O. J. Simpson was back in the familiar surroundings of a courtroom yesterday for a pre-trial hearing on charges that he committed armed robbery and kidnapping in a Las Vegas hotel room.

The former American football star, an iconic figure in the world of sports and criminality, arrived with a bevy of lawyers wearing a tan suit and dark glasses. And, just like before, his appearance attracted a circus of media types and hangers-on.

Simpson, 60, faces a dozen charges including kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and coercion.

The hearing yesterday was to determine if the evidence against him was strong enough for him to stand trial. If the charges stick, the man found not guilty for the 1994 murders of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman, will almost certainly be imprisoned.

First to testify yesterday was Bruce Fromong, one of the two memorabilia dealers that Simpson is accused of having robbed. Mr Fromong described how Simpson burst into the room with a group of men, including one wielding a gun, and carried off hundreds of items. “O. J. was screaming: ‘This all belongs to me. You stole this from me. Let’s pack up. Let’s get out of here,’ ” Mr Fromong told the court.

A kidnapping conviction could result in a life sentence, while the armed robbery charge also carries mandatory prison time of between two and fifteen years. But, according to a close friend, the latest court appearance is linked in Simpson’s mind to his aquittal 12 years ago. “He believes he’s being tried for that now,” said Tom Scotto, whose wedding had brought Simpson and his codefendants to Las Vegas on September 13.

The case is likely to pivot on Simpson’s contention that he did not ask anyone to take guns and that he was unaware that his friends had them. Three of his codefendants are pleading guilty and are expected to testify against him.

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