OJ Simpson (C) arrives for his parole hearing with his attorney Malcolm LaVergne (L) at Lovelock Correctional Center July 20, 2017 in Lovelock, Nevada. Simpson is serving a nine to 33 year prison term for a 2007 armed robbery and kidnapping conviction. Getty Images.

OJ Simpson goes free: Parole board set aside 'the elephant in the room'

Author: Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2017, 8:50AM

The Nevada Parole Board that has decided to let OJ Simpson out of prison has removed the elephant from the room - his murder acquittals.

The former footballer will be walking out of jail in October after serving nine years of a 33-year sentence for armed robbery, kidnapping, and assault with a deadly weapon.

He was famously acquitted of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, but was found by a civil court to have done the killings.

Defence lawyer Michael Shapiro told Larry Williams the Parole Board said today they had received letters both in support and against OJ Simpson, but that the ones against him referenced the murders.

"And that they specifically were not going to take that into account, so as I said they just removed the elephant in the room and did what they required to do."

Shapiro said the judge who sentenced OJ Simpson to 33 years in jail would have taken into account the murders.

He said Simpson will go and live in Florida when he's released, as he will be able to protect his assets better from any threats from the family of Ron Goldman, who he was found guilty of killing in a civil case.

Shapiro said he will also be able to turn his celebrity into money.

LISTEN TO MICHAEL SHAPIRO SPEAK WITH LARRY WILLIAMS