OJ Simpson 'likely' to be released from jail on Monday

It has been revealed that OJ Simpson could be released from jail as soon as Monday [2 October] now that he has become eligible for parole.

The 70-year-old sportsman was imprisoned in 2008 for robbery and kidnapping, sentenced to 33 years at Lovelock Correctional Center in northern Nevada with eligibility for parole after nine years.

At a hearing in July, Simpson was told that he will become eligible for parole on Sunday 1st October, with it being expected that he will be transferred to High Desert State Prison just outside of Las Vegas on that day, to be released on the next working day.

Speaking to The Guardian, Nevada state department of corrections spokeswoman Brooke Keast said that the star’s parole is yet to be completed and that his release is expected to be filmed and released to the public.

It is thought that Simpson may live with his friend Tom Scotto in Florida following his release, provided the terms of his probabtion agree to him leaving the state of Nevada.

Whether or not a prisoner is granted parole is decided off the back of the inmate’s conduct in prison and whether their release would pose a threat to public safety, however, lawyer Laurie Levenson previously told Reuters that OJ’s fame and the notoriety surrounding his acquittal in a double-murder trial over 20 years ago may act against him.

She explained: “What plays against him is the ghost of the murders.”

Levenson added that anybody else fitting Simpson’s inmate profile would be almost guaranteed parole, continuing: “What we don’t know is how much the OJ factor will make a difference.”

While in prison, Simpson has impressed authorities by taking on the unofficial title of “athletic director” in the prison yard and lobbying for inmate education funding.

He has also reportedly been “instrumental” in mediating inmate disputes at the prison, according to Nevada state Assemblyman Osvaldo Fumo, who was part of the star’s legal team.

Simpson will appear before the parole board via a live video feed from prison, he will be joined by his lawyer and supporters as well as one of his robbery victims who Fumo claims “plans to express his forgiveness” of Simpson at the hearing.

Simpson was found guilty of all 12 charges against him after he stormed a Las Vegas hotel room in 2007 and held two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint before leaving with thousands of dollars in items.

His conviction came 13 years after he was controversially acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman.

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