Judge won't delay O.J. Simpson armed robbery trial

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AP) -- A Las Vegas judge has rejected a request by a co-defendant of O.J. Simpson to delay the start of their upcoming trial on charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.

A lawyer for Clarence "C.J." Stewart had asked Judge Jackie Glass to put off the September 8 trial until the Nevada Supreme Court considers Stewart's request for a separate trial.

Stewart's lawyers argue that it will be impossible for him to get a fair trial because most of the focus will be on Simpson.

Stewart lawyer Robert Lucherini said he would appeal Monday to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Stewart's defense team filed a motion last week asking Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass for a delay of the September 8 trial until the Nevada Supreme Court considers his request for a separate trial.

It was the third time Glass had rejected a request for a separate trial. The judge pushed back the trial date once, from April 7.

A Supreme Court clerk said the justices hadn't scheduled discussions on Lucherini's August 4 appeal for a separate trial.

Stewart is one of five men who accompanied Simpson during a confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers last September 13 at a Las Vegas casino hotel room.

Stewart, 54, and Simpson, 61, have pleaded not guilty to felony charges of kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. A kidnapping conviction carries the possibility of life in prison with the possibility of parole, and a robbery conviction would mean mandatory prison time.

Their four former co-defendants have accepted plea deals and agreed to testify against Simpson.

Lucherini argues in his state Supreme Court filing that it will be impossible for Stewart to get a fair trial partly because of Simpson's 1995 acquittal in Los Angeles of criminal charges that he murdered his ex-wife and her friend.

The former Hall of Fame football player, actor and commercial pitchman was later found liable for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, and was ordered to pay a $33.5 million civil judgment to Goldman's family.

Lucherini said a Las Vegas jury would be swayed by reminders of the "hideous murders that many people believe were committed by Mr. Simpson," and that Stewart could be convicted only because he was named as a defendant with Simpson.

Simpson maintains he went to the hotel room to retrieve items stolen from him, that he never saw guns in the room, didn't know anyone had guns, and never asked anyone to bring guns.

Stewart's lawyer has said Stewart believed Simpson was retrieving property that belonged to him.

Court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said 500 people had been summoned for jury duty for the trial.

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