The judge in O.J. Simpson's armed robbery trial on Wednesday rejected prosecutors' attempts to present the jury with evidence related to the former football star's acquittal in the slayings of his ex-wife and her friend.
Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass decided not to let David Cook, a California lawyer for the Ronald Goldman estate, testify about answers Simpson gave in February 2007 in response to a legal questionnaire about his assets.
Glass began court Wednesday by telling prosecutors to call another witness, and prosecutor Chris Owens called former co-defendant Walter Alexander to the stand.
Alexander, 47, a Simpson golfing buddy from Mesa, Arizona, testified that Simpson asked for guns to be brought to a confrontation with memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley.
Simpson has said he didn't ask anyone to bring guns and that he didn't know anyone in the room was armed. He and his lawyers maintain he only wanted to retrieve personal belongings, photos and family heirlooms that had been stolen from him years earlier.
"He said, 'Do you think you can get some heat?'" Alexander said of Simpson. "My friend, Spencer, spoke up and said, 'No problem. I got plenty of heat. I'm licensed to carry a gun.'"
Alexander, who used the nickname "Goldie," said Michael "Spencer" McClinton gave him a .22-caliber pistol that he tucked into his waistband while McClinton wielded a larger handgun during the alleged robbery.
Alexander said Simpson told the men to keep the guns in their waistbands, not display them or use them.
"He said, 'Just bring them so we can be protected,'" Alexander said. "I can't remember the exact words, but something to that effect. He said, 'Just bring the guns so they know that we mean business.'"
Alexander and McClinton once faced the same charges as Simpson and his one remaining co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart. McClinton and Alexander pleaded guilty to reduced charges and agreed to testify for the prosecution.
Simpson and Stewart have pleaded not guilty to 12 charges including kidnapping, armed robbery, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. They face prison if convicted.
