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September 29, 2008 Confessed gunman implicates O.J. SimpsonPosted: 08:47 AM ET
LAS VEGAS - A second gunman who admitted that he brandished a fully loaded semi-automatic handgun during the alleged robbery of two memorabilia dealers testified on Friday he brought the pistol at O.J. Simpson's request and was told by the former NFL star to "take it out and look menacing," just before entering the hotel room at the Palace Station.
Michael McClinton is expected to be the final prosecution witness "My gun was drawn when I went through the threshold of that door," said Michael McClinton, who pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy and robbery. "He [Simpson] started screaming about his memorabilia. He said don't let no one out this room." McClinton said he and friend Walter Alexander had met Simpson at the Palms Hotel earlier that afternoon, Simpson had wanted them to go along as security, and he agreed. He said Simpson had told them that there was a man [Thomas Riccio] an "inside Man" at the Palace Station. McClinton testified that after Riccio let them into the room, "they filed in." He said he kept his gun out the whole time, loudly ordered people around, and described his position in the room as being so close to Simpson their shoulders were touching. He testified that Alexander also drew his weapon briefly, which appears to contradict Alexander's testimony that he never took his gun out from his waistband. He said the incident lasted about eight to ten minutes and when he felt it was time to leave, he signaled Simpson who was still ranting and raving, by squeezing his arm. Following the alleged robbery McClinton said he and Alexander returned to his home where they changed their clothes to attend a pre-wedding party at the Little Buddha restaurant hosted by co-defendant Clarence Stewart. McClinton said he brought a long a pocket microcassette recorder, because he and Alexander had discussed recording Simpson and selling the tape to the tabloids, but it became an exhibit for the prosecutors instead. An attempt to videotape the incident was abandoned when McClinton said he couldn't get his camera equipment to work. He testified he did not take the small video camera with him that night when he went to the Palace Station. The 26-minute recording of Simpson's conversation with Alexander and McClinton in the hours following the alleged holdup was played for the jury. The men were heard laughing and joking about the confrontation in the hotel room. "Oh, you saw me hollerin' at the boy with the New York shirt on," Simpson said laughing"…shaking like a mother f'er." At one point during their discussion Simpson asked McClinton if he "pulled the piece out in the hall? "I said no, no, no," McClinton testified. According to the transcript Simpson then replied, "There ain't nothing on that video and look, they gonna look at the video. They're probably gonna look at that video. They gonna get all the video. Look at it before they decide what they gonna do. Ain't nothin' they can see, they gonna see us goin' in the place. Then they gonna see leaving with just the boxes. Simpson also appeared to suggest that he wanted to keep his memorabilia out of the hands of the Goldmans'. "And I knew, to be honest with you. I knew now the Goldmans would get it and sell it and so I, I told these guys do whatever you wanna do with it." McClinton is expected to be the last witness for the prosecution. Stay tuned to In Session for continued live coverage of the trial. -In Session staff Filed under: Trials |
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