Date Set for O.J. Evidence Airing

Thu., Oct. 4, 2007 5:49 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

Nevada state prosecutors have a month before they have to lay their cards on the table.

Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure Jr. has scheduled a preliminary hearing in the armed robbery case pending against O.J. Simpson and four alleged accomplices for Nov. 8 and 9.

At that time, the Clark County District Attorney's Office will be able to present evidence against the former football star, who is facing 10 felony counts that include assault, kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy stemming from an alleged heist that went down Sept. 13 in a Sin City hotel room.

The Heisman Trophy winner and erstwhile murder defendant maintains that he was told that two sports memorabilia dealers were trying to peddle items that had been stolen from him by a former agent, and that he was just meeting with the gentlemen to get his stuff back.

District Attorney David Roger also has the option of asking a grand jury for an indictment before the hearing, proceedings that would be closed to the public.

Prosecutors and lawyers representing all five defendants met Thursday to finalize the November date, although one of the defense attorneys asked for more time.

"I have to consider the state, codefendants, witnesses [and] the general public," Bonaventure said, denying the request.

Simpson attorney Gabriel Grasso told reporters that his client will be on hand Nov. 8 with longtime lawyer Yale Galanter in tow.

"I'm confident that this case will be dealt with in Justice Court through a preliminary hearing based on what was said at the meeting today," Grasso said.

An open hearing would allow the defense to cross-examine the prosecution's witnesses and present their own.

Bonaventure, who if a preliminary hearing takes place would then rule whether the case should be tried in District Court, further consolidated the five-pronged case by canceling an upcoming arraignment and two separate preliminary hearings for three of the defendants.

Also during Thursday's status hearing, 53-year-old Clarence Stewart pleaded not guilty on all counts.

Last week Bonaventure denied a request from lawyers for Stewart, Michael McClinton and Charles Cashmore to order the prosecution to hand over recordings made by memorabilia auctioneer Thomas Riccio, who arranged the meeting between Simpson and the dealers turned alleged victims, Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong.

The justice of the peace said that the Justice Court didn't have the authority to make the order and that it would be up to the District Court if the case went beyond a preliminary hearing.