memorabilia heist at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room.

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Simpson, who never testified in his 1995 murder trial, often called the "trial of the century," or in the 2008 trial when he was convicted, is expected to take the stand in a final bid for freedom this week.

His appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court was denied in 2010. As his current sentence stands, he won't be eligible for parole until he is 70 years old.

Much of his testimony is expected to point fingers at his former attorney, Yale Galanter, who Simpson believes fumbled the handling of his case.

In a sworn statement obtained by The Associated Press, Simpson said he told Galanter he planned to confront two sports memorabilia dealers to retrieve personal items he believed had been stolen from him.

"I fully disclosed my plan to Yale Galanter, and he advised me that I was within my legal rights," Simpson wrote, according to the AP. He added that Galanter told him it was acceptable as long as he did not trespass or use physical force.

Simpson also alleged in the statement that Galanter failed to tell him of a plea deal that would have gotten him two years in prison, the AP reported.

"Had I understood that there was an actual chance of conviction, I would have accepted such an offer," Simpson wrote in the statement.

Galanter did not immediately return ABCNews.com's request for an interview.

A hidden audio recorder in the room captured the altercation and was a key piece of evidence used to convict the ex-NFL player.

Simpson, a former American sports hero, became an infamous and polarizing character when he stood trial for the 1994 murders of his wife and her friend. He was acquitted on Oct. 3, 1995, and walked out of court a free man.

Thirteen years later, on Oct. 3, 2008, he was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping charges and became known as Nevada inmate No. 1027820.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/o-j-simpson-due-las-vegas-court-monday-045027639--abc-news-topstories.html

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