OJ's Sentencing Hearing, Brilliantly Told by Lowering the Bar

Lowering the Bar has a fabulously snarky recap of OJ Simpson's sentencing hearing that is worth a break from studying to read.  A few key excerpts that help to explain the decision to sentence Mr. Simpson to a minimum of nine years:

Simpson's attorneys conceded that their client was "clearly . . . not using good judgment" when he charged into the meeting with an armed posse.  (One described his actions as "beyond stupid.")  But they asked for a lenient sentence, partly because it was only a mild kidnapping.  "This isn't one of those kidnappings where you have people egregiously detained, tied up, pushed into a safe," and so on, said defense attorney Gabe Grasso.  No, it's not one of those.  Nor is it one of those kidnappings where you have someone buried in a shipping crate with only a tube for air, or suspended in a cage over a pool of sharks in your secret base under a dormant volcano.  So let's try to keep this in perspective.

For O.J.'s part, he suggested he was still "confused" about the whole brouhaha.  "I stand here today sorry, somewhat confused," he told the judge, fighting back tears.  "I feel apologetic to the people of the state of Nevada," he continued, presumably meaning the ones he had held at gunpoint.  And yet, it was unclear just what he was apologizing for. "I didn't want to steal anything from anybody," he said.  "I just wanted my personal things.  I was stupid.  I'm sorry.  I didn't know I was doing anything illegal.  I thought I was confronting friends."  And sometimes good friends just need a little armed encouragement.