Police Bragged on Tape of 'Getting' O.J. *By LINDA DEUTSCH*
, *AP*
posted: *13 HOURS 39 MINUTES AGO*
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LAS VEGAS (Sept. 18) - Jurors who have been told to refrain from judging
O.J. Simpson on his past heard a recording Thursday of a police employee
exulting: "This is great. ... California can't get him. ... Now we'll be
able to."
Police detective Andy Caldwell conceded the statement was made as a team of
officers examined a casino hotel room where Simpson is accused of leading a
kidnapping and armed robbery. Caldwell said the comment came from a civilian
employee of the police department, not a sworn officer.
Simpson's New
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Steve Marcus, Reuters
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Jurors in O.J. Simpson's armed robbery trial heard a recording Thursday in
which a Las Vegas police employee gloated, "This is great. ... California
can't get him. ... Now we'll be able to."
(Note: Please disable your pop-up blocker)
The comments were picked up on a digital recorder that had been secretly
placed by Thomas Riccio, who had arranged a meeting in the hotel room
between Simpson and two sports memorabilia dealers that escalated into a
confrontation last year.
Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart have pleaded not guilty to
charges of kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly
weapon. The confrontation was over Simpson's effort to retrieve items that
the former football star says belonged to him.
Before Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, questioned Caldwell for a second
day, prosecutors sought to bar his line of questioning.
Defense attorney Gabriel Grasso told the judge: "One of our themes is when
police found out that O.J. Simpson was involved, there was the equivalent of
a feeding frenzy. They dropped everything."
Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass allowed the questioning to proceed
"within the rules."
Galanter asked Caldwell if police were conducting "what's supposed to be an
unbiased investigation."
He said they were.
"And they're prejudging him; they want to get Mr. Simpson?" Galanter asked.
"I can't say what someone else is thinking," Caldwell said.
The detective clashed with Galanter repeatedly as the lawyer asked if he had
done anything in the days after the incident to determine whether Simpson
owned the items taken from the hotel room.
"Sir, ownership is not an element of robbery," the detective said before
being scolded by the judge for giving a legal conclusion.
When prosecutor Chris Owens took over questioning, he again raised the issue
of how the detective researched ownership. Caldwell tried to say he had
contacted a lawyer for Fred Goldman, the father of Ronald Goldman, who was
slain along with Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson in 1994. Galanter
objected quickly and Caldwell was barred from continuing.
Glass, who has expressed impatience with lawyers since testimony began
Monday, became irritated as Galanter and Owens continued to press the
ownership issue.
"I'm going to say enough," she declared. "We've beaten this horse to death.
I think we all get the point and I'm going to ask you both to sit down,"
Glass said.
Jurors, who are allowed to ask questions, passed notes to the judge. One of
them read: "Was there any reason other than Simpson being a famous person
that delayed the investigation?"
Caldwell answered, "No."
After morning testimony ended, a 49-year-old woman was detained when she
approached Stewart, apparently seeking an autograph. Authorities said the
woman was not arrested. The jury had already left the room.
*Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.*
--
"Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over
their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change."
- Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965
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