O.J. Simpson not only lied about knowing that two of his pals were packing heat during a confrontation with memorabilia dealers — he was the one who asked them to bring the guns, his former lawyer testified yesterday.
Miami attorney Yale Galanter’s revelation contradicted much of what The Juice told a Las Vegas court about the 2007 criminal stint that landed him in prison, landing a heavy blow to Simpson’s bid for a new trial.
“He knew he’d screwed up. He knew there were guns in the room,” said Galanter, who unsuccessfully defended Simpson against the armed-robbery charges for which he’s serving nine to 33 years in prison.
Simpson confided in the attorney that he asked two of his five pals to bring guns, Galanter testified.
“To argue that he had tunnel vision and didn’t see these guns was absurd to me,” he added.
Galanter said he told Simpson to contact police when the ex-star told him about his plan to take back photos and signed footballs he thought were stolen from him in Los Angeles.
Simpson, 65, is in court this week asking for a new trial on grounds that Galanter was a terrible lawyer, contending the attorney gave him the green light to put his plan in motion.
His new defense team, Patricia Palm and Ozzie Fumo, also argue Galanter told him not to testify at the trial and failed to inform his client that prosecutors offered him a plea deal.
But Galanter, who was freed of his attorney-client privileges to testify, struck down Simpson’s claims one by one.
“I told Mr. Simpson, ‘There’s an opportunity on the table,’ ” Galanter said about the plea deals. “You have to consider this.”
“You never know what a jury will do,” he added. “There are a lot of people who don’t like you.’”
But, he said, The Juice didn’t want to hear about it and declined any offers beyond probation or a year in prison.
“No deal, no way,” Simpson replied, according to the defense lawyer. “Mr. Simpson brought a lot of baggage into the courtroom. It was not like the jurors didn’t know he was acquitted of murder in California.”
“This case was unique,” Galanter said, defending his work.