O.J. Simpson, the former US sportsman who was jailed in 2008 for robbery and kidnapping will in weeks be freed from prison.
The Nevada Board of Parole granted Simpson some reprieve on Thursday after a hearing, where a remorseful Simpson spoke publicly.
Simpson had served 9 years of a 33-year sentencing for robbery and kidnapping in a sports memorabilia dealer’s Las Vegas hotel room in 2007.
He said he takes responsibility for his actions that day. “I’ve missed a lot of time—like 36 birthdays with my children,” Simpson said.
“I wish it would have never happened. I’m not a guy who has conflicts on the street… I’m a guy who’s pretty much got along with everybody.”
He emphasized at the hearing that he only entered the hotel room that day to obtain property that belonged to him, a claim he said has been proven by the state of California. Bruce Fuhrman, the victim of the 2007 incident in Las Vegas, said he feels Simpson was misled by the others involved in the incident.
Arnelle Simpson, O.J. Simpson’s oldest daughter, also spoke at the hearing in support of her father’s parole, saying, “We just want him to come home.”
The board reviewed prison reports and asked Simpson questions about his time in prison and about the incident in 2008 for which he was incarcerated.
“I haven’t made any excuses in the 9 years that I’ve been here and I’m not trying to make an excuse now,” Simpson said during the questioning.
“I am no danger to pull a gun on anybody. I never have in my life, I’ve never been accused of it.” Simpson’s release date could be as early as October 1.
